The Delaware Native Species Commission (DNSC) was established in 2018 through Senate Bill 22 in direct response to the recommendations of the Statewide Ecological Extinction Task Force. Its purpose is to coordinate efforts to protect, conserve, and promote Delaware’s native species and habitats.

The Commission consists of members from state agencies, academic institutions, conservation nonprofits, and the public. DNSC develops science-based policy recommendations, supports native plant landscaping initiatives, engages the public through outreach and education, and fosters volunteer and citizen science participation in biodiversity monitoring. It works closely with DNREC and other partners to advance ecological stewardship across the state.

View enabling legislation (SB 22)
See annual reports
About the Commission

The Statewide Ecological Extinction Task Force was created in 2017 by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20 of the Delaware General Assembly. Its mission was to investigate the decline of native species and ecological health in Delaware and to recommend actionable strategies to reverse these trends. The Task Force included scientists, educators, government representatives, and nonprofit leaders.

In December 2017, the Task Force submitted a final report outlining key recommendations—such as prioritizing native plant landscaping, improving invasive species management, expanding public education, and strengthening research and data collection.

These recommendations led directly to the formation of the Delaware Native Species Commission (DNSC) in 2018, established by law to implement the Task Force’s proposals and to serve as a long-term steward of biodiversity and native species conservation in the state.

Read the Final Report
See Task Force details

Delaware’s ecosystems are facing mounting pressures from habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, urban development, and the intensifying effects of climate change. As native plants and animals disappear, we also lose critical ecological services—such as pollination, clean water, flood mitigation, and soil stability.

This work is crucial because protecting biodiversity strengthens Delaware’s resilience to environmental stressors, sustains agriculture and food systems, enhances public health, and preserves the state’s natural and cultural heritage. By restoring healthy ecosystems, we ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from the rich natural resources that define the First State.
Explore Why It Matters

Delaware supports a rich variety of life: over 1,640 native plant species, 400+ bird species, 90 fish, 100 reptiles and amphibians, and 60 mammals. However, many species are in decline due to habitat loss, invasive plants, and water quality degradation. The 2024 State of Delaware Biodiversity Report notes that nearly one-third of Delaware’s plant species are rare or uncommon, and multiple native animals are at risk of local extinction.

Despite these challenges, Delaware remains an ecological linchpin in the *Atlantic Flyway, providing globally significant habitats such as salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, and tidal estuaries. These ecosystems are crucial not just for migratory birds and aquatic species, but for climate resilience and coastal protection.
View the Full Biodiversity Report (2024)

Ecological extinction occurs when a species still exists but no longer fulfills its role in the ecosystem. This can result from severe population decline, habitat fragmentation, or loss of ecological partners (e.g., pollinators, host plants).

Delaware addressed this concern through the Statewide Ecological Extinction Task Force, which emphasized early intervention and native species restoration to prevent cascading losses in biodiversity.
EETF Final Report (2017)

• Native species are organisms that evolved in Delaware and its surrounding ecosystems over thousands of years. These species are adapted to local conditions and have co-evolved with other wildlife, soil systems, and climate.
• Non-native species (also called introduced, exotic, or alien) are those that humans have brought—intentionally or accidentally—from other regions. Many are harmless, but some can disrupt local ecosystems.
• Invasive species are a subset of non-native species that spread aggressively, outcompete native flora and fauna, and degrade natural habitats. In Delaware, common invasive species include Japanese honeysuckle, English ivy, and the nutria.

Understanding these differences helps guide responsible landscaping, restoration, and land management decisions.
For more on Invasive Species check out our iNaturalist Guide

A native species is one that occurs naturally in a region and has not been introduced by human activity. In Delaware, native species have evolved in place for millennia, forming complex ecological relationships with soil microbes, pollinators, birds, and mammals. They are best suited to the local climate, require less irrigation and fertilizer, and support essential wildlife.

