Priya Nanjappa is Project Coordinator of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Amphibian & Reptile Subcommittee, and is one of the editors of the book State of the Union: Legal Authority over the Use of Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the United States . She is also the AFWA liaison with Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), where she is that organization's State Agencies Coordinator.

The AFWA represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations.

The Amphibian & Reptile Subcommittee of the AFWA is responsible for keeping the Association informed of the policy, conservation, and management information needs of the states, territories and provinces with respect to amphibians and reptiles, and to manage a process for addressing those needs through a variety of mechanisms, including enhanced federal-state-provincial partnerships. In addition, the subcommittee provides an opportunity for discussion, deliberation and action with respect to amphibian and reptile conservation and policy issues in the context of larger fish and wildlife, habitat or other conservation and policy issues.

Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is an inclusive partnership dedicated to the conservation of reptiles and amphibians and their habitats. Their membership comes from all walks of life and includes individuals from state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, museums, pet trade industry, nature centers, zoos, energy industry, universities, herpetological organizations, research laboratories, forest industries, and environmental consultants. The diversity of PARC's membership makes it the most comprehensive conservation effort ever undertaken for amphibians and reptiles.

Priya Nanjappa will be a panelist at the free National Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium and Workshop in Washington, D.C., March 7-8. For more information and to register to attend, please click here.