COnservation actions and Priorities

Conservation Actions have been developed to best address the threats to the VI and Regional SGCN. Through a prioritization process described below, the actions were placed in three tiers, with Tier 1 actions being those that we will prioritize for funding and project development. Tier 2 and 3 actions may be implemented if opportunities arise. In the species profiles matrix, the Tier 1 actions that benefit each SGCN are listed in Column R (Conservation Actions).

Tier 1 priority actions are organized under four themes. Smart goals have been set for each action within these themes. Further information about monitoring, SGCN, and outcomes are outlined in a table below.

1. Protection and Land/Species Security

   • Habitats and Corridors: Establish long-term monitoring of habitats and species suites with a focus on the Conservation Opportunity Areas and corridors identified through the SECAS analysis. SGCN that are known to be found in COAS are designated on the species matrix in Column N, however this information will be fine tuned as we are able to fill our data gaps and build robust monitoring programs. Use monitorign data and existing information and plans to protect and restore habitat within COAs and corridors.

     • Smart Goal: By 2027, complete mapping of 100% of priority migration corridors and create an implementation plan to restore at least 5 acres of degraded habitat using green infrastructure practices created by our baseline wetland mitigation designs.

     • Smart Goal: By 2028, establish baseline monitoring in three COAs, ideally one on each island.

   • Population Protection: Implement management actions to protect imperiled species, with a focus on federally listed species such as the VI Tree Boa, the St. Croix Ground Lizard, Roseate Terns, and sea turtles

     • Smart Goal: By 2030, implement at least 3 species reintroduction or augmentation projects, with a target of 10% increase in population abundance for each focal species through 2035.

   • Wildlife Health: Establish protocols and relationships for wildlife disease monitoring 

     • Smart Goal: By 2027, establish wildlife disease surveillance protocols for at least 5 priority species and train VIDA and DOH staff in rapid response for wildlife disease. Hire a wildlife disease research assistant.

2. Capacity and Resources

   • Staffing and Training: Build agency capacity to successfully manage these programs 

     • Smart Goal: By 2026, establish a train-the-trainer program that certifies at least 50% of staff, contractors, and volunteers each year.

   • Funding Partnerships: Increase and expand funding opportunities

     • Smart Goal: By 2030, secure at least 3 multi-year competitive grants and apportioned money and increase grant submissions by 10%.

3. Knowledge and Data

   • Data Gaps: Fill SGCN data gaps through multi-species monitoring efforts including acoustic monitoring for birds, bats, and amphibians;  further surveys for terrestrial invertebrates especially pollinators, freshwater fauna, plants

     • Smart Goal: By 2030, complete baseline inventories for 30% of SGCN (Species of Greatest Conservation Need) and publish at least one scenario planning report.

4. Engagement and Incentives

   • Incentives: Promote landowner agreements through partnerships with agencies such as USDA and develop private land restoration incentives

     • Smart Goal: By 2030, enroll at least 3 private landowners in conservation agreements covering 3% (2,573 acres) of habitat by 2035.

To increase our capacity to implement these actions, we will rely on partnerships. Part of the work of the Division of Fish and Wildlife will be to monitor the actions taken by all stakeholders in the U.S. Virgin Islands community to determine if we are collectively making progress towards our thematic actions or to readjust priorities to adapt to changing conditions and needs. To that end, DFW will be initiating an annual gathering of conservation stakeholders to review the SWAP, provide updates, and present research and conservation initiatives and findings. This effort will align with the annual Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice (CCCoP) gathering.

Methods for prioritization:

The actions were ranked during the 2025 feedback period to help the USVI focus its resources. We created a survey asking candidates to select the most important 3 of 13 focus areas binning the 63 actions included in the 2015 SWAP actions.  The top actions received a selection from at least 40% of respondents, which we're calling Tier 1, a larger group received a selection from 20 - 30% of respondents, which we're calling Tier 2, and some actions received a selection from fewer than 20% of respondents, which we're calling Tier 3 as being little supported at this time. 

1. Tier 1 (supported actions) - 4 focus areas: 

   1. 1. Staffing and funding

      2. Data collection and analysis

      3. Direct habitat and species management

      4. Incentives for stakeholders

2. Tier 2 (partially supported actions)  - 7 focus areas: 

   1. 1. Technical training for stakeholders

      2. Species reintroductions

      3. Property acquisition

      4. Species management plans

      5. Stakeholder engagement

      6. Designating protected areas

      7. Outreach and education plans

3. Tier 3 (little support) - 2 focus areas: 

   1. 1. Technical assistance to stakeholders

      2. Environmental review of government permits and plans