Information Tools

Are you looking for the distribution of a certain species at risk within Ontario? Have you spotted an invading species and now want to report it? Are you wondering if a particular native Ontario species is Threatened or Endangered?

Many MNR programs and their affiliated partners offer a variety of easy-to-use online web-tools that are available to you to answer all of the above questions and much more. These tools will help you gain knowledge of Ontario's biodiversity.   They also offer a variety of ways in which you can participate in conservation.

Peregrine Falcon recovery activities at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Whether you're looking for information on Ontario's natural communities/areas, species at risk or invasive species, or if you want to get involved in protecting Ontario's biodiversity, explore the online tools the following websites have to offer.

• The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) offers many online tools for users to gain knowledge of and help protect species at risk and rare communities. Web-tools include on-demand rare species range mapping, accessing Natural Area and Element Occurrence data by using a geographic query. You can also access the Herpetofaunal (Amphibians and Reptiles) Atlas or the Odonata (Damselflies and Dragonflies) Atlas to view maps of where these species have been recorded in Ontario. The NHIC website also offers users the opportunity to do their part by filling out an online form to report first hand observations of rare species.
  
• The Species at Risk website offers users an updated list of official designations assigned to 182 native Ontario species by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) list is available for viewing or downloading. Please visit the Species at Risk website for more information on what you can do to protect Ontario's Species at Risk, such as reporting a species at risk on your property.
  
• The Ministry of Natural Resources in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) have established The Invading Species Awareness Program to raise public awareness of invasive species and encourage public participation in preventing their spread. The Program's website offers you an easy way to report an invading species either online or through the Invading Species hotline. For those who really want to get involved in the protection of biodiversity, check out the Invading Species Watch, a free volunteer-based lake monitoring program for aquatic invading species.

Photography
Ontario Stewardship