ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing changes to the state’s endangered species list for the first time in 20 years.

The proposal would add about 145 species to the protected list while removing about 40. The list includes animals, insects and plants.

“20 years, which is a long time. So that’s really why we have so many changes this time, we are aiming to update our list every 10 years after this,” DNR’s Trina Morris said.

Morris says changes to habitats over the past two decades have affected some of the species being considered for protection.

“Because as you can imagine with all of the habitat changes we’ve had in the last 20 years, we’ve lost habitats for some of them,” Morris said.

One example of a protected animal is the North Atlantic right whale, which Morris described as “a very endangered species.”

The proposal would also allow sellers of native plants to sell some protected plant species to consumers without a permit, as long as the plants were not collected from the wild.

Georgians can face misdemeanor charges for intentionally harming protected animals or removing protected plants from state lands without a permit.

DNR is accepting public comments on the proposed changes online through Sept. 20.

“This list is what we’re proposing to take to our board, so we would love comments whether in support or opposition of this proposed list,” Morris said.

After the public comment period ends, the proposed list will go to the Board of Natural Resources for adoption.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Keith Cromwell contributed to this story.