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NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH

New Mexico Conservation Information System

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NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH

  • New Mexico Conservation Information System
  • BISON-M
  • NMERT
  • NM CHAT
  • Share with Wildlife
New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan LogoNew Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan Logo

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan
  • OVERVIEW
  • Species
    • Amphibians
    • Bees
    • Beetles
    • Birds
    • Crustaceans
    • Fish
    • Flies
    • Mammals
    • Molluscs
    • Moths and Butterflies
    • Reptiles
  • Ecoregions
    • Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
    • Chihuahuan Desert
    • Colorado Plateaus
    • High Plains and Tablelands
    • Madrean Archipelago
    • Southern Rocky Mountains
  • Habitats
    • Alpine and Montane Vegetation
    • Aquatic
    • Arroyo Riparian
    • Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation
    • Desert Grassland and Scrub
    • Plains-Mesa Grasslands< Back to Habitats List
    • Riparian Woodlands and Wetlands
  • Conservation Opportunity Areas
  • Threats and Conservation Actions
  • Monitoring
  • Climate Change
  • Related Resources
New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

  • OVERVIEW
  • Species
    • Amphibians
    • Bees
    • Beetles
    • Birds
    • Crustaceans
    • Fish
    • Flies
    • Mammals
    • Molluscs
    • Moths and Butterflies
    • Reptiles
  • Ecoregions
    • Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
    • Chihuahuan Desert
    • Colorado Plateaus
    • High Plains and Tablelands
    • Madrean Archipelago
    • Southern Rocky Mountains
  • Habitats
    • Alpine and Montane Vegetation
    • Aquatic
    • Arroyo Riparian
    • Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation
    • Desert Grassland and Scrub
    • Plains-Mesa Grasslands< Back to Habitats List
    • Riparian Woodlands and Wetlands
  • Conservation Opportunity Areas
  • Threats and Conservation Actions
  • Monitoring
  • Climate Change
  • Related Resources

Golden Eagle

Back to Species
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
Scientific Name Aquila chrysaetos canadensis
Category D
Taxon Birds
Climate Change Vulnerability Score Less Vulnerable
View on BISON-M

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) is a large, long-winged raptor (70-84 cm [28-33 in] long; wingspan 185-220 cm [73-87 in]). Adults are dark brown with gold feathers on the back of their heads and necks. Young birds have white patches at the bases of their tails and wings. It can be found year round in the western US in a variety of open habitats, usually associated with large trees or cliffs. The Golden Eagle will experience a high degree of climate exposure and has a high adaptive capacity. Overall, it has a Climate Change Vulnerability Index ranking of Less Vulnerable under both Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Scenarios. The Golden Eagle’s climate change vulnerability is impacted by factors related to movement and life history, which influence its ability to shift in space and persist in place.

Ecoregions

Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
Colorado Plateaus
Colorado Plateaus
High Plains and Tablelands
High Plains and Tablelands
Madrean Archipelago
Madrean Archipelago
Southern Rocky Mountains
Southern Rocky Mountains

