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Endangered Species Act 2007

As of June 30, 2008 the Species at Risk in Ontario List is a regulation under the new Endangered Species Act 2007. You can view the Act and all of its Regulations by visiting E-laws or the Plain Language version of the ESA.

What Species are at Risk in Ontario?

Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris)
Status: Threatened
Photo by C.D. Jones - NHIC Archive

Ontario has a rich diversity of wild plants and animals. Sadly, the populations of more than 180 species in Ontario are in decline. These are species at risk; plants, fish, mammals and birds that are at risk of disappearing from the province.

Species are at risk due to a number of reasons. These include habitat loss, pollution, land use and resource management activities, as well as the spread of invasive species.

Who decides a species is "at risk"?

When there is concern a species may be "at risk" in the province, the species is reviewed by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). For more information on this review process, please visit the section How are Species listed "at risk"?

If a species is classified "at risk" they are added to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List in one of four categories, depending on the degree of risk.

The four categories, or classes, of "at risk" are:
EXTIRPATED - a native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but still exists elsewhere (e.g. Greater Prairie Chicken)
ENDANGERED - a native species facing extinction or extirpation (e.g. Cucumber Tree)
THREATENED - a native species at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario (e.g. Fowler’s Toad)
SPECIAL CONCERN - a native species that is sensitive to human activities or natural events which may cause it to become endangered or threatened (e.g. Monarch Butterfly).

Under the Endangered Species Act 2007, COSSARO may also identify species as Extinct, Not at Risk and Data Deficient (PDF). Species on this list do not receive protection under the ESA 2007, and they don't appear on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) list.

Using the SARO List

As of February 2009, there were 186 species at risk on the SARO list. This includes plants, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mussels, fishes, birds and insects.

The SARO list is available for everyone to view. The list is a good tool for learning about which species are at risk and the level of risk for each of those species.

It is also an important tool for land use planners, recovery team members, MNR staff, and others who are working to protect and recover species at risk.

The list is updated when a species is added, removed, or its designation changes. When there are updates to the SARO list, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) places a public notice on the Environmental Registry, where you can review and comment on proposed changes.

By working together, we can help Ontario's species at risk.