Status, Protection and Recovery of Ontario’s Amphibians and Reptiles – with Joe Crowley, Leaskdale

Mr. Crowley will discuss the status of Ontario’s amphibians and reptiles, including an introduction to the Species at Risk (SAR) status assessment and listing process in Ontario and Canada. He will discuss the key threats and conservation challenges faced by the province’s herpetofauna. You will learn about the legal protection afforded to these species under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and provincial Endangered Species Act (ESA). Joe will give an overview of the recovery process and some key recovery initiatives that are underway, including opportunities for the public to get involved.

Joe Crowley is a professional biologist with expertise in herpetology and species at risk conservation. Presently, he is a Species at Risk Biology Specialist with the Government of Ontario. In this position, he provides science advice to government staff and decision makers, conservation practitioners, stakeholders and the public to help guide the implementation of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act.