Examples of Delaware native species include the white oak, milkweed, cardinal flower, Eastern box turtle, and American goldfinch.
Using native species in landscaping and restoration not only supports biodiversity but also helps stabilize ecosystems and lower maintenance costs.
Native Plants & Animals Overview
University of Delaware Native Plant Guide

Delaware Naturally partners with many organizations that maintain extensive resources on native plants, including species databases, planting guides, gardening tools, and nursery directories. Key resources include:

• Mt. Cuba Center Native Plant Finder – A searchable tool to identify native plants based on site conditions
• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension – Publisher of the Plants for a Livable Delaware guide series
• Flora of Delaware Online Database (DELFLORA) – Scientific plant records for Delaware flora
• National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder – Discover native plant species by ZIP code
• Delaware Nursery & Landscape Association (DNLA) – Retail and wholesale native plant sources in Delaware

Additional support is available through hands-on programming from Mt. Cuba Center and the Delaware Nature Society, which offer seasonal workshops, guided garden tours, and plant sales.
Native Plants Overview
UD Native Plant Guide
DELFLORA Database

Native plants form the backbone of healthy ecosystems. They provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds—as well as birds, amphibians, and small mammals. For example, White oak trees can host over 500 species of caterpillars, which are essential food for nesting birds.

In contrast, many ornamental non-native plants offer little to no ecological value. By planting natives, Delaware residents directly support biodiversity, build resilience against climate stress, and contribute to habitat restoration—no matter the scale.
Explore Native Planting Resources

A keystone species has an outsized impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Removing a keystone species can cause ecological collapse. In Delaware oak (Quercus), birch (Betula), blueberries (Vaccinium), and goldenrod (Solidago) are all considered keystone plants because they support hundreds of insects, and pollinators. Animals like horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)  (vital to shorebird migrations) and beavers (Castor canadensis) (natural engineers of wetlands) are also considered keystone animals. Delaware Naturally promotes planting keystone species to maximize ecological benefits in restoration and gardening.
View Keystone Plants by Ecoregion (NWF)

Several important policies safeguard native biodiversity in Delaware:

• Senate Bill 22 (2018) – Established the Delaware Native Species Commission
• Delaware Invasive Plant Law – Prohibits sale of high-risk invasive plant species
• New Castle County Executive Order No. 2018-10 – Requires native plant use in all new public landscaping projects
• Executive Order 13112 (Federal) – Defines and outlines invasive species management responsibilities for federal agencies

These policies are reinforced through collaborative enforcement by DNREC, municipalities, and landscaping professionals.
Delaware Invasive Plant List (PDF)
SB22 Overview

Start by observing your yard’s light, soil, and moisture conditions. Then:

• Use a tool like the Cuba Native Plant Finder or the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder to select appropriate species
• Choose keystone plants that support pollinators and birds

• Replace invasive ornamentals with native alternatives
• Cluster native species to create habitat “patches”
• Avoid pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to support insect life

Native landscaping can be beautiful, low-maintenance, and its ecologically valuable.
UD Native Plants Guide

For specific planting guidance, whether you’re restoring habitat or enhancing your garden, the following resources offer tailored advice for Delaware landscapes:

• Mt. Cuba Center Trial Garden Reports – Compare species performance in local conditions
• UD Sustainable Landscapes – Plants for a Livable Delaware – Research-based guides
• Gardenia Delaware Native Plants Directory – Filter by sun/shade, bloom time, and soil
• DNLA Native Plant Directory (PDF) – Local retail and wholesale nurseries
• Mt. Cuba Featured Plants and Plant Introductions – Tested for resilience and pollinator benefit

Each guide provides recommendations based on ecological compatibility, helping you avoid invasive species, prioritize plants that support local pollinators, restore habitat, and stand up to changing climate conditions.
More Planting Resources

An invasive species is a non-native organism that spreads rapidly and causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health. In Delaware, invasive plants like Japanese stiltgrass, Bradford pear, and English ivy can crowd out native vegetation, disrupt ecosystems, and degrade habitat for wildlife. Invasive insects and animals, such as the spotted lanternfly or blue catfish, can threaten native populations and destabilize food webs. The issue is so severe that Delaware enacted laws restricting certain invasive plants, and maintains an official list through DNREC. Managing invasives is a top priority for the Delaware Native Species Commission and is essential to restoring ecological health statewide.
Delaware Invasive Species Hub
State Invasive Plant List (PDF)
Invasive Plant Law – Delaware Code

Invasive species are often introduced—intentionally or accidentally—through human activities. Common pathways include:

• Horticulture and Landscaping: Many invasive plants, like English ivy and Bradford pear, were introduced as ornamentals before their ecological harm was known.
• Pet and Aquarium Trade: Released animals or aquatic plants can escape into the wild (e.g., red-eared slider turtles).
• Shipping and Travel: Insects and seeds can hitchhike in cargo, packaging, or ballast water.
• Construction and Development: Soil movement spreads invasive plant seeds or root fragments.
  Understanding these pathways helps us prevent future invasions through responsible consumer choices, early detection, and policy enforcement.
  Invasive Species Info

