Progress report on steps taken for protection of critical habitat for species at risk in Canada (April 2022 to September 2022)
January 2023
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Departmental message
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Parks Canada Agency (PCA) have a core responsibility to protect, conserve and recover terrestrial species at risk and their critical habitat. This responsibility is shared with provincial and territorial governments. ECCC and PCA work cooperatively with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, other federal departments and agencies, and other partners and stakeholders to undertake conservation measures to recover species at risk and protect biodiversity at large.
A key tool for the protection of species at risk in Canada is the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Listing species under SARA and producing the required recovery documents allows for the refinement of long-term recovery objectives and strategies for each species at risk and their habitats. However, as more species are listed under SARA, it has become evident that a species-by-species approach to recovery is highly resource-intensive and can lead to uncoordinated, siloed actions that do not enable us to meet our collective species at risk requirement to the greatest extent possible. Consensus has emerged on the need for a prioritized, multi-species, stewardship-based approach to better focus on recovery outcomes and undertake needed actions in an effective and timely manner; one that is grounded in stronger multi-jurisdictional partnerships and engagement of all partners, notably Indigenous Peoples.
The Government of Canada has been collaborating with provincesFootnote 1, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and other conservation partners to implement the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in CanadaFootnote 2 (Pan-Canadian Approach) since 2018. Conservation efforts under the Pan-Canadian Approach are concentrated on shared priorities across Canada, focusing on a set of priority places, species, and sectors. These concerted efforts are bringing conservation partners together to collectively plan and implement stewardship actions on the ground to achieve better outcomes for species at risk.
- 11 priority places have been established that are hotspots for species at risk. These priority places cover nearly 30 million ha (including ~2 million ha of critical habitat for species at risk) with more than 320 species at risk (~147 of which have > 50% of their range included within the priority places). In the priority places, federal and provincial or territorial governments are working with Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders to develop conservation action plans that will identify key actions to address the greatest threats to species. These 11 priority places are complemented by a suite of Community-Nominated Priority Places (CNPP), which were identified through an open call for applications. In 2018-2021, 5,354 ha were secured and 157 km of shoreline and 36,712 ha were stewarded for species at risk through actions implemented by partners in the federal-provincial-territorial priority places. In 2019-2021, 753 ha were secured and 626 km of shoreline and 6,756 ha were stewarded for species at risk through actions implemented by partners through CNPP. Six priority places overlap with National Parks which broadens the collaboration between partners to maximize landscape-scale conservation benefits
- Six priority species have been identified by federal-provincial-territorial governments: Greater Sage-Grouse; Wood Bison; Barren-ground Caribou; Peary Caribou; Caribou, Boreal population (“boreal caribou”); and Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain population (“southern mountain caribou”). Priority species have large geographic ranges, an important ecological role at the national or regional scale, and many have high cultural, traditional and spiritual meaning for Indigenous Peoples. Together, the priority species’ ranges cover over 576 million ha – roughly ~58% – of Canada. By delivering conservation outcomes for targeted priority species, it is expected that we can achieve significant co-benefits for other species at risk, wildlife in general, and related biodiversity values
- Three priority sectors have been identified: agriculture, forest sector and urban development. The priority sectors initiative addresses each of these sectors through a three-pronged approach:
- supporting innovative sector projects that can lead to the protection and recovery of species at risk (such as integrating species at risk into sectoral plans, testing of decision support tools, assessing financial incentives and mechanisms)
- creating a mechanism for collaboration with sectors; and
- developing conservation action plans for species at risk with sector partners and stakeholders
ECCC, along with PCA, provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples and other partners, continue to advance biodiversity conservation through the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Approach and related policy and program improvements.
Introduction
The purposes of SARA are to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened as a result of human activity, and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered. The responsibility for conservation of species at risk in Canada is shared by different levels of government. The Government of Canada first looks to the provinces and territories for the protection of terrestrial species’ habitat on non-federally administered lands. The federal government is responsible for critical habitatFootnote 3 protection for all species on federal lands.
