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Ontario's Species at Risk Program
What is a "Species at Risk"?
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| Polar Bear - Threatened. |
Sometimes called the “endangered species list”, the SARO List is actually much broader.
What is at risk in my area?
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We are lucky to live in a province with lots of wild places and wild species – some 30,000 species of plants and animals. But this biodiversity – the variety of different habitats, and types of plants, animals, fish, insects – is in trouble.
More than 190 of Ontario’s wild species are at risk. Species can become at risk due to a number of reasons. These include habitat loss, pollution, changing land use activities, as well as the spread of invasive species.
The good news is that together, we can act to protect and recover many of these species and safeguard Ontario’s biodiversity.
Species at Risk in Ontario List
New! - Caribou Conservation Plan
Ontario remains committed to conserving and recovering Caribou and their habitat. The Ministry of Natural Resources has developed a Caribou Conservation Plan to identify and prioritize the actions the government intends to take to support Caribou conservation.
New! View videos on the General Overview of the ESA and COSSARO and Species at Risk: Ontario's Response.
How are species classified as “at risk”?
An independent committee of scientific experts (the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario) determines how imperilled a species is and then assigns it to one of the following categories:
- Extirpated: No longer existing in the wild in Ontario, but still exists elsewhere (e.g. Greater-prairie Chicken)
- Endangered: Facing extinction or extirpation (e.g. American Badger).
- Threatened: At risk of becoming endangered (e.g. Eastern Hog-nosed Snake).
- Special Concern: Sensitive to human activities or natural events which may cause it to become endangered or threatened (e.g. Monarch Butterfly).
Within three months of reporting their assessments to the Minister of Natural Resources, the SARO List is automatically updated to include all of COSSARO’s findings, resulting in a truly science-based list.
How are species classified as “at risk”? (click here for more information)
What is Ontario doing to protect species at risk?
The Endangered Species Act, 2007
On June 30th 2008, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 2007 came into effect, making
Ontario a North American leader in the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats.
As soon as a species is listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened, it is automatically protected from harm.
Also immediately upon listing, the general habitats of endangered and threatened species are automatically protected from damage or destruction.
The government ensures the development of longer-term protection and recovery for all species on the list. To find out more about recovery projects, please visit the Species Recovery page.
Recovery strategies identifying steps to protect and restore populations are developed within one year for endangered species and within two years for threatened species.
Species-specific habitat regulations that describe an area to be protected are developed one year after that. To find our more about habitat protection, please visit the Habitat Protection page.
Management plans are also prepared for special concern species within five years of being listed, outlining ongoing population monitoring as well as future recovery and research goals.
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 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.
Please visit our Species at Risk Stewardship Program page for further details
Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy
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| Ontarios Biodiversity Strategy. |
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 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:
- Visit Ontario Soil Crop.Org - Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program for 2009
- 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
By working together, we can help Ontario's species at risk.
This site is maintained by the Government of Ontario
Last Modified: November 19, 2009