Endangered Species of the Day Widget
Show the world you care about Ontario's endangered species! Our Endangered Species of the Day widget displays a new plant or animal daily, along with fun facts about the species. Get it for your desktop, dashboard or iGoogle page. Add it to your blog, Facebook or MySpace page. Share it with friends. The widget works on Mac OS X Dashboard, Yahoo! Widgets, Windows Gadgets, and many, many more platforms.
A “species at risk” is any naturally-occurring plant or animal in danger of extinction or of disappearing from the province. Once classified as "at risk", they are added to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List.
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!
New! Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan Progress Report
Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan (CCP) Progress Report is now publicly available. This progress report provides an update on achievements made since the release of the Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan in 2009.
Please view the information notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry #011-5943) and download the full Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan Progress Report (PDF Size: 1.0 MB)
New! Draft Habitat Regulations
The public is invited to review and comment on draft habitat regulations for the following four species: American White Pelican, Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle, Pale-bellied Frost Lichen and Virginia Mallow. Comments should be submitted through the regulation proposal notice posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at: ontario.ca/ebr (Registry #011-5625).
NEW - Guidance to assess the likelihood that an activity will ‘damage’ or ‘destroy’ habitat protected under the Endangered Species Act, 2007
In April 2011, the public was invited to review and submit comments on the draft policy entitled Categorizing and Protecting Habitat under the Endangered Species Act (PDF). This policy provides an overview of the approach and considerations that the Ministry of Natural Resources will use in determining whether an activity is likely to damage or destroy habitat protected under subsection 10(1) of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007. The comments received have been considered in finalizing the policy. A summary of the comments received is available on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (search number 011-2841).
New: Guidance for ESA 17 (2)(c) overall benefit permitting
With the posting of a decision notice on the Environmental Registry in February 2012, the guidance document entitled "Endangered Species Act (ESA) Submission Standards for Activity Review and 17(2)(c) Overall Benefit Permits" took effect. This guidance has been developed to provide policy, process and submission information for proponents seeking permits under clause 17(2)(c) of the ESA. The following forms have been developed to assistant proponents through the permitting process:
- Information Gathering Form and guide,
- Avoidance Alternatives Form and guide and the
- C-Permit Application Form and guide.
Note: Before completing the Information Gathering Form, proponents are strongly encouraged to contact their local MNR office species at risk representative for a preliminary screening of their proposed activities. Please view the decision notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry #011-2842).
New: Interim Protocol for the Review of Project Proposals that may affect Aquatic Species at Risk in Ontario 2011
The public is invited to review and submit comments on a draft protocol between the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans entitled the Interim Protocol for the Review of Project Proposals that may affect Aquatic Species at Risk in Ontario 2011. Please view the policy proposal notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry 011-5661).
New: Draft Recovery Strategies
The public is invited to review and submit comments on Draft Recovery Strategies for the following eight species: American Chestnut, Cherry Birch, Drooping Trillium, Heart-leaved Plantain, Lake Chubsucker, Large Whorled Pogonia, Prothonotary Warbler and Wolverine (February 1, 2012). Comments may be submitted through Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry # 011-5453).
New - Draft Habitat Regulations
The public is invited to review and comment on draft Habitat Regulations for the following seven species: Bent Spike-rush, Common Five-lined Skink, Eastern Foxsnake (Carolinian Population), Eastern Foxsnake (Georgian Bay Population), Gray Ratsnake (Carolinian Population), Gray Ratsnake (Frontenac Axis Population), and Rapids Clubtail. Comments should be submitted through the regulation proposal notice posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at: ontario.ca/ebr (search number 011-5306).
New: Proposed Amendment to the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) respecting Eastern Meadowlark
Ontario is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act related to Eastern Meadowlark. The proposed transitional provision will allow farmers to continue their current agricultural practices while a longer term approach to Eastern Meadowlark recovery is developed. View and comment on the proposed approach on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-5372).