Species at risk are important elements of healthy ecosystems, and protecting them helps support biodiversity. The protection of critical habitat supports the Goal 15, Healthy Wildlife Populations under the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to protect and recover species, and conserve Canadian biodiversity. Critical habitat protection also supports United Nations Sustainable Development Target 15.5 (of Goal 15) to take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2030, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
Under SARA, the Government of Canada is obliged to track and report on actions taken and measures put in place to protect identified critical habitat of species at risk. This responsibility is found under section 63 of the Act. The department has published nine reports prior to this publication on the measures taken. This report focuses on information related to the protection of critical habitat for terrestrial species at risk in Canada.
In addition to reporting on the implementation of SARA, federal, provincial and territorial governments have been implementing the Pan-Canadian Approach since 2018. Now in its fourth year of implementation, the Pan-Canadian Approach is enabling conservation partners to work together to achieve better outcomes for species at risk. The Pan-Canadian Approach is also renewing relationships and strengthening collaboration between our governments and Indigenous Peoples, and other partners, including industry and non-governmental organizations.
In the spirit of the Pan-Canadian Approach, and of section 63 of SARA, this report provides a summary of steps and actions taken and underway by provincial, territorial and federal governments to contribute towards the protection of identified critical habitat for 262 terrestrial species at riskFootnote 4 in Canada, an increase of 8 species since the previous report published in June 2022 (see Annex A). The report includes information related to species at risk critical habitat on federal and non-federal lands. Building on the previous nine publicationsFootnote 5, this report focuses on steps and actions that have been taken during the reporting period of April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. Since the first multi-species report (June 2019), 352 steps and actions have been taken to protect identified critical habitat for species at risk.
Report framework / category definitions
ECCC contacted provinces and territories to request that they report on steps and actions taken to contribute towards the protection of critical habitat on non-federally administered land. This request began with critical habitat as identified in federal recovery strategies or action plans for federally listed terrestrial species at risk. The report also includes information on other collaborative efforts as well as information on steps and actions taken on federal lands including input from the Parks Canada Agency. In addition, Grants and Contributions (G&C) program funding to support the protection of critical habitat is included in this report. This funding is reported once annually to better reflect ECCC’s internal processes and the reporting cycle of G&C recipients.
Guided by the Pan-Canadian Approach, steps or actions are organized in this report based on whether they relate to a single species, or relate to multi-species, priority places, or priority sectors. ECCC summarized the input and categorized it into the type of step or action taken. The key categories of steps or actions are defined as follows:
- Legislative or regulatory: Steps taken related to the development or implementation of a wildlife/species at risk legislation or a regulation under existing legislation
- Policy: Steps linked to the development or approval of a policy to apply a species at risk legislation or consider wildlife and species at risk in decision making
- Protected areas: Steps linked to the setting aside of land under an existing act or regulation for the purpose of regulating activities to reduce their adverse effects on habitat, or steps linked to the negotiation or establishment of a protected area
- Agreements or easements: Steps linked to the negotiation or signature of a conservation agreement, under section 11 of SARA or under other applicable legislation (such as a Conservation Easement Act)
- Securement: Voluntary setting aside, sale or purchase of land for the purpose of conservation and protection by a private landowner or a government, without legal designation as a protected area
- Range and management planning: Steps linked to the development and implementation of management plans and range plans
- Control of Activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat (ALTDs): Any steps not already above captured which help control activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat for species at risk, when these activities are identified as such in the recovery strategy for the species
- Stewardship: Habitat management actions that help maintain, restore or enhance the quality of habitat
The list of species in each jurisdiction to which this report applies can be found in Annex A. This list represents all terrestrial species currently listed on Schedule 1 of SARA as threatened or endangered for which critical habitat has been identified in a final federal recovery strategy or action planFootnote 6.
The Yukon and Northwest Territories devolution agreements have given administration and control of large portions of land to the Yukon and Northwest Territories governments. This type of agreement is under negotiation for Nunavut. The federal government is working with the governments of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Indigenous governments and organizations, and northern Wildlife Management Boards to develop a path forward for protection of critical habitat on devolved lands (also known as territorial lands) and will also look to do so with its counterparts in Nunavut through the devolution process.
