When a species is proposed for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must consider whether there are areas of habitat believed to be essential the species conservation. Those areas may be proposed for designation as critical habitat. Critical habitat is a term defined and used in the Act. It is a specific geographic area(s) that contains features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management and protection. Critical habitat may include an area that is not currently occupied by the species but that will be needed for its recovery. An area is designated as critical habitat after the Service publishes a proposed Federal regulation in the Federal Register and receives and considers public comments on the proposal. The final boundaries of the critical habitat are also published in the Federal Register.

The Species of Greatest Conservation Need National Database is an aggregation of lists from State Wildlife Action Plans. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are wildlife species that need conservation attention as listed in action plans. In this database, we have validated scientific names from original documents against taxonomic authorities to increase consistency among names enabling aggregation and summary. This database does not replace the information contained in the original State Wildlife Action Plans. The database includes SGCN lists from 56 states, territories, and districts, encompassing action plans spanning from 2005 to 2022. State Wildlife Action Plans undergo updates at least once every 10 years by respective wildlife agencies. The SGCN list data from these action plans have been compiled in partnership with individual wildlife management agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The SGCN National Database consists of three data tables: "source_data", "process_data", and "validated_data". Most users will likely find the "sgcn_species_all_records" table that combines all three tables most useful to compare "source_" names and "validated_" names and to aggregate and summarize using validated names. The "source_data" table provides an archive of all SGCN records listed by conservation authorities over multiple actions plans, which includes the scientific names, common names, locations, and year of action plan. The "process_data" table incorporates processing information, including the archiving and processing dates along with persistent identifiers used for record documentation, while the "validated_data" table provides the taxonomic identities from the matched taxonomic source, including the standardized scientific name, common name, and taxonomic ranks as well as links to supplementary taxonomic information.

The Species of Greatest Conservation Need National Database is an aggregation of lists from State Wildlife Action Plans. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are wildlife species that need conservation attention as listed in action plans. In this database, we have validated scientific names from original documents against taxonomic authorities to increase consistency among names enabling aggregation and summary. This database does not replace the information contained in the original State Wildlife Action Plans. The database includes SGCN lists from 56 states, territories, and districts, encompassing action plans spanning from 2005 to 2022. State Wildlife Action Plans undergo updates at least once every 10 years by respective wildlife agencies. The SGCN list data from these action plans have been compiled in partnership with individual wildlife management agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The SGCN National Database consists of three data tables: "source_data", "process_data", and "validated_data". Most users will likely find the "sgcn_species_all_records" table that combines all three tables most useful to compare "source_" names and "validated_" names and to aggregate and summarize using validated names. The "source_data" table provides an archive of all SGCN records listed by conservation authorities over multiple actions plans, which includes the scientific names, common names, locations, and year of action plan. The "process_data" table incorporates processing information, including the archiving and processing dates along with persistent identifiers used for record documentation, while the "validated_data" table provides the taxonomic identities from the matched taxonomic source, including the standardized scientific name, common name, and taxonomic ranks as well as links to supplementary taxonomic information.

This is an aggregate national dataset describing the geographic boundaries of the ACEC within the BLM managed public lands. The designated ACECs are "areas within the public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources or other natural systems of processes, or to protect life and safety from natural hazards."

This is an aggregate national dataset describing the geographic boundaries of the ACEC within the BLM managed public lands. The designated ACECs are "areas within the public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources or other natural systems of processes, or to protect life and safety from natural hazards."

This is an aggregate national dataset describing the geographic boundaries of the ACEC within the BLM managed public lands. The designated ACECs are "areas within the public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources or other natural systems of processes, or to protect life and safety from natural hazards."

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Boundary of the conservation assessment of Greater Sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat conducted by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The boundary is derived from the pre-settlement distribution of the Sage-grouse.