The Species
at Risk Act in Ontario |
![The Species at Risk Act in Ontario](/web/20061210003110im_/http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/factsheets/images/fs_sara_header.jpg) |
The Species at Risk Act
in Ontario
Table of Contents
Implementing the Species
at Risk Act in Ontario
The purpose of the Species
at Risk Act is to prevent wildlife species from becoming
extinct or extirpated (lost from the wild in Canada), to secure
the recovery of extirpated, endangered and threatened species that
are included on SARA’s List of Wildlife Species at Risk, and
to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming
endangered or threatened. SARA applies across Canada and covers
all wildlife species at risk nationally, including aquatic and terrestrial
plants and animals, and their critical habitats.
The Government of Canada’s strategy to conserve and enhance
wildlife reflects the different roles and the vital need for shared
responsibility, coordination and partnerships among all levels of
government, Aboriginal peoples, ranchers, farmers, conservation
groups, fishing interests, the resource extraction industry, and
individual Canadians.
The three-part federal strategy involves:
- building on the national Accord for the
Protection of Species at Risk
- complementary stewardship programs
- the Species at Risk Act
(SARA)
Ecologically, Ontario is a diverse
region, consisting of 17 ecoregions. Within these ecoregions are
numerous ecosystems that provide specific habitats needed by particular
species at risk. The Frontenac Axis, Manitoulin-Lake Simcoe, the
St. Lawrence Lowlands, and the Lake Erie Lowlands have significant
numbers of species at risk.
Click here
to see a map of the richness of species in Ontario
Predominant natural ecosystems that are threatened in Ontario are
forests, grasslands, wetlands, and the Great Lakes. The Lake Erie
Lowlands – although relatively small in area – represents
the southernmost part of Canada and is perhaps the single most species-rich
region in the country. Approximately one third of the country’s
species included under SARA at the time of Proclamation (June 2003)
are found here.
Ontario has the most concentrated human population in Canada, resulting
in various and often significant impacts on the landscape and the
wildlife inhabitants. Though the majority of populations of species
at risk are found on privately owned lands, federal lands (including
First Nations lands) currently provide habitat for individuals of
nearly two-thirds of the species at risk found in Ontario.
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Partners in Stewardship
Partnerships with several national,
regional and local non-government organizations, First Nations,
Conservation Authorities and the provincial government have been
established to assist with stewardship activities directed at species
at risk, their habitats and priority ecosystems.
Each year, the federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species
at Risk (HSP) provides approximately $2 million in financial support
to partners in recovery in Ontario. This funding is matched (financially
or “in-kind”) by recipient organizations to a value that
exceeds the funding received. HSP projects aim to protect habitat
and contribute to the recovery of species at risk by supporting the
implementation of priority activities outlined in recovery strategies
or recovery action plans. Stewardship activities by landowners and
land managers include habitat improvement, habitat restoration, outreach
and communication, and land securement.
In Ontario, the HSP has contributed funding to an average of 15
to 20 projects every year that are led by partners. On average,
the projects benefit some 75 species at risk. Increasingly, projects
focus on stewardship of particular ecosystems for the benefit of
localized species at risk and any associated species.
Federal
Recovery Strategy Development
The federal government agencies responsible
for SARA are Environment Canada (including the Parks Canada Agency)
and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Environment Canada is
responsible for the administration of SARA on behalf of the federal
government. The department is primarily responsible for migratory
bird species at risk and terrestrial species at risk found on federal
lands, plus any species for which there is no provincial protection,
or for which existing provincial protection has been determined
to be inadequate. Parks Canada Agency is responsible for species
at risk in national parks, national historic sites and other national
protected heritage areas. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans
is responsible for aquatic and marine species at risk.
In addition, Environment Canada is responsible for species at risk
found on federal lands that are First Nations lands. Under SARA,
recovery strategies and management plans are required to recognize
the importance of aboriginal traditional knowledge in the recovery
process, and to consider socio-economic impacts related to the protection
and recovery of species at risk.
For species listed in SARA, timelines are identified for the required
production of recovery strategies and recovery action plans (for
extirpated, endangered and threatened species) and of management
plans (for species of special concern). For species that were listed
in SARA at the time of Proclamation (June 2003), recovery strategies
for endangered species must be posted on the SARA Registry Web site
within three years, within four years for extirpated and threatened
species, and within five years for species of special concern. For
species listed in SARA after June 2003, the timelines for posting
recovery strategies are one year for endangered species, two years
for extirpated and threatened species, and three years for species
of special concern.