1. Protection of critical habitat in the provinces
For critical habitat occurring on non-federally administered lands in the provinces, the Government of Canada first looks to the laws of the provinces for the protection of terrestrial species’ habitat. In the following sections, a summary of the applicable legislation is provided, followed by the different actions and measures put in place which reduce the risk of destruction of critical habitat.
1.1 British Columbia
Status summary
In British Columbia (BC), there are 102 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal land and three species with federally identified critical habitat only on federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A1). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for five new species (Bank Swallow, Crumpled Tarpaper Lichen, Okanagan Efferia, Olive Clubtail and Roell’s Brotherella Moss) was identified on non-federal lands within BC. No legislative changes were made during the reporting period; the summary of legislation is below.
The Government of British Columbia does not currently have stand-alone species at risk legislation. The purpose of most provincial land use legislation in BC is to manage industrial and commercial activities, including the environmental effects of those activities.
The Ecological Reserve Act, the Park Act, the Wildlife Act, the Land Act and their associated regulations include provisions that could, in some circumstances, result in an outcome that prohibits critical habitat destruction within ecological reserves, in conservancies or provincial parks, and in wildlife management areas respectively. However, the scope of lands covered by these Acts is limited, and, except within ecological reserves, there are discretions that may enable the authorization of activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat. The Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and the Oil and Gas Activities Act and associated regulations include enforceable prohibitions, but the prohibitions only apply to forest harvesting activities, oil and gas activities, or range use practices under some circumstances, vary in their application depending on the specific land use designation, and have less restrictive provisions or exemptions for various types of operators.
On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation in BC may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment, please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Legislative or regulatory |
Marbled Murrelet |
Not previously reported, although it did not occur within the April 2022 – September 2022 period, on December 2, 2021, the Land Use Objectives Regulation Order was established under the Land Act to achieve minimum habitat thresholds on Crown land. A Section 7 / Section 9 Notice has also been established under the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation and Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation to meet spatial habitat management commitments outlined in the Implementation Plan. Additionally, this reporting period, implementation of the Order and Section 7/9 Notice is ongoing. Spatial planning tables to support District implementation have been developed and an auxiliary staff member was hired to develop Wildlife Habitat Areas to meet the Section 7/9 target. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Securement |
Great Basin Gophersnake Lewis’s Woodpecker |
With the support of Habitat Stewardship Program funding, the Regional District of Central Okanagan secured a 10.6 ha property to add to their regional parks system. The property contains critical habitat Great Basin Gophersnake (10.6 ha) and Lewis’s Woodpecker (7.51 ha). This critical habitat will now be protected from incompatible agricultural use and development, and will be managed to maintain wildlife habitat values. |
Securement |
Bank Swallow Great Basin Gophersnake Great Basin Spadefoot Lewis’s Woodpecker Marbled Murrelet Pallid Bat Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population) Western Rattlesnake Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population) |
With the support of Nature Smart Climate Solutions (NSCSF) funding, private lands with high carbon sequestration or storage values have been secured across British Columbia. Many of these parcels also provide exceptional habitat values for species at risk. Lands secured under the NSCSF program in British Columbia in 2021-22 will contribute to protection for critical habitat for 9 species at risk: Bank Swallow (46.1 ha); Great Basin Gophersnake (142.5 ha), Great Basin Spadefoot (68.8 ha), Lewis’s Woodpecker (57.7 ha), Marbled Murrelet (0.25 ha), Pallid Bat (101.9 ha), Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population) (58 ha), Western Rattlesnake (142.5 ha), and Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population) (101.9 ha). |
Stewardship Control of Activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Multiple species |