Habitats

Arid West Interior Freshwater Emergent Marsh
Arid West Interior Freshwater Emergent Marsh
Chihuahuan Desert Scrub
Chihuahuan Desert Scrub
Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland
Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland
Colorado Plateau Piñon-Juniper Woodland
Colorado Plateau Piñon-Juniper Woodland
Ephemeral Catchments
Ephemeral Catchments
Ephemeral Marshes/Cienegas/Springs
Ephemeral Marshes/Cienegas/Springs
Great Plains Floodplain Forest
Great Plains Floodplain Forest
Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie
Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie
Great Plains Sand Grassland and Shrubland
Great Plains Sand Grassland and Shrubland
Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie
Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie
Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub
Intermountain Arroyo Riparian Scrub
Intermountain Dry Shrubland and Grassland
Intermountain Dry Shrubland and Grassland
Intermountain Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland
Intermountain Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland
Intermountain Tall Sagebrush Shrubland
Intermountain Tall Sagebrush Shrubland
Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland
Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland
Montane-Subalpine Wet Shrubland and Wet Meadow
Montane-Subalpine Wet Shrubland and Wet Meadow
Perennial Cold Water Streams
Perennial Cold Water Streams
Perennial Marsh/Cienega/Spring/Seep
Perennial Marsh/Cienega/Spring/Seep
Perennial Warm Water Streams
Perennial Warm Water Streams
Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Forest
Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Forest
Rocky Mountain Montane Riparian Forest
Rocky Mountain Montane Riparian Forest
Rocky Mountain Piñon-Juniper Woodland
Rocky Mountain Piñon-Juniper Woodland
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-High Montane Conifer Forest
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-High Montane Conifer Forest
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Meadow and Grassland
Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Meadow and Grassland
Southwest Lowland Riparian Forest
Southwest Lowland Riparian Forest
Southwest Lowland Riparian Shrubland
Southwest Lowland Riparian Shrubland
Warm-Desert Arroyo Riparian Scrub
Warm-Desert Arroyo Riparian Scrub

Threats and Conservation Actions

Result for: All
Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Residential and Commercial Development
Determine distribution and habitat needs of SGCN that reside in (e.g., Boakes et al. 2024) or near urban areas. This includes initiation and promotion of citizen or community science activities that document SGCN and other wildlife in and around urban areas. Inform municipal staff of nearby SGCN and how to minimize development-related impacts to SGCN and their habitats. Encourage community or individual enrollment, as appropriate, in programs designed to benefit particular SGCN or taxa (e.g., Monarch City USA; https://www.monarchcityusa.com/) and in wildlife habitat certification programs (e.g., National Wildlife Federation; https://certifiedwildlifehabitat.nwf.org/; Albuquerque Backyard Refuge Program; https://friendsofvalledeoro.org/abq-backyard-refuge/).Potential collaborators: universities, municipalities, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Pollution
Determine effects of, and implement actions to mitigate negative effects from, agro- (e.g., neonicotinoids, other pesticides) (Sanchez-Bayo 2021, EPA 2023) and petrochemicals, synthetic chemicals (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), microplastics, urban runoff, and other pollutants (e.g., sewage, nutrients, toxic chemicals, sediment) on SGCN, especially fish and pollinating insects, and their habitats. This includes solid waste that may entangle wildlife. Potential collaborators: EPA, NMDA, NMED, universities, local governments, municipalities, private industry.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Determine how regional and global climate change will affect SGCN, vegetation patterns (e.g., Davis et al. 2019, Coop et al. 2020, Guiterman et al. 2022, Davis et al. 2023), and community (e.g., Rosenblad et al. 2023) and ecosystem processes and dynamics, including disturbance regimes. This includes identifying SGCN (e.g., Glick et al. 2011) and associated habitats that are most likely to be negatively affected by climate change, including impacts on travel corridors, habitat connectivity, and species and habitat ranges. Identification of environmental conditions or thresholds that could limit SGCN is especially important. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, EMNRD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Biological Resource Use
Determine the distribution (historic, current, and future), composition, disturbance regimes, and function of piñon (Pinus spp.)-juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands and savannas needed by SGCN and SGCN prevalence in these habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Energy Production and Mining
Determine where energy development and mineral extraction currently, and in the future, may affect SGCN. Work with regulatory agencies to develop permitting guidelines and policies that result in siting new development in areas that minimize impacts to SGCN. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, EMNRD, NMBGMR, SLO, energy and mining companies.

Biological Resource Use
Develop and implement strategies to sustainably harvest wood products while retaining pine (Pinus spp.)-oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration, old-growth trees, large diameter snags, and coarse woody debris at densities needed by SGCN. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, SFD, SLO, private landowners.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Develop new species recovery plans that consider the current status of and limiting factors for species, as well as projected future conditions for both species and their habitats. Consider full life cycles for migratory species when feasible (e.g., KFF 2021). Potential collaborators: USFWS, non-profit organizations, species working groups.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Discourage recreation development in aspen (Populus spp.) stands to reduce exposure of aspens to injury and fungal infections. Potential collaborators: USFS.

