Conservation Planning Toolbox

Our biologists are here to share effective practices that protect fish, plants, and wildlife and their habitats. This collection of resources can help in planning your future projects or simply learn about imperiled species and best conservation practices.

How can we help?

  1. Species Info
  2. Project Review
  3. Conservation Measures
  4. Energy Industry Guidance
  5. Survey Guidance
  6. Federal Programmatic Agreements
  7. Emergency Consultation Resources
Northern long-eared bat, North Carolina, 2016

About Our Species

Georgia is home to more than 600 species of plants and animals of conservation concern. While 76 of these are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, some species are experiencing population declines and do not have any protection by Federal or state law. Our mission is to educate community members about the incredible biodiversity found in Georgia and to share ways that we can all help to conserve species.

Requesting Project Review by Your State and Federal Agencies

The State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources and bet365下载ios can provide information about species near a project area and recommend conservation practices that help protect species during development projects.

State Agency Project Review

To request review of your proposed project by our State agency, please visit the .

Endangered Species Act Project Review

To request review of your proposed project by our agency, please visit the . IPaC IPaC
Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) is a project planning tool that streamlines the USbet365下载ios environmental review process

Learn more about IPaC
is a free tool for learning about the federally protected species that may occur in your area or project footprint. There, you can request a Official Species Report and use "determination keys" that help in determining whether a project may impact a species. Currently, the follow determination keys are available for Georgia and more are coming soon: Northern long-eared bat, Multi-state Indiana bat. The USbet365下载ios Georgia Ecological Services Project Planning and Review page will help you prepare a report to send to our team for feedback. Please reach out to request assistance in the planning stages.

How to Add Map Layers on IPaC for Project Planning

  1. From the IPaC Home Page, click "Get Started".
  2. In the left navigation bar, find the "Layers" menu, and click "Add".
  3. You will see a series of folders (e.g., Biological Data, Environmental Data). Click the small right-facing arrow to expand these folders and activate different map layers that are available. Then click "OK".
  4. The data layer you activated should now appear on your map!

Conservation Measures

Ephemeral wetland in longleaf pine ecosystem, Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina, 2019. Gopher frog habitat and release site. Photo by Melanie Olds, 2019

Energy Industry-Specific Considerations

Solar Energy

Survey Guidelines

Federal Programmatic Agreements

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District - Effect Determination Guidance Tools (EDGES)
  • Federal Highway Administration -  for Interagency Consultation among the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division and bet365下载ios's Georgia Ecological Services, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Federally Insured Loan and Grant Projects - Region wide clearance letter for projects that meet criteria for "no effect" determinations
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency - Section 7 Section 7
    Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.

    Learn more about Section 7
    consultation guidance developed by USDA-FSA and Georgia Ecological Services - GAES clearance letter for FSA Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program, Farm Storage Facility Loan, Tree Assistance Program, and FSA Loan Activities
  • U.S. Federal Communications Commission - Georgia Ecological Services Clearance to Proceed with Construction or Co-location of New Communications Towers less than 200 feet Above Ground Level in accordance with FCC Environmental Review Rules and Guidelines - Document

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Story Tags

Endangered and/or Threatened species
Resource management