You can explore Delaware’s invasive species threats, policies, and management strategies through the following resources:

• Delaware Naturally – Invasive Species Hub – Provides an overview of invasive plants and animals in the state, their impacts on ecosystems, and ways residents can help
• Delaware Invasive Species Council (DISC) – A coalition of scientists, agencies, and land managers dedicated to invasive species control in Delaware. Offers identification tools, current regulations, and funding opportunities
• Delaware Invasive Plant List (PDF) – Official list of regulated plant species banned or discouraged in landscaping and restoration
• Delaware Invasive Fish List (PDF) – Lists harmful non-native fish species and their ecological impacts
• Non-Native Plants of Delaware (2024) – A comprehensive inventory of introduced species with conservation notes

These resources are updated regularly and are essential for anyone managing land, gardening, educating others, or supporting native habitats.

Delaware’s unique geography—coastal plains, tidal marshes, forests, and uplands—supports a range of ecosystems vital to native species and environmental health. Key habitats include:

• Freshwater Wetlands: Critical for amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl, and flood control
• Salt Marshes & Estuaries: Provide breeding grounds for fish, shellfish, and migratory birds
• Coastal Dunes and Beaches: Home to shorebirds, horseshoe crabs, and rare plants
• Upland Forests and Meadows: Shelter for pollinators, songbirds, and mammals
• Pine Barrens and Pitch Pine–Oak Forests: Rare and localized in southern Delaware, these fire-adapted ecosystems host unique biodiversity and are considered high-priority for conservation due to their limited extent in the state.

These habitats face increasing pressure from development, pollution, and climate change. Delaware’s conservation efforts aim to preserve large, connected, and functioning natural areas.
Explore Ecosystems
Delaware Wetland Plant Field Guide

• Preservation is the act of protecting natural areas or species from any human interference or development. It emphasizes leaving nature untouched and intact, often through legal designations such as nature preserves, wilderness areas, or conservation easements. In Delaware, preservation efforts focus on safeguarding remaining high-quality habitats and preventing disturbance to rare or sensitive species.
• Conservation focuses on managing natural areas to prevent degradation while allowing for some sustainable human use. This includes practices like land acquisition, invasive species control, and thoughtful development policies that balance ecological protection with human activity.
• Restoration is the process of actively repairing ecosystems that have been damaged or degraded. It involves actions like replanting native species, removing invasives, rebuilding wetlands, and reintroducing species that have been lost.

All three approaches are essential. Preservation safeguards what remains, conservation prevents future damage, and restoration tries to heal what’s been lost. Delaware Naturally promotes each of these strategies through public education, partner collaboration, and landowner engagement.
Make a Difference in Delaware

Delaware is home to numerous rare and declining species, many of which are listed as threatened, endangered, or of conservation concern at the state or federal level. Notable examples include:

• Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) – Federally listed; this small wetland turtle is threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection
• Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) – A beach-nesting shorebird vulnerable to habitat disturbance and predation
• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) – Declining due to road mortality, habitat fragmentation, and slow reproductive rates
• Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) – An endangered anadromous fish found in the Delaware River and Bay
• Canby’s dropwort (Oxypolis canbyi) – A federally endangered wetland plant found in isolated coastal plain habitats
• Pond spice (Litsea aestivalis) – A rare aromatic shrub that grows in acidic wetlands and is vulnerable to hydrologic change

These and many other species are the focus of ongoing protection and monitoring efforts by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, research partners, and citizen scientists.
Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (2024)
Delaware Amphibians and Reptiles Checklist
Odonata Conservation Checklist (2023)

Delaware Naturally and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) provide comprehensive resources on the state’s rare, threatened, and endangered species. These include detailed checklists, conservation assessments, and region-specific population data that support habitat protection and land-use planning. Key resources include:

• Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (2024) – A scientific inventory of more than 600 rare plant species with maps, conservation rankings, and habitat notes
• Delaware Amphibians and Reptiles Checklist – Indicates state conservation status for salamanders, frogs, turtles, snakes, and lizards
• Delaware Odonata Checklist (2023) – Tracks population trends for dragonflies and damselflies, with data by county
• Delaware Shorebird Project – Coordinates surveys and habitat protections for species like the red knot (Calidris canutus) and piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
• Delaware Bat and Osprey Monitoring Programs – State-led efforts supported by volunteers to assess population health and nesting success

These data sources are critical to informing development decisions, conservation funding, restoration priorities, and public education. Delaware residents can also contribute to species protection through citizen science and seasonal volunteer monitoring.

