Conserving Wildlife in the Nation's Capital
The District of Columbia is not only the nation's capital, decorated with historic monuments and memorials, but also a refuge for nature enthusiasts, fisherman, and wildlife. Within its 68 square miles, the District of Columbia is home to unexpectedly large tracts of forest and national parks, 1000 acres of city parkland, as well as two rivers and several wetlands.
The District of Columbia Fisheries and Wildlife Division worked in partnership with local wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, and the public to develop the District of Columbia wildlife action plan. Working with partners, the Department identified species of greatest conservation need, their habitats and locations, and action needed to conserve those species.
Challenges to Conserving the District's Fish and Wildlife
Major challenges to wildlife in the District of Columbia are those that accompany rapid urbanization within a small area, such as air, water, and noise pollution, soil erosion, recreation, and habitat fragmentation. The District's primary challenge is one shared by the majority of states: the invasion of non-native species that change the character of the natural landscape.
D.C. Department of the Environment
