{"id":1571,"date":"2025-06-03T17:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T21:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/?page_id=1571"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:41:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:41:00","slug":"sgcn","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/","title":{"rendered":"SGCN"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Species of Greatest Conservation Need<\/h1>\n

New Jersey\u2019s Species of Greatest Conservation Need help sustain biodiversity, support ecosystem services, and <\/span>indicate<\/span> environmental health\u2014making their protection crucial for wildlife and human communities alike.<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n

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Species of Greatest Conservation Need in New Jersey<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]New Jersey is home to more than 3,700 native animals<\/strong> and 5,000 native plants<\/strong>. The State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 742 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)<\/strong> \u2014 species that are at risk, declining, or in need of management attention. In 2025, New Jersey shifted to a habitat-focused approach, recognizing that conserving habitats is the most effective way to safeguard these species.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

SGCN Overview<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 614 animal and 128 plant species that are New Jersey\u2019s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). SGCN are defined as having small or declining populations, are at-risk, and\/or are of management concern. New Jersey\u2019s list of SGCN includes amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, marine and freshwater fish, invertebrates (including pollinators), plants, and fungi.<\/p>\n

In 2017, New Jersey identified 107 Focal Species to elevate as priorities to focus our collective conservation work. In our 2025 Plan, New Jersey moved away from a species-specific approach and to a habitat-focused approach. However, to help prioritize species based on need, SGCN are assigned to one of three categories: State\/Federal listed, At-Risk SGCN, and Data Deficient SGCN. Those that are in the State\/Federal category are at the highest risk of extinction or extirpation from the State. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife\u2019s Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project identified 72 species of animal SGCN facing the greatest risk from road mortality, increasing their risk of genetic isolation. For these species, it is critical to focus on methods that allow animals to safely travel between habitats as well as protecting the intact habitat connections currently between patches.<\/p>\n

For the simplified list of all SGCN and their classification, see NJ\u2019s 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need \u2013 Simple<\/a><\/strong> <\/i>.<\/p>\n

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are identified in the Regions<\/a><\/strong> in which they occur and the Habitats<\/a><\/strong> they require to complete their life cycle in New Jersey. NJ\u2019s SWAP focuses on the conservation Actions<\/a><\/strong> that can be taken at the habitat level rather than the species level. Focusing conservation actions on critical habitats will improve the overall condition of the SGCN that rely on those habitats. There are also species-specific conservation actions to address threats facing some species.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

SGCN Quick Facts<\/h2>\n

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Animal SGCN<\/p>\n

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Plant SGCN<\/p>\n

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Conservation Categories<\/p>\n

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Connectivity Focal Species<\/p>\n

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SGCN Conservation Category and Connectivity Focal Species Definitions<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Regulated Species of Greatest Conservation Need<\/strong>: SGCN species that are on the <\/span>New Jersey regulatory list<\/span><\/a> with a status of endangered, threatened, or special concern, or are listed or proposed for listing by the USFWS. These species are considered priority SGCN. They number 221 animals and 0 plants.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Species of Greatest Conservation Need<\/strong>: Native species with declining populations or vulnerabilities expected to benefit from strategic conservation attention. They total 262 animals and 105 plants.<\/p>\n

Data Deficient Species of Greatest Conservation Need<\/strong>: Species for which more information is needed to fully understand status and trends to determine the level of conservation concern or SGCN status. They total 131 animals and 23 plants.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Connectivity Focal Species<\/strong>:<\/span> Terrestrial wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) that NJ\u2019s Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project determined face potentially significant risk from lack of habitat connectivity or isolation of habitats that may jeopardize the species’ long-term viability. Source: <\/span>CHANJ Species<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Methods for Determining SGCN<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are foundational to all State Wildlife Action Plans. In the NJ Plan, SGCN were selected based on data sources and criteria outlined in detail. To provide a transparent and clearly defined mechanism for identifying SGCN, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJFW) leverages the efforts of agencies and organizations that classify species\u2019 relative risk of imperilment.<\/p>\n

The SGCN list was developed by evaluating all of New Jersey\u2019s native wildlife species using standardized conservation criteria at the state, region, national, and global level. Each taxonomic group also included the best available data for that specific group such as reports and plans that listed or ranked at-risk species based on a variety of vulnerability factors.<\/p>\n

The New Jersey Natural Heritage Program worked with a Rare Plant Technical Advisory Group to select a subset of 128 species from NJ\u2019s 365 State Endangered Plants, federally listed plants, and globally imperiled plants and fungi to include as SGCN in the SWAP.<\/p>\n

A species meeting any one or more of the assessment criteria was added to the SGCN list. That list was reviewed by taxa experts in a fatal flaw analysis and any change of status or classification required justification. For complete details for animals see APPENDIX A<\/a><\/strong> <\/i>. See APPENDIX A1<\/a><\/strong> <\/i> for plant selection details.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Explore by Species<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Mammals” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/mammals\/” bgimg=”3790″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Birds” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/birds\/” bgimg=”3789″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Reptiles” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/reptiles\/” bgimg=”3788″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Amphibians” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/amphibians\/” bgimg=”3787″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Fish” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/fish\/” bgimg=”3786″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Invertebrates” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/invertebrates\/” bgimg=”3785″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Plants and Fungi” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/plants-and-fungi\/” bgimg=”3784″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][info-box-shortcode title=”Data Deficient Species (SGCN)” buttontitle=”EXPLORE THESE SPECIES >” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/sgcn\/data-deficient\/” bgimg=”3783″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][wpdatatable id=”10″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4013″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_column_text css=””] Species of Greatest Conservation Need New Jersey\u2019s Species of Greatest Conservation Need help sustain biodiversity, support ecosystem services, and indicate environmental health\u2014making their protection crucial for wildlife and human communities alike. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][breadcrumb-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”4012″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””] Species of Greatest Conservation Need in New Jersey [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]New […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":254,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1571","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/254"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1571"}],"version-history":[{"count":62,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4463,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1571\/revisions\/4463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}