Species at Risk Act: Report to Parliament, 2005.| Previous | Contents | Next | Recovery Measures for Listed SpeciesRecovery Requirements under SARASpecies recovery includes a wide range of measures to restore populations of species at risk. Under SARA, the competent Ministers must prepare recovery strategies and action plans for listed extirpated, endangered or threatened species, and management plans for species listed as special concern. Recovery strategies identify threats to the species and its habitat, identify critical habitat to the extent possible, and set recovery goals, while management plans include measures for species conservation. The Act also outlines specific cooperation and consultation requirements for the preparation of recovery strategies and action plans. The text box below provides details concerning the timelines for recovery efforts under SARA for endangered, threatened, extirpated and special concern species. Timelines for Recovery Planning For all species included in the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Schedule 1) on June 5, 2003:
For all newly assessed species added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk after June 5, 2003:
For all Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 species reassessed and added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Schedule 1) after June 5, 2003 (sections 132 and 133 of SARA):
Proposed recovery strategies, action plans and management plans are posted on the SARA Public Registry for a 60-day public comment period. Comments are considered and changes made where appropriate. The final documents are posted on the Registry within 30 days of the close of the public comment period. Five years after a recovery strategy, action plan or management plan comes into effect, the competent minister must report on progress made toward stated objectives. Recovery Planning in 2005No recovery strategies, action plans or management plans were posted on the SARA Public Registry in 2005, as the first deadline for completion of SARA recovery strategies is January 2006 (see Table 4). Recovery strategies are developed cooperatively by the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions responsible for each species, and in cooperation and consultation with other interested parties as required under the Act. Provinces and territories lead the development of the recovery strategies for many terrestrial species. A standard template and associated guidelines have been developed to ensure consistency and SARA-compliance of documents, such as recovery strategies, intended for the SARA Public Registry. In 2005, planning was undertaken to address challenges in producing the large number of recovery strategies required for species listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened on Schedule 1 when SARA came into force. Table 3 shows the number of species listed on Schedule 1 by government department/agency responsible for recovery planning under SARA (SARA-responsible agency). Table 4 shows timelines for the development of recovery strategies for listed extirpated, endangered and threatened species by SARA-responsible agency.
*It is important to note that recovery strategies are not required for special concern species. Recovery Implementation in 2005In 2005, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency continued to dedicate significant resources to support the recovery of species at risk and to encourage partnerships with various stakeholders. Ongoing activities to support recovery included identification of habitat requirements, habitat protection and restoration, gene banking, compliance promotion, development of management guidelines, public outreach, and research. Research is directed primarily at identifying and mitigating threats, and assessing and monitoring species' conditions. In 2005, the Interdepartmental Recovery Fund supported 73 projects led by eight federal departments and three Crown corporations. The value of these projects totalled $1.89 million. The portion of Interdepartmental Recovery Fund monies allocated to federal departments other than those responsible for implementing SARA continues to grow. These funds are used to support survey work and to implement high priority recovery activities identified in recovery strategies for species at risk that occur on federal lands or that are under federal jurisdiction. A total of $744,906 (58% from Environment Canada, 42% from World Wildlife Fund Canada) was awarded to 63 projects through the Endangered Species Recovery Fund in 2005. These funds supported research and education efforts by scientists and conservation advocates working to recover Canadian species at risk (www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/support/esrf_frep/default_e.cfm). During the 2005–2006 fiscal year, Environment Canada invested over $3 million in priority recovery implementation activities for numerous species at risk across the country. These projects included surveys, population studies, critical habitat assessment, habitat restoration, outreach and education, development of appropriate land use guidelines, and captive breeding and release into the wild of species at risk. Fisheries and Oceans Canada also invested over $1.5 million in high-priority recovery implementation activities for aquatic species at risk in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. These activities included marine mammal surveys, fish by-catch mitigation studies, and captive broodstock programs. In 2005, the Parks Canada Agency invested over $2 million in high-priority recovery activities for species at risk in and around national protected heritage areas. The Agency also initiated three major projects that take an ecosystem approach to species at risk recovery. Each project represents an investment of more than $1 million over three years. The Parks Canada Agency provided $616,000 for inventories in over 30 national protected heritage areas in 2005. Inventories are essential to improve knowledge of biodiversity and to document the presence, location and status of species at risk in national protected heritage areas. Findings from these inventories inform national assessments of the risk of extinction of various species, recovery planning and critical habitat identification. Eastern Loggerhead Shrike The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike (migrans subspecies) is a predatory songbird found mainly in south-eastern Manitoba, southern Ontario and western Quebec. The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike has been in decline over the past century, and it is listed as endangered under SARA. The recovery strategy for this bird focuses on protecting and enhancing suitable breeding habitat, population monitoring, and studies of breeding grounds to determine potential threats. In 2005, studies that aimed to identify wintering areas and to determine if low survival in these areas is a primary cause of species decline were also underway. In 1997, a captive population of Loggerhead Shrikes was established in order to maintain the genetic diversity of the declining wild population. Several private landowners in Ontario allowed temporary aviaries to be installed in their cattle pastures in support of the recovery of this species. The Ontario captive breeding and release program uses outdoor enclosures in suitable breeding habitat to provide a safe space for captive shrike pairs to nest and raise young birds. The success of this program has led to the release of 221 young shrikes since 2001. Another 32 birds have been released since 2004 from a captive breeding program established in Quebec. In June 2005, a captive-bred female released in 2004 returned to the Carden Plain (east of Orillia) to raise a brood of six young. This was the first captive-bred shrike known to successfully migrate, breed and rear young. Toads Along the Trail The Western Toad is listed as a species of special concern under SARA. This species has experienced widespread and unexplained population declines in the southern part of its range in British Columbia. The Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, which has significant natural as well as historical and cultural values, provides a home for this toad. In 2004-2005, as part of the Species at Risk Inventory Fund, the Parks Canada Agency set out to determine the distribution and abundance of the Western Toad in the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site. Researchers aimed to identify breeding sites and other habitat features, as well as threats which may be limiting factors for toad populations. Western toad specimens were also screened for diseases and abnormalities. The results of this study are guiding the Agency in management of the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site and conservation efforts for the Western Toad. Environment Canada administers two funds to support Aboriginal engagement in SARA implementation. The Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund is designed to enable Aboriginal organizations and communities across Canada to build capacity for the protection and recovery of species at risk. In 2005-2006, $1 million was made available through this fund. The Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund is largely directed toward the identification and protection of critical habitat on Aboriginal lands. In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, this fund provided $495,000 in funding to 18 projects to protect critical habitat on First Nation and Inuit lands, including projects that aimed to:
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