New: Final Recovery Strategies
On December 7, 2011, final recovery strategies were completed for eight species: Bogbean Buckmoth, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Four-leaved Milkweed, Horsetail Spike-rush, Lake Sturgeon, Laura’s Clubtail, Polar Bear and Rusty-patched Bumble Bee. The public and Aboriginal communities are invited to review these recovery strategies, and submit comments on the commitments that the Government of Ontario should consider making in its government response statements. Comments should be submitted through the policy proposal notice posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (#011-5243)
New: Final Government Response Statements
On November 18, 2011 11 government response statements were completed. These statements summarize the Government of Ontario’s intended actions and priorities in relation to recovery strategies that were completed on February 18, 2011.
New: Habitat Regulations
The government of Ontario has passed regulations defining the habitat for the following three species: Ogden’s Pondweed, Eastern Flowering Dogwood, and Redside Dace. For additional information regarding these habitat regulations please reference the Environmental Bill of Rights website at: ontario.ca/ebr (ER #011-2471).
New: Southern Ontario Tree Seed Zone Atlas
The Southern Ontario Tree Seed Zone Atlas (PDF, 250 MB) contains detailed maps of Ontario’s Tree Seed Zones. The atlas should be used by individuals or organizations undertaking tree planting activities to ensure seedlings are appropriate for the area in which they will be planted.
New: Butternut Assessment Guidelines: Assessment of Butternut Tree Health for the Purposes of the Endangered Species Act, 2007
This guideline (PDF) is intended to provide direction to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) employees and to non-ministry Butternut Health Assessors on the identification of Butternut (Juglans cinerea) trees that are retainable. This guideline establishes technical criteria for determining whether or not a Butternut tree is exempt from protection. It also outlines the requirements which a person must satisfy, firstly, to be designated as a Butternut Health Assessor by the Minister of Natural Resources and, secondly, to properly fulfill the responsibilities of a Butternut Health Assessor.
New: Proposed agreements with operators of existing hydro-electric facilities in Ontario
Ontario is seeking public comment on proposed agreements with operators of existing hydro-electric facilities in Ontario through section 11 of the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed agreements will allow these operators to continue operations while taking reasonable steps to minimize the adverse effects of their operation on species at risk, as well as monitoring the effects of their facilities on the species. View and comment on the proposed approach on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-3334).
New: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 230/08
Ontario is providing information on amendments to the Species at Risk in Ontario List (Ontario Regulation 230/08) under the Endangered Species Act. The amendments involve changes to the status of seven species assessed and classified by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) on 16 February 2011. The amendments will come into effect on 8 June 2011. View the amendments on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-3148).
New: Amendment to the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) respecting Bobolink
Ontario is seeking public comment on proposed amendments (PDF) to the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act related to Bobolink. The proposed three year transitional provision will allow farmers to continue their current agricultural practices while a longer term approach to Bobolink recovery is developed. View and comment on the proposed approach on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-2901).
New: Proposed Amendments to Sections 5 and 12 of Ontario Regulation 242/08
Ontario is seeking public comment on proposed amendments (PDF) to the General Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08) under the Endangered Species Act related to Butternut and cultivation of species at risk plants. The proposed amendment to section 5 will provide certainty to proponents and landowners where activities will affect 10 or fewer healthy Butternut. The proposed amendment to section 12 will allow the commercial cultivation of Species at Risk plants provided MNR is notified prior to engaging in commercial cultivation. View and comment on the proposed approach on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-2449).
DRAFT Guidance for Development Activities in Redside Dace Protected Habitat
The Government of Ontario has been working with industry and agency partners in preparing a DRAFT Guidance Document for Development Activities in Redside Dace Protected Habitat. This guidance document is intended to assist proponents working in, and adjacent, to Redside Dace habitat by providing Best Management Practices to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts on protected habitat. Comments from all Ontarians, partners and industry are welcomed on this Draft Document. View and comment on the proposed approach on the Environmental Registry (Registry #011-2605).
