Texas launches first all-digital state wildlife action plan in the nation

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has launched the nation’s first all-digital State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), transforming what was once a static document into a real-time, interactive conservation roadmap.

Protecting "Species of Greatest Conservation Need"

The modernized plan serves as the state’s primary strategy for protecting "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" and their habitats. By maintaining an approved SWAP, Texas remains eligible for approximately $3 million in annual federal State and Tribal Wildlife Grants. These funds support critical research and conservation projects conducted by university and community partners across the state.

What they're saying:

"We are so excited to debut the country’s first all-digital State Wildlife Action Plan," said Kelly Simon, TPWD’s State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator. "Our hope is that making the plan accessible through an intuitive webpage will encourage Texans to utilize this tool and make it easy for them to find what they need, understand priorities, and take the next step."

The new web-based platform is optimized for mobile devices and allows users to filter conservation priorities by taxonomic groups, such as birds, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as by habitat type and federal or state protection status.

Unlike previous versions of the plan, which were updated only once a decade, the digital SWAP is designed to be a living system. Simon noted that the platform allows partners and the public to contribute information year-round, ensuring the data remains current.

"If you manage land, teach students, do research, or just care about wildlife, this gives you a straightforward way to see what species need and what actions can help," Simon said.

The digital tool also integrates science-based decision-support features, including:

• Knowledge Gap Analysis: A system to determine if a species requires more research or is ready for on-the-ground conservation.
• Conservation Opportunity Areas: A mapping tool to identify locations where conservation work has the highest probability of success.
• Nature Notes: A feature allowing the general public to submit field observations without an account.

For professional researchers and conservation partners, a "SWAP Workbench" provides a dedicated space for more direct contributions to the plan’s data.

"What success looks like for me is pretty simple," Simon said. "If this helps people design better projects, target effort more effectively, and improve outcomes for species over time, then it’s doing its job."

The Texas SWAP is now live and accessible to the public at www.txswap.org.