---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2903"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2903"
heading: "Conservation plans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2903"
units:
  - "Chapter 49 — Fish and Wildlife Conservation"
---

# §2903. Conservation plans


The [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2) for any [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) must—

- (1) provide for the vesting in the [designated State agency](/usc/16/2902.md?p=4) of the overall responsibility for the development and revision of the [conservation plan](/usc/16/2902.md?p=2);
- (2) provide for an inventory of the [nongame fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=6), and such other [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/2902.md?p=5) as the [designated State agency](/usc/16/2902.md?p=4) deems appropriate, that are within the [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) and are valued for ecological, educational, esthetic, cultural, recreational, economic, or scientific benefits by the public;
- (3) with respect to those species identified under [paragraph (2)](#2) (hereinafter in this section referred to as “plan species”), provide for—
  - (A) the determination of the size, range, and distribution of their populations, and
  - (B) the identification of the extent, condition, and location of their significant habitats;
- (4) identify the significant problems which may adversely affect the plan species and their significant habitats;
- (5) determine those actions which should be taken to [conserve](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) the plan species and their significant habitats;
- (6) establish priorities for implementing the [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions determined under [paragraph (5)](#5);
- (7) provide for the monitoring, on a regular basis, of the plan species and the effectiveness of the [conservation](/usc/16/2902.md?p=3) actions determined under [paragraph (5)](#5);
- (8) provide for plan review and revision, if appropriate, at intervals of not more than 3 years;
- (9) ensure that the public be given opportunity to make its views known and considered during the development, revision, and implementation of the plan; and
- (10) provide that the [designated State agency](/usc/16/2902.md?p=4) consult, as appropriate, with Federal agencies, and other [State](/usc/16/2902.md?p=8) agencies during the development, revision, and implementation of the plan, in order to minimize duplication of efforts and to ensure that the best information is available to all such agencies.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–366, § 4, Sept. 29, 1980, 94 Stat. 1323.)