I am practising field…

I am practising field botanist with 25 years experience. I do botanical surveys for Species At Risk for various private businesses and governmental agencies. I can tell you with confidence that the ESA has been sorely needed, but it's not enough. There are so many Provincially Rare Species that are not protected by the ESA that are in decline. Moreover, there are so many Provincially Rare Habitat Types that are not covered by the ESA that are being lost. It's not enough to only protect "official" Species At Risk.

Furthermore, even when those official Species At Risk are protected under the ESA, there is very little oversight and enforcement by government agencies (mostly municipal and regional governments) when Species At Risk or their habitats are damaged. For example, Niagara Region has the richest, most biodiverse natural habitats in the country, but their municipal and regional governments and their conservation authority do little to nothing to enforce the ESA. Niagara Region is losing SAR and Provincially Rare Species left and right because of a disinterested, incompetent municipal and regional work force steeped in nepotism.

The ESA needs more enforcement and oversight now!

As well, the province and each municipality needs an invasive species strategy to actively control the spread of invasive species in the province. The spread of invasive species is one of the greatest threats to the survival of SAR.