Within the Southwestern British Columbia Priority Place, in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, funding under the Canada Nature Fund supported provincial government and ENGO partners in implementing 14 projects that collectively targeted 49 species at risk with identified critical habitat. In three separate ECCC-funded projects in the 2021-22 fiscal year, The South Coast Conservation Land Management Program, Islands Trust Conservancy, and West Coast Conservation Land Management Program have taken action to maintain and improve the quality of critical habitat for species at risk. Each partner maintained and improved habitat values within existing conservation lands in their region (BC’s Lower Mainland, the Gulf Islands, and the East coast of Vancouver Island, respectively), undertaking activities such as invasive plant species control and removal, and managing human recreational pressures. Collectively, these actions have maintained habitat quality of over 4,000 ha of conservation land, which includes critical habitat for 18 species at risk. All three of these projects are multi-year funding agreements and will continue until 2026. Several partners undertook habitat restoration and enhancement work in 2021-22 with a focus on Garry Oak ecosystems and associated species at risk. With the support of Priority Places funding, Capital Regional District Parks and the Corporation of the District of Oak Bay removed invasive plants and fenced sensitive areas to prevent trampling of at-risk plant species, improving critical habitat for 14 species at risk: Bearded Owl-clover (2.6 ha of critical habitat), Bear’s-foot Sanicle (2.6 ha), Purple Sanicle (2.3 ha), Sharp-Tailed Snake (2 ha), Macoun’s Meadowfoam (1 ha); and Contorted-pod Evening-primrose, Deltoid Balsamroot, Foothill Sedge, Howell’s Triteleia, Kellogg’s Rush, Muhlenberg’s Centaury, Tall Woolly-heads, Water-Plantain Buttercup, and Yellow Montane Violet (<1 ha each). |
Securement Control of Activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat Stewardship |
Bank Swallow Behr’s Hairstreak Branched Phacelia Desert Nightsnake Grand Coulee Owl-clover Great Basin Gophersnake Great Basin Spadefoot Half-moon Hairstreak Little Brown Myotis Lewis’s Woodpecker Nugget Moss Okanagan Efferia Olive Clubtail Pallid Bat Rusty Cord-moss Sage Thrasher Scarlet Ammania Short-rayed Alkali Aster Showy Phlox Small-flowered Lipocarpha Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population) Western Rattlesnake Whitebark Pine Williamson's Sapsucker Yellow-breasted Chat, (auricollis, Southern Mountain population |
Within the Dry Interior British Columbia Priority Place, in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, funding under the Canada Nature Fund supported provincial government, local government, and ENGO partners in implementing 13 projects that collectively targeted 25 species at risk with identified critical habitat. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the Nature Trust of British Columbia secured 225.7 ha of private land in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. These parcels contain identified critical habitat for six species: Western Rattlesnake (225.7 ha of critical habitat); Great Basin Gophersnake (225.7 ha); Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population) (65.3 ha); Pallid Bat (63.1 ha); Showy Phlox (13.2 ha); and Lewis’s Woodpecker (50.8 ha). This critical habitat will now be protected from incompatible agricultural use and development. Starting in the 2019-20 fiscal year and continuing through 2021-22, with the support of ECCC funding the BC Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship (LWRS) has worked with Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) to advance collaborative conservation and management planning for three species at risk hotspots in the south Okanagan valley, and with Skeetchestn to advance collaborative conservation and management planning across Skeetchestn traditional territory. In 2021-22, action to reduce activities likely to destroy critical habitat was undertaken, with 48 ha of riparian habitat within the South Okanagan Wildlife Management area fenced to prevent livestock access to sensitive riparian and wetland habitats. The fenced areas contain critical habitat for 9 species at risk: Pallid Bat, Great Basin Spadefoot, Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population), Great Basin Gophersnake, Desert Nightsnake, Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis, Southern Mountain population), Behr's Hairstreak, Lewis’s Woodpecker and Olive Clubtail. With the support of Priority Places funding, several projects have been undertaken to restore habitat or improve habitat quality on existing conversation lands within the Dry Interior Priority Place for the benefit of species at risk. Nature Conservancy Canada and the Nature Trust of British Columbia have undertaken habitat enhancement activities on several land trust owned parcels which have improved habitat quality of >12 ha of mapped critