Our Mission:
To educate the general public about these frequently misunderstood animals, promote conservation of all wildlife, especially reptiles and amphibians, and to encourage cooperation between amateur and professional herpetologists toward a broader and deeper knowledge of this fascinating field.
Next Speaker :
2018-09-26
George L. Heinrich : The Big Turtle Year: Celebrating Wild Turtles Across the United States click for more/less infoTurtles play significant ecological roles and are visible elements in many habitats. A long list of
diverse threats to species globally has contributed to ~59% of all turtles being threatened with
extinction. Working in negative synergy, these threats present broad and immediate
conservation challenges for one of the most endangered wildlife taxa in the world. Despite the
urgency of the situation, opportunities for conservation are abundant and the charismatic
attraction of turtles makes them an excellent group for education and outreach efforts to enhance
ecological, conservation, and environmental awareness. The United States is the most turtle-rich
country (62 species and 89 terminal taxa), with many taxa of conservation concern. While
species from areas such as Asia, South America, and Madagascar often receive the majority of
conservation attention, the plight of species within the U.S. quietly goes unnoticed. The goal of
The Big Turtle Year initiative is to increase awareness regarding the status of these often
overlooked species and to emphasize their rich diversity, natural history, and conservation.
Throughout 2017, Florida Turtle Conservation Trust researchers visited numerous sites
accompanied by other biologists and conservationists in an effort to see as many species as
possible during a single year, while examining threats and conservation actions needed. In
addition, a national lecture series will disseminate the information gathered to a wide range of
audiences, including stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.thebigturtleyear.org.
George L. Heinrich is a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in Florida
reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services, is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
and conducts wildlife surveys and research, natural history programming, and nature-based
tours. A graduate of Memphis State University, his current work focuses on the ecology and
conservation of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (St.
Petersburg, Florida), anthropogenic threats to diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin), and
distributional surveys of the Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) within its
southern range. George is an invited member of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Specialist Group, served twice as co-chair of the Gopher Tortoise Council, and is the executive
director of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust.
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