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How are Species listed "at risk"?

The Role of COSSARO

In Ontario, species that may be at risk are reviewed by a team of experts known as the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). COSSARO can be made up of people with expertise in certain scientific disciplines, or Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge.

The committee's responsibilities include:

Rules for Classification

A species is classified as extinct if it no longer lives anywhere in the world.

A species is classified as extirpated if it lives somewhere in the world, and it at one time lived in the wild in Ontario, but no longer lives in the wild in Ontario.

A species is classified as endangered if it lives in the wild in Ontario but is facing imminent extinction or extirpation.

A species is classified as threatened if it lives in the wild in Ontario, is not endangered, but is likely to become endangered if steps are not taken to address factors threatening it.

A species is classified as special concern if it lives in the wild in Ontario, is not endangered or threatened, but may become threatened or endangered due to a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.

Maintaining criteria for assessing and classifying species at risk
Maintaining a list of species to be assessed in the future.
Classifying species and,
Reporting classifications to the Minister of Natural Resources.

COSSARO has been around since 1995, but under the new ESA it is now a legally recognized committee. COSSARO is an independent body that can be made up of up to 11 members from both the public and private sectors. At least 5 members must be from outside of the Ontario Government. The Minister of Natural Resources may make recommendations on committee members, but the final decision on who can be a member is made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Status Reports

Species Status Reports are an important part of the assessment process. COSSARO reviews these detailed technical documents that contain information such as the habitat needs of a species, population size, and threats to the species. You can view Status Reports under "More Information."

COSSARO Reports

COSSARO submits reports to the Minister of Natural Resources, classifying species as "at risk". COSSARO may also submit reports indicating a species is not at risk, or that there is not enough information available to classify a species.

COSSARO also submits annual reports to the minister, reporting on their activities for the year. As they are submitted, copies of all the COSSARO reports will be available on this website.

The Ministry of Natural Resources may require COSSARO to assess and classify a species on an urgent basis (i.e. when there is pressing concern that a species may not survive in the province).

The Listing Process

After research and careful consideration by the committee, species classified as "at risk" are placed on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) list. COSSARO classifies species according to their degree of risk. COSSARO classifies species based on the best available scientific information, including community knowledge and aboriginal traditional knowledge (see sidebar for status designations).

When COSSARO classifies a species at risk, that classification applies throughout Ontario, unless otherwise noted.

When a plant or animal is classified as endangered or threatened, they receive protection under the ESA 2007. The habitat of endangered and threatened species is also protected. (For more information on habitat protection please visit the Habitat Protection page).

Species at Risk in Canada

There is also a group that assesses species at risk at a national level: the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC is made up of species experts from across Canada. They identify species, review species' status reports and recommend national status designations for those species. COSEWIC also maintains and publishes a national list of species at risk.

At the provincial level, COSSARO members review the national status reports and assessments for those species that occur in Ontario. COSSARO then reports the classification to the Minister of Natural Resources. Provincial classifications are then identified on the MNR's Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) list.