Glossary

Species that members of the Northeast Fish and Wildlife Diversity Technical Committee have identified as being of conservation concern (very high, high, or moderate) and which have a significant portion of the population occurring in the northeastern states

Species whose populations are declining or that have limited abundance in a state and have been identified in the state's State Wildlife Action Plan.

The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (States) Federal grant funds to develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Eligible activities include planning and conservation implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of a State Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the Service. Implementation activities are activities that a State carries out to execute their Plan. Priority for use of these funds must be placed on identified species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) and should take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of these species. Ineligible activities include wildlife education and law enforcement activities, unless they are a minor or incidental component considered critical to the success of a project. The Program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law No. 115-141).

The purpose of the Northeast RCN Grant Program is to address critical landscape-scale wildlife conservation needs by combining the resources of numerous wildlife management agencies, leveraging funds, and prioritizing conservation actions identified in Northeast State Wildlife Action Plans.

State Wildlife Action Plans serve as the blueprints for conserving our nation's fish and wildlife and preventing endangered species. In 2005, each state, territory and District Columbia submitted their plan for approval to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a condition for receiving funding through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program. The plans were reviewed and revised in 2015.

The next major revision will be completed by 2025.

The array of resources, and physical, and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. Northeast RSGCN and Watchlist species have been associated with the coarse regional habitat classification system of 24 habitat types.

An activity or process that has caused, is causing or may cause the destruction, degradation and/or impairment of biodiversity and natural processes. Northeast regional threats classifications are consistent with the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) Direct Threats Classification System version 2.0 and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated Direct Threats Classification System, version 3.2.

The proportion of a species' North American or North Atlantic Range overlapping the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia as well as the Canadian Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Novia Scotia, New Foundland, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. 

Taxa teams identified Regional Responsibility Overriding Factors (ROF) to document the reasons for designating a species as RSGCN to clarify RSGCN status when it does not otherwise meet the Regional Responsibility criteria.

Taxa teams identified Regional Concern Overriding Factors (COF) to document the reasons for designating a species as RSGCN to clarify RSGCN status when it does not otherwise meet Concern selection criteria.