Species at risk public registry
On March 31, 2022, the Government of Canada introduced Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization. The Bill proposes amendments to 29 statutes, including targeted amendments to the Species at Risk Act (SARA) that would clarify certain requirements and remove those that are outdated. For more information, see: Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization.
In this registry you will find documents relating to the administration of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The act is part of Canada’s strategy to protect hundreds of wild plants and animal species from becoming extinct, and to help in their recovery. Please visit the species at risk sub-topic page to read more about species at risk and the act, the accord and the funding program, and visit our education centre. Help with navigating the Species at Risk Public Registry.
Species
Species
Search species list by range, taxonomy group, risk category or schedule.
Schedule 1 - List of wildlife species at Risk
Access the official lists of wildlife species at risk (schedules 1, 2 and 3).
Species listing process under the Species at Risk Act
Measures to Protect Listed Wildlife Species
Species at Risk Act (SARA) instruments
The following sections provide information relating to SARA instruments and the implementation of the Act.
- Regulations
- Orders
- Permits and agreements
- Policies and guidelines
- Round table reports and Minister's response
- Environmental Assessment Best Practice Guide for Wildlife at Risk in Canada
- Species at Risk Program: Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework and Risk-Based Audit Framework
Parliamentary review
Section 129 of the Species at Risk Act requires Parliament to review the Act five years after that section comes into force.
Status reports
Status reports
Recovery
Recovery strategies
A recovery strategy is a planning document that identifies what needs to be done to stop or reverse the decline of a species.
Action plans identify the measures to take to implement the recovery strategy for threatened, endangered and extirpated species.
Management plans
Management plans include measures for the conservation of species of special concern and their habitat.
Residence descriptions / rationales
Residence descriptions and rationales describe the dwelling-place such as a den, nest or other similar area or place that is occupied by a species.
Critical habitat orders, reports and statements
Documents on the identification and protection of habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a species.
Current best practices for recovery. This publication celebrates the tens of thousands of Canadians from all walks of life who are striving to save the wild in Canada. Critical habitat identification toolbox Under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), critical habitat (CH) is the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of listed extirpated, endangered, or threatened species, and that is identified as CH in a recovery strategy or action plan. This CH Identification Toolbox is intended to be used by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recovery practitioners and those who work with ECCC in the development of recovery documents where CH identification is required. ECCC invites you to familiarize yourself with the process by which ECCC identifies critical habitat for endangered and threatened species. Documents detailing multi-year plans for posting recovery documents by Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.Saving the wild; an opportunity to participate in species at risk recovery in Canada
Identification of critical habitat
Recovery document posting plans
Permits
Permits
A permit may be required to conduct an activity that could affect a species listed under SARA, or its habitat.
Find a document
Find a document
A requirement of SARA is the establishment of this registry for the purpose of providing easy access to documents relating to matters under the act.
In addition to the documents listed in the previous tabs, this registry contains thousands of documents in 40 categories.
Latest publications and news
Publications
December 2024
- 2024-12-11 Recovery Strategy for the Plains Minnow (Hybognathus placitus) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-12-06 Recovery Strategy for the Columbia Quillwort (Isoetes minima), Dwarf Hesperochiron (Hesperochiron pumilus), and Hairy Paintbrush (Castilleja tenuis) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-12-04 Multi-species Action Plan for Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada and National Historic Sites Administered by Parks Canada on PEI [proposed]
- 2024-12-04 Progress report on steps taken for protection of critical habitat for species at risk in Canada (April 2024 to September 2024)
November 2024
- 2024-11-29 Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca): imminent threat assessment 2024
- 2024-11-28 Action Plan for the Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas), St. Lawrence Estuary Population in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-11-20 Sei Whale (Atlantic population): Consultation on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-11-18 Proposed Agreement for the Conservation of the Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain Population Between Governments of Canada and McLeod Lake Indian Band
- 2024-11-14 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) and the Unisexual Ambystoma, Small-mouthed Salamander dependent population (Ambystoma laterale - texanum) in Canada [Final version]
- 2024-11-05 Recovery Strategy for the Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus) in Canada
- 2024-11-05 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy and Action Plan Implementation for the Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) in Canada for the Period 2013 to 2021
October 2024
- 2024-10-21 COSEWIC annual report 2023 to 2024
- 2024-10-21 COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) in Canada
- 2024-10-21 COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Gray-cheeked Thrush minimus subspecies (Catharus minimus minimus) in Canada
- 2024-10-21 COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Killer Whale Orcinus orca, Southern Resident population, Northern Resident population, West Coast Transient population, Offshore population and Northwest Atlantic / Eastern Arctic population, in Canada
- 2024-10-11 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy and Action Plan Implementation for the Bolander’s Quillwort (Isoetes bolanderi) in Canada (2018 to 2022)
- 2024-10-10 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) in Canada for the Period 2017 to 2022
- 2024-10-09 Critical Habitat of the Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) Order: Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 158, Number 2
- 2024-10-02 Policy on Assessing Imminent Threats under Sections 29 and 80 of the Species at Risk Act – terrestrial species
News
2024
- 2024-12-13 The Commission de la capitale nationale was ordered to pay a total of $75,000 for having violated the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-09-06 Supporting habitat stewardship projects for Monarchs and other species at risk in Ontario and across Canada
- 2024-08-30 Government of Canada invests more than $4.9 million to protect significant habitats in Mauricie
- 2024-08-21 Canadian and Colombian Environment Ministers Meet to Share International Leadership Ambition on Nature and Biodiversity
- 2024-08-07 Canada invests over $12.5 million to increase conserved areas primarily in southern Ontario
- 2024-07-18 Protecting nature in British Columbia and across Canada to help fight climate change and protect biodiversity
- 2024-07-08 A Quebec company was fined $12,500 for destroying nests of Bank Swallows, a threatened species
- 2024-07-08 Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announce new priority place to conserve species at risk
- 2024-06-27 Government of Canada announces funding for Indigenous communities to protect species at risk and their habitats
- 2024-06-20 Canada is supporting habitat stewardship projects for Monarchs and pollinators in southern Ontario
- 2024-06-19 Following the Government of Quebec’s failure, the federal government begins consultations on an emergency order to protect caribou
- 2024-05-16 Federal and Ontario governments agree to significant collaboration on caribou conservation
- 2024-05-10 Government of Canada releases report on national efforts toward Boreal Caribou recovery
- 2024-03-12 Canada and Ontario commit to significant collaboration on shared nature conservation goals
- 2024-03-11 Governments of Canada and Ontario join together to announce funding and collaboration for conservation areas in Ontario
- 2024-03-04 Empowering key regional environmental groups to protect habitats and species at risk in Quebec and across Canada
- 2024-03-04 List of 56 Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk projects 2023–2024
- 2024-02-14 Government of Canada invests $3 million in citizen science and open data for birds and biodiversity
- 2024-01-31 Forty-two Indigenous-led conservation projects across Canada receive federal funding to protect more nature
2022
Consultations
Consultations
Note: A new online commenting feature is available for all stakeholders wishing to send comments on proposed regulations published in the Canada Gazette.
Search current and past public consultations.
Consulting with Canadians website.
E-mail newsletter
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