Learn More – Threatened Species

Delaware Naturally provides extensive opportunities for public engagement through stewardship, science, and advocacy. Here’s how you can contribute:

1. Volunteer with DNREC, or the Delaware Nature Society – Help with wildlife research, habitat restoration, education programs, or land stewardship.
2. Become a certified Delaware Master Naturalist – Delaware Master Naturalist Program trains citizens as ambassadors and stewards of Delaware’s natural resources and ecosystems through science-based education and volunteer opportunities.
3. Remove Invasive Plants & Plant Natives – Use guides from the Mt. Cuba Center and UD Cooperative Extension
4. Advocate for Policy Change – Engage your local legislators on environmental priorities
5. Use observation tools – Platforms like iNaturalist and eBird allow you to log wildlife sightings and contribute directly to biodiversity research in Delaware
6. Look for Stewardship Opportunities – Like Operation Terrapin Rescue , Assisting with Habitat Management, and the Adopt-A-Beach Program
7. Donate or Support Local Groups – Help sustain the work of nonprofits like Delaware Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation.

Get Involved

Yes. While funding availability varies each year, several Delaware programs support habitat restoration, native species promotion, and invasive species management:

• TEDI: A Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative – Provides funding and technical support for tree planting across the state. Open to nonprofits, schools, conservation groups, and local governments.
• Delaware Invasive Species Council (DISC) Small Grants Program – Supports projects that address invasive species problems in Delaware, including native planting, outreach, and early detection initiatives.

Most programs prioritize ecological impact, education, and community engagement.

Several powerful free tools can help you engage with Delaware’s natural world:

iNaturalist – Record observations of plants, animals, and fungi

• eBird – Track bird sightings and contribute to global data
• Merlin Bird ID – Audio and photo-based bird identification
• Seek by iNaturalist – Kid-friendly app for plant and insect identification

These tools support citizen science, enhance field learning, and help track biodiversity trends in real time.

Yes. DNREC encourages residents to report observation of invasive plants, animals, insects, or other ecological threats. Early reporting allows state biologists and land managers to respond quickly and prevent the spread of harmful species. You can:

• Use iNaturalist to document sightings with accurate photos and location data
• Report Invasive Fish to Division of Fish & Wildlife through their Reporting app
• You can also report directly to the Delaware Invasive Species Council (DISC), which provides contacts and outreach tools for early detection and response.
• Reach out to local conservation partners such as the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, or the Delaware Nature Society

Your observations may assist with early detection, containment, and coordinated management efforts statewide.

There are several ways to stay up to date on conservation news, events, and legislative action related to native species and habitat protection:

• Subscribe to the Delaware Naturally Newsletter – Get updates on seasonal campaigns, educational resources, and new volunteer opportunities delivered to your inbox
• Visit the DNREC Public Meeting Calendar – View upcoming hearings, stakeholder meetings, environmental workshops, and funding announcements
• Follow Delaware Naturally on social media – Our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channel
• Sign up for newsletters from our partner organizations –like the Delaware Nature Society, Mt. Cuba Center, and Delaware Botanic Gardens
• Check the Delaware General Assembly website – Track proposed bills and legislation related to biodiversity, invasive species, and environmental policy
• Explore the Delaware Naturally website – New blog content, materials, and events are posted regularly on key conservation issues

You can reach Delaware Naturally through the contact portal on our website. Whether you’re looking for collaboration, volunteer information, media inquiries, or educational resources, the contact form ensures your message is routed to the right team member. The initiative welcomes input from residents, educators, students, researchers, and policy advocates.

Delaware does not currently have a formally published “Biodiversity Action Plan” by that name. However, several state-led initiatives together serve that purpose in function and scope. These include:

• The Delaware Native Species Commission, which provides legislative recommendations and public engagement strategies
• The Statewide Ecological Extinction Task Force, which released a comprehensive final report in 2017 outlining 23 biodiversity protection actions
• DNREC’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), which guides long-term conservation priorities for species of greatest conservation need (SGCN)

Together, these documents and initiatives outline a strategic framework for conserving Delaware’s native species and ecosystems through habitat protection, invasive species control, research, and public education. A coordinated, comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan may emerge in the future from these foundational efforts.
EETF Final Report (2017)
DNREC SWAP Overview