Biological Resource Use
Enforce laws that protect SGCN populations that are often collected illegally, especially reptiles and amphibians. Longer-lived species, such as turtles, may be especially threatened by over-collection (Fitzgerald et al. 2004). Potential collaborators: BLM, DOD, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO.

Pollution
Evaluate and mitigate the effects of air pollution from industrial activities, including methane released by flaring associated with oil and gas extraction and leaking from old oil and gas wells, and in urban areas on SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Duque and Dewenter 2024). Evaluate and mitigate the effects of other types of pollution, including excess generation of heat, light, and/or sound from industrial activities, urban areas, and highways on SGCN and their habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, EMNRD, NMDOT, NMED, energy and mining companies, municipalities, utility companies.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Identify and characterize areas and routes frequented by off-highway vehicles (OHVs), including snowmobiles, and used by other recreationists, and use that information to assess the potential impacts to SGCN, other wildlife, and their habitats (e.g., Larson et al. 2016, Cretois et al. 2023, Zeller et al. 2024). This includes identifying and characterizing areas used for and impacts from unauthorized dispersed camping (Marion et al. 2018) and winter recreation activities (e.g., downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing) (Morris 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, SLO, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Identify and implement actions to mitigate the effects of climate change on SGCN and their habitats. These may include actions that assist in enhancing carbon sequestration in natural environments (e.g., appropriate forest [Mo et al. 2023] and grassland [Bai and Cotrufo 2022] conservation and management [Mo et al. 2023]), improving climate resilience of species and communities (e.g., Dyshko et al. 2024), or climate-smart projects that help maintain, or accommodate for or facilitate climate-related shifts in (e.g., Stanturf et al. 2024, USFWS 2024a), the distribution and natural functioning, including disturbance regimes, of these impacted species and habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, DOD, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, EMNRD, SLO, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Energy Production and Mining
Identify and promote best management practices that minimize the impacts (especially habitat fragmentation and direct SGCN mortality) of energy development (including of renewable energy sources [Lovich and Ennen 2011, Copping et al. 2020, Levin et al. 2023]) and mining on SGCN and their aquatic and terrestrial habitats. This includes informing and supporting resource managers in the implementation of measures to prevent direct take of SGCN associated with energy extraction and mining (e.g., use of appropriate exclusionary netting and/or fencing, bird balls, and closed containment systems at toxic sites). May also include increased use of small, localized installations (e.g., community solar development) rather than utility-scale developments (Bowlin et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, EMNRD, SLO, universities, energy and mining companies, municipalities.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Identify climate change (e.g., Michalak et al. 2020) or disturbance refugia (e.g., Rodman et al. 2023) for SGCN and their habitats and implement conservation actions to conserve, expand, or enhance these refugia. As appropriate, consider refugia when implementing conservation actions (e.g., focus on refugia when planting native plants to encourage reforestation following a fire) (Hennessy et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BOR, USFS, USGS, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Biological Resource Use Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Human Intrusions and Disturbance Pollution Residential and Commercial Development
Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Identify, designate, and promote areas for OHV and other recreational use, including dispersed camping and wildlife viewing, that avoid disturbance to, or modification of, SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, SLO, non-profit organizations.

Biological Resource Use
Inform natural-resource law enforcement staff of the distribution, life history, and habitat needs of SGCN. Partner with them to enforce laws to protect SGCN populations and habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Inform the public about the potential adverse effects of continued climate change on SGCN and their habitats and encourage development of, and data collection under, citizen and community science projects focused on SGCN and their habitats. Potential collaborators: BOR, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMSP, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Initiate a public-information campaign to inform and educate OHV users and other recreationists of both permitted and prohibited activities that can impact SGCN and other wildlife. This may include public-service announcements, print advertising, public meetings, and signs in areas frequented by OHV users and other recreationists. Ensure that the campaign presents information in ways, and using languages, accessible to a diverse public (LCJF 2022). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, SLO, local governments, non-profit organizations.