![Photo of a Hooded Warbler / John Mitchell](/web/20061210003110im_/http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/factsheets/images/hooded_warbler_mitchell.jpg) |
The departments, ministries, and agencies of the federal and provincial
governments that have been tasked with recovery have developed a
Recovery Operations Manual (ROMAN), which guides the development
of the required strategies and plans. The development of such strategies
involves the input of various representatives from government and
non-government organizations and, increasingly, includes stakeholders
and private landowners.
Draft or final recovery strategies are currently in place for almost
half of the species at risk found in Ontario. Recovery activities
are underway for the majority of the species for which there is
a draft or final recovery strategy. In Ontario, recovery strategies
are developed either for a number of species that share a particular
ecosystem or for a particular ecosystem that provides habitat for
a number of species at risk. Currently, ecosystem recovery activities
have been established for the river systems of the Ausable, Grand,
Sydenham, and Thames, for tallgrass prairie, for Lake Erie sand
spit savannas, for Lake Huron coastal dunes, and for Walpole Island
First Nation.
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Federal-Provincial Cooperation
The federal government and
the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources have initiated discussions
toward the development of a bilateral agreement that will
reflect the responsibilities of the parties to implement the
national Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The
agreement will establish the intent of the parties to work
together to achieve the recovery of extirpated, endangered
and threatened species; the identification and protection
of habitat that is critical to the survival of these species;
and to work together to achieve recovery of species of special
concern.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is a member of
the federally led Regional Implementation Board (Ontario),
which recommends projects for HSP funding. It also coordinates
with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in recovery efforts
for major watersheds in Ontario. Regional offices of the three
federal departments are also working with the Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources on a habitat mapping project, which includes
sharing mapping and species occurrence data.
These activities effectively bring together the federal and
provincial governments, both of which are committed to the
recovery of particular ecosystems and the species that inhabit
them. All federal and provincial departments also work closely
with non-government organizations to recover species at risk.
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Relationship
with Aboriginal Peoples
SARA identifies the responsibility
of Environment Canada to work with aboriginal peoples to identify
the presence of species at risk, and to participate in the maintenance
or recovery of those populations. Environment Canada is working
toward a Conservation Agreement with Walpole Island First Nation
for such an undertaking and has initiated related discussions with
other First Nations.
Conservation Agreements with First Nations are being initiated on
a prioritized basis that considers the actual or potential presence
of species at risk and the apparent presence of suitable habitat for
such species.
![Photo of an aboriginal person collecting seeds / Canadian Wildlife Service](/web/20061210003110im_/http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/factsheets/images/aborig_people.jpg) |
Community
volunteers at Walpole Island First Nation assist in seed collection
to enhance rare Tallgrass Prairie ecosystems / Canadian Wildlife
Service |
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Parks Canada Agency
are working with several First Nations on recovery efforts for aquatic
species at risk. Additionally, a number of First Nations in the
province are, or have been, involved in stewardship activities for
species at risk as partners in the HSP initiative.
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Ontario Contacts
Environment Canada
For species at risk program, habitat stewardship, recovery and species
inquiries:
Madeline Austen
Tel: (416) 739-4214
E-mail: Madeline.Austen@ec.gc.ca
Parks Canada Agency
For species at risk program, habitat stewardship, recovery and species
inquiries:
Brian Hutchinson
Tel: (613) 998-9880
E-mail: Brian.Hutchinson@pc.gc.ca
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
For species at risk program inquiries:
Ray Ratynski
Tel: (204) 983-4438
E-mail: Ratynskir@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
For habitat stewardship inquiries:
Thom Heiman
Tel: (905) 336-6472
E-mail: Heimant@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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Internet Resources
Species At Risk Act Public
Registry
www.sararegistry.gc.ca
Canada’s Web site for information, documents and public
comments on species at risk.
Species at Risk in Ontario
www.on.ec.gc.ca/speciesatrisk
Species at Risk in Canada
www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca
Parks Canada Species at Risk
www.pc.gc.ca/nature/eep-sar/
![Photo of a Climbing Prairie Rose / Canadian Wildlife Service](/web/20061210003110im_/http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/factsheets/images/wild_rose.jpg) |
In Canada,
the Climbing Prairie Rose occurs only around Lake Erie, supported
by a long growing season and moderate climate / Canadian Wildlife
Service |
Fisheries and Oceans and Species at Risk
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/species-especes/index_e.htm
To order printed copies of this or any other fact sheet, contact:
Environment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
4905 Dufferin Street
Downsview, ON M3H 5T4
Tel: 416 739-5830 Fax: 416-739-5845
E-mail: Wildlife.Ontario@ec.gc.ca
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