Report on Wolf Conservation in New York and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A coalition of conservation organizations has formally urged the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to include the gray wolf in the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) as a species of greatest conservation need. This action is presented as a critical step for New York to align its conservation strategies with neighboring states and fulfill its commitments to global biodiversity targets, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land). The inclusion would enable the state to access federal funding for conservation and support the natural recovery of an ecologically vital apex predator, thereby contributing to the restoration of ecosystem balance.

Advancing SDG 15: Life on Land

The primary impetus for this recommendation is the direct alignment with the objectives of SDG 15, which calls for halting biodiversity loss and protecting threatened species. The re-establishment of wolves in New York is integral to achieving these targets.

• Halting Biodiversity Loss (Target 15.5): Conservation groups argue that omitting wolves and other native carnivores from the SWAP undermines efforts to restore a balanced and biodiverse landscape. As apex predators, wolves play a crucial role in maintaining the health of terrestrial ecosystems.
• Protecting Threatened Species (Target 15.5): The gray wolf is a federally protected species. By officially recognizing its presence and conservation needs within the SWAP, New York would take significant action to protect a threatened species and prevent its local extinction.
• Integrating Biodiversity into Planning (Target 15.9): The SWAP is a decadal planning document. Including wolves would integrate key biodiversity values into state-level environmental strategy, a core component of SDG 15.

Strengthening Institutions and Partnerships (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

The call to action also highlights the need for effective governance and collaborative efforts, reflecting the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Effective and Accountable Institutions (Target 16.6): Critics express disappointment in the DEC’s proposal to exclude large carnivores, urging the department to follow scientific evidence and public input to become a more effective institution, in line with regional conservation leaders like Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire.
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (Target 17.17): The advocacy is led by the Northeast Wolf Recovery Alliance, a coalition of nearly 20 organizations. This represents a strong civil society partnership working to influence public policy and guide long-term recovery efforts, demonstrating a key mechanism for achieving the SDGs.

Regional Analysis and Key Challenges

Data indicates that wolves are already returning to the Northeast, making a coordinated, regional conservation strategy essential. Several key factors underscore the urgency of New York’s participation.

1. Confirmed Wolf Presence: At least 11 wolves are known to have been killed south of the St. Lawrence River since 1993, including three in New York, with the most recent case in December 2021. This confirms that wolves are actively dispersing into their historic territories.
2. The Threat of Mistaken Identity: A primary obstacle to wolf recovery is the killing of wolves mistaken for coyotes. This highlights a critical need for enhanced educational programs and regulations to protect wild canids, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by raising public awareness.
3. Legislative Gaps: For two years, conservation groups have supported state legislation to require mandatory reporting of all wild canids killed by hunters. This would allow the state to collect crucial DNA and population data, a necessary step for informed conservation management.

Recommendations for New York State

To align with regional conservation efforts and meet sustainability objectives, the following actions are recommended for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:

• Formally designate the gray wolf as a “species of greatest conservation need” in the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan.
• Utilize this designation to leverage federal funds for proactive conservation and monitoring measures.
• Collaborate with neighboring states to develop a cohesive, regional approach to wolf protection and management.
• Implement educational initiatives to help hunters distinguish between wolves and coyotes, thereby reducing accidental killings of a protected species.
• Support and enact legislation requiring hunters and trappers to report all wild canids killed, allowing for tissue sampling and genetic analysis.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on the protection and recovery of a specific terrestrial species, the wolf. It discusses halting biodiversity loss by protecting an apex predator, restoring a balanced ecosystem, and taking urgent action to prevent the extinction of a threatened species. The call to include wolves in the State Wildlife Action Plan is a direct effort to protect terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     The article emphasizes the need for collaboration to achieve conservation goals. It details the actions of the Northeast Wolf Recovery Alliance, a coalition of nearly 20 organizations, which exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership. Furthermore, it repeatedly calls for a regional approach, urging New York to follow the lead of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, which points to the need for partnerships between public institutions (state governments) to create a coordinated conservation strategy.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This goal is relevant as the article centers on the role and responsibility of a state institution, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The conservation groups are advocating for the DEC to create effective and accountable policies by including wolves in the state wildlife plan. The push for new legislation to require the reporting of killed canids is an effort to strengthen institutional processes and ensure the rule of law is applied to federally protected species.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.”

     The article’s central theme is the urgent call to protect the wolf, a federally protected and threatened species, to prevent its local extinction and restore its population in the Northeast. The effort to get wolves listed as a “species of greatest conservation need” is a direct action aimed at achieving this target.

   • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna…”

     The article highlights that federally protected wolves are being killed, often because they are mistaken for coyotes. This killing of a protected species, whether intentional or not, falls under the scope of this target. Proposed actions, such as programs to help hunters distinguish between the species and enacting restrictions on coyote killing, are measures to end the illegal killing of wolves.

   • Target 15.9: “…integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning…”

     The primary request from the conservation groups is for the New York DEC to include wolves and their ecological importance (“iconic apex predators”) into the 2025 state wildlife action plan. This plan is a key instrument of state-level planning, and this action represents a direct integration of biodiversity values into official state strategy.

   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…”

     The article is a clear example of civil society partnerships (the Northeast Wolf Recovery Alliance, Protect the Adirondacks, Center for Biological Diversity, etc.) working to influence public institutions. The call for New York to coordinate with neighboring states like Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire is an appeal for an effective public-public partnership to manage a species that crosses state borders.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • Inclusion of wolves in State Wildlife Action Plans:

     The article explicitly uses this as a metric for progress, stating that “New Hampshire and Maine have included wolves in their wildlife plans and Vermont is poised to do so.” Whether or not New York includes wolves in its 2025 plan is a direct, measurable indicator of progress towards Target 15.9.

   • Number of protected wolves killed:

     The article provides specific data, stating, “At least 11 wolves are known to have been killed south of the St. Lawrence River since 1993… Three of those wolves were killed in New York.” This count serves as a direct indicator of the threats facing the species and can be used to measure the effectiveness of protection measures under Target 15.7.

   • Implementation of new legislation and policies:

     The article mentions proposed state legislation “to require hunters and trappers to report to the state wildlife agency any wild canids they’ve killed.” The passage and enforcement of this legislation would be a clear indicator of institutional strengthening and action towards protecting wolves.

   • Establishment of regional coordination:

     The article implies that a key indicator of success would be the adoption of a “regional approach to protecting wild canids based on shared information and coordination across the region.” The formation of formal or informal agreements and data-sharing protocols between New York, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire would be a measurable outcome related to Target 17.17.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: biologicaldiversity.org