THE SPECIES AT RISK ACT PUBLIC REGISTRY
About the Act...
The Species at Risk Act (SARA), proclaimed on June 5, 2003, is one part of a three-part Government of Canada strategy for the protection of wildlife species at risk. SARA builds on the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk and activities under the Habitat Stewardship Program.
In addition, SARA complements existing laws and agreements to provide for the legal protection of wildlife species and conservation of biological diversity. The Act aims to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and to secure the necessary actions for their recovery.
The Act recognizes that the protection of wildlife species is a shared responsibility and that all Canadians have a role to play in the protection of wildlife. It applies to all federal lands in Canada, all wildlife species listed as being at risk, and their critical habitat.
What is the Public Registry?
The Public Registry is an online service that provides
access to information and documents about SARA. It is
also a convenient forum to submit comments on SARA
related documents being developed by the
Government
of Canada.
What types of documents can be found in the Public Registry?
Documents such as regulations, orders, and agreements
are available in the Registry. In addition, you'll find
status reports, species assessments, response statements,
recovery strategies, action plans, and management plans
for the recovery of wildlife species at risk.
The Registry enables the public to monitor the progress
of documents from their draft stage, to final publication.
It also provides for the timely identification of public
consultation opportunities and information on where to
direct comments.
How does the Public Registry work?
Set-up as an online service, the Public Registry has been accessible since proclamation of the Act. It is available at the following web address:
The website gives users access to documents and information related to SARA at any time and location with internet access.
The structure and content of the Public Registry will continue to evolve in response to feedback from partners and stakeholders. New documents will be added as they become available.
How was the Public Registry built?
The Public Registry is the result of a collaborative effort among many partners and stakeholders. Environment Canada leads this initiative on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Parks Canada are the federal government organizations involved in administering the Act, and are also partners in the development of the Public Registry.
You, too, can play an important role in contributing to the ongoing development of the Registry by sending your comments to the SARA Public Registry Office.
Using the Public Registry
The Public Registry is designed to give users easy access to information and documents developed under SARA. Several tools are built into the Registry to help make your visit informative and enjoyable.
For example, at the top of every page, you will find links to:
- What's New;
- Frequently Asked Questions;
- a Site Map; and
- Related Links.
If you would like more information about SARA, select from one of the following sidebar options:
Background; History of the Act, and SARA's place in Canada's three-part strategy for the protection of species at risk.
General Information; A variety of information relating to the administration of SARA.
The Act; The text of the legislation in various formats, as well as a legislative summary.
Species List; A complete and up-to-date list of species at risk in Canada, as well as complementary lists such as annual lists of species assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Regulations/Orders; Implementation tools such as regulations and orders.
Agreements/Permits; Delegation of authority, administrative agreements, alternative measures agreements, related international agreements and permits.
Species Assessment; Status reports, species assessments, and response statements.
Strategies/Plans; Recovery strategies, action plans, and management plans for the recovery of extirpated, endangered, threatened, and special concern species.
Public Consultations; How to comment on documents being developed under SARA.
E-mail Newsletter; How to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates periodically.
Searching the Public Registry
When search criteria are difficult to formulate or when you want to refine your search to include only certain information, use our Advanced Search tool.
The Advanced Search tool allows you to search the Public Registry for both species and documents using a variety of combinations.
Ranges; Select a geographic location such as a specific province, territory, or ocean.
Taxonomy Group; Refine your search by groups such as fish, mammals, or birds.
Risk Categories; Search for species by their status (e.g. endangered).
Document Types; Select only those documents that you require (e.g. Agreements).
Status; Select proposed or current versions of documents.
Date Published; Search within a specific time frame.
Interpreting your Results
Results are displayed according to the boxes you've selected. The sample search result shows the Swift Fox.
The results include the Latin name, the taxonomic group, the range, the year the species was designated at risk, its risk category, and a list of all information and documents on the site related to this species.
Examples of documents you might find include status reports, species assessments, response statements, recovery strategies, action plans, and management plans.
Other Resources
If you can't find what you are looking for in the SARA Public Registry, try one of the following Government of Canada sites:
- http://www.COSEWIC.gc.ca
COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies and separate populations suspected of being at risk. COSEWIC bases its decisions on the best up-to-date scientific information and Aboriginal traditional knowledge available. All native species are included in COSEWIC's current mandate. - http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca
The Species at Risk site is an excellent resource for obtaining general information on species at risk. Search tools provide access to detailed information on species, biology, population and distribution, habitats, threats, protection, and recovery efforts. The site also outlines nationwide programs and provides information on relations with the United States. - http://www.CITES.ec.gc.ca
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) sets controls on the international trade and movement of animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation.
Additional links to information about species at risk can be found by clicking “Related Links” at the top of the SARA Registry homepage.
