Ontario's Species at Risk

How a Species is listed "at risk"

In Ontario, when there is concern that a species is in trouble, the species is reviewed by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO).  This group of experts assess species based on scientific information as well as community and traditional knowledge. To learn more about COSSARO please see the What Species are at Risk in Ontario? section.

Species listed "at risk" are automatically placed on the official Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. The most recent list is dated February 18, 2009.  View the SARO List. 

NEW! View videos on the General Overview of the ESA and COSSARO and Species at Risk: Ontario's Response.

What is Ontario doing to protect species at risk?

The new Species at Risk Stewardship Program

We all have an important role to play in protecting and recovering species at risk.  In recognition of this, the new Endangered Species Act takes a “stewardship first” approach to the protection of species and their habitats.

The Stewardship Program includes the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund.  The fund supports projects and activities that protect and recover species at risk. $18-million in funding is available from 2007 to 2011. Watch for announcements with information about how and when to apply. Please visit our Species at Risk Stewardship Program page for further details.

Building partnerships

One goal of the Species at Risk program is to encourage organizations to work together on species at risk protection.  This increases the effectiveness of all our actions. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) works with many partners at local, provincial and national levels to protect and recover species at risk. To find out more about recovery projects, please visit the Species Recovery page.

Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy (OBS)

Biodiversity is the variety of life on our planet. It is the different habitats, and types of plants, animals, fish, insects, and even soil. Biodiversity is also how these pieces fit together. Biodiversity enriches our lives and provides us with clean air and water, as well as the food, fibre, medicine and other resources that we need to survive.  Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting our biodiversity.

Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy (OBS) is a document for Ontarians. The Strategy includes a set of principles, goals and actions we all can take to protect and recover species at risk.

You can learn more and download a copy of Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy.

You can help

Everyone can help protect and recover species at risk and their habitats. You can:

• help with a species recovery project
• report sightings of species at risk to your local MNR office or the Natural Heritage Information Centre
• learn about threats to our wildlife and wild places and find ways you can help to minimize these threats
• share your knowledge of species at risk with others and encourage them to get involved projects to protect species at risk 
• Learn more about Ontario’s Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP), the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program  (MFTIP) or the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program (CFWIP).

See the What You Can Do section for more details and links to resources.