Residential and Commercial Development
Investigate the potential impacts of current and future development on SGCN and their habitats and identify ways to mitigate those impacts. This includes working with municipalities to stay informed about new developments and initiate policies that will minimize negative impacts of future developments on SGCN. This also includes promoting the development of green spaces and green infrastructure in urban areas that, where appropriate, provide habitat and resources to SGCN (Gallo et al. 2017; Threlfall et al. 2017), including pollinators (Fukase and Simons 2016; Majewska and Altizer 2020). Potential collaborators: NMDOT, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations, private landowners. Ecoregions: CP, SRM, CD

Energy Production and Mining
Maintain and expand open communication with mining and energy companies and land-management agencies to minimize adverse impacts of development to SGCN. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, EMNRD, SLO, energy and mining companies.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Monitor SGCN to determine long-term trends that correlate to ecosystem dynamics and habitat changes (e.g., Shirk et al. 2023). If feasible, identify potential limiting factors and develop and implement strategies to mitigate them. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, DOD, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Residential and Commercial Development
Participate in public-involvement opportunities when proposed developments might threaten the persistence of SGCN and their habitats. Potential collaborators: non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Climate Change and Severe Weather
Promote land-management practices, standards, and guidelines to conserve and/or restore structure and function of corridors that provide important habitat for SGCN and ability for animals to move as climate conditions change. This should include both mesic and xeric riparian communities that serve as important migratory corridors for birds and other wildlife while providing ecosystem services and wildlife corridors that link isolated mountain ranges (Powledge 2003) and coniferous forest patches. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Energy Production and Mining
Reclaim disturbed habitats impacted by resource extraction as close as possible to pre-development conditions. Rehabilitate abandoned well pads, mining sites, and associated access roads. Remove unneeded roads, transmission lines, and any other abandoned infrastructure and equipment (e.g., pits, pipelines, unused machinery). Restore native vegetation. Where feasible, maintain abandoned mines as habitat for bats and snakes by constructing appropriate bat gates on mine shafts and adits (Spanjer and Fenton 2005). Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, USFWS, EMNRD, SLO, energy and mining companies, private landowners.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Reduce adverse effects of border enforcement activities on SGCN and sensitive habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, CBP, SLO.

Residential and Commercial Development
Reduce impacts of housing developments by establishing development standards that ensure habitat integrity and functionality while minimizing wildfire threats to private residences in the wildland-urban interface. Potential collaborators: local governments, municipalities.

Biological Resource Use
Support programs that educate the public about the importance of not illegally collecting or harassing SGCN, especially reptiles and amphibians (Pierce et al 2016). Potential collaborators: BLM, DOD, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO.

Pollution
Where appropriate, develop green infrastructure and nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023) in urban areas that catch and slow stormwater runoff to prevent pollution from entering aquatic ecosystems and promote groundwater recharge. Potential collaborators: NMDOT, local governments, municipalities, private landowners.

Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Residential and Commercial Development
Where appropriate, incorporate native, pollinator-friendly plants (Glenny et al. 2022) or native plants adapted to projected future climatic conditions at the restoration site (e.g., Meek et al. 2023, Stanturf et al. 2024) into seed mixes and live plantings used in the restoration of lands affected by grazing, fire, resource extraction, energy development, or urban development. Consider reclamation site conditions, genetic diversity, and resilience to local threats when producing seedlings (Davis and Pinto 2021) and consider appropriate climate analogs when identifying appropriate seed sources (e.g., Richardson et al. 2024). When focused on benefiting pollinators, prioritize plants that are attractive to pollinators, especially SGCN; support pollinators throughout the growing season (Glenny et al. 2023); provide food for caterpillars of insect SGCN (e.g., Dumroese et al. 2016); and produce pollen with high nutritional diversity (Vaudo et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, SFD, SLO, energy and mining companies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Residential and Commercial Development
Where appropriate, incorporate native, pollinator-friendly plants (Glenny et al. 2022) or native plants adapted to projected future climatic conditions at the restoration site (e.g., Meek et al. 2023, Stanturf et al. 2024) into seed mixes and live plantings used in the restoration of lands affected by grazing, fire, resource extraction, energy development, or urban development. Consider reclamation site conditions, genetic diversity, and resilience to local threats when producing seedlings (Davis and Pinto 2021) and consider appropriate climate analogs when identifying appropriate seed sources (e.g., Richardson et al. 2024). When focused on benefiting pollinators, prioritize plants that are attractive to pollinators, especially SGCN; support pollinators throughout the growing season (Glenny et al. 2023); provide food for caterpillars of insect SGCN (e.g., Dumroese et al. 2016); and produce pollen with high nutritional diversity (Vaudo et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, SFD, SLO, energy and mining companies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Climate Change and Severe Weather Energy Production and Mining Residential and Commercial Development
Where appropriate, incorporate native, pollinator-friendly plants (Glenny et al. 2022) or native plants adapted to projected future climatic conditions at the restoration site (e.g., Meek et al. 2023, Stanturf et al. 2024) into seed mixes and live plantings used in the restoration of lands affected by grazing, fire, resource extraction, energy development, or urban development. Consider reclamation site conditions, genetic diversity, and resilience to local threats when producing seedlings (Davis and Pinto 2021) and consider appropriate climate analogs when identifying appropriate seed sources (e.g., Richardson et al. 2024). When focused on benefiting pollinators, prioritize plants that are attractive to pollinators, especially SGCN; support pollinators throughout the growing season (Glenny et al. 2023); provide food for caterpillars of insect SGCN (e.g., Dumroese et al. 2016); and produce pollen with high nutritional diversity (Vaudo et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, SFD, SLO, energy and mining companies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Pollution
Work with appropriate agencies that enforce mining and energy development regulations, Best Management Practices, and safeguards to protect water quality and minimize SGCN mortality associated with mining and energy development. Assess impacts to SGCN and their habitats from industrial activities, including mining and energy development. These impacts may include direct mortality; pollution from produced wastewater (including brine and hydraulic injection fluids), transport of extracted or waste products, or acid mine drainage; noise and light pollution from energy development activities, and sediment runoff from roads. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, EMNRD, NMED, SLO, energy and mining companies, local governments.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Work with land-management agencies to improve OHV and other recreational law enforcement with passive measures (e.g., strategically located barricades) and active measures (e.g., monitoring and enforcement patrols) to reduce negative impacts of OHVs and other recreational activities on SGCN and other wildlife. Potential collaborators: BLM, CBP, NPS, USFS, SLO.

Biological Resource Use
Work with landowners and land-management agencies to use forests, woodlands (including piñon-juniper woodlands), and savannas in a manner that maintains healthy, and returns degraded, vegetation to an improved composition and function for SGCN, while protecting grassland communities surrounding piñon-juniper woodlands from woody plant invasion. Potential collaborators: BLM, DOD, NPS, USFS, SFD, SLO, private landowners.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Work with public land-management agencies to regularly review and update OHV travel routes and recreational trails open to the public and appropriate restrictions on recreation necessary to protect SGCN and other wildlife. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, SLO.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Work with the US Department of Defense (DOD) to minimize impacts of military training exercises on SGCN in areas on or adjacent to military reservations. Potential collaborators: DOD.

Human Intrusions and Disturbance
Work with the public to educate residents and recreationists about restrictions on and potential negative impacts of free-ranging, domestic pets, especially both domestic and feral cats (Loss et al. 2013), on SGCN and other wildlife. Potential collaborators: universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Related Resources

  • Species of Greatest Conservation Need Chapter in SWAP document
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