Paul Hammel
LINCOLN — Public input is being sought on the updating of a state plan to reverse the decline of at-risk wildlife and plant species and preserve key habitats in Nebraska.
Six open house-style meetings are scheduled in January to gather comments on a required update of the state wildlife acton plan, formally known as the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project.
The voluntary, incentive-based plan, created by Congress in 2001, provides a “blueprint” in seeking to reverse the decline of at-risk species so they do not need to be listed as threatened or endangered federally or by the state.
More than 700 species are listed as “at-risk” in Nebraska, including the burrowing owl, Eastern red bat and Monarch butterfly.
A number of Nebraska conservation and farm groups are listed as partners in putting together the plan, which is coordinated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It is part of a nationwide effort to address the needs of declining wildlife populations.
Nebraska’s wildlife action plan initially was published in 2005, and it was updated in 2011. Its next update will be released in 2025.
Open houses are scheduled from 6:30-8 p.m., unless otherwise noted:
- Jan. 10 in Beatrice, Beatrice Public Library, 100 N. 16th St., 5:30-7 p.m.
- Jan. 17 in North Platte, UNL Extension – West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road.
- Jan. 18 in Wood River, Crane Trust, 9325 S. Alda Road.
- Jan. 23 in O’Neill, Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District, 301 N. Harrison St.
- Jan. 24 in Norfolk, Lower Elkhorn NRD, 1508 Square Turn Blvd.
Six open houses were already held in 2023.