New York's Rich Wildlife and Habitat Diversity
New York has a stunning array of natural resources from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and the heights of the Adirondack Mountains to the depths of the underwater Hudson Canyon. The state hosts an amazing variety of wildlife from the huge Atlantic right whale to the tiniest salamanders and animals of all sizes in between. However, only 55% of the State's plants and vertebrates are considered secure and the status of most invertebrate species remains unknown according to the New York Natural Heritage Program.
New York's Planning Approach
The Department of Environmental Conservation sought to use the Wildlife Action Plan to enhance the state’s efforts to conserve species that improve the lives of New York residents and visitors. Planners used the state’s major watersheds to organize the strategy, both to instill a sense of place to users of the document and to build on the state’s successful watershed programs. Many of these watershed programs have been running successfully for over 30 years.
Challenges to New York's Wildlife
Statewide, the top three threats identified were habitat loss and fragmentation, various types of water and air pollution, and invasive species . Poorly planned development that includes road building and sprawling retail and residential development moving into formerly rural and wild areas has a severe impact on most of the vulnerable species in the state. In areas of central and western New York, this increase in developed land is occurring at nearly ten times the population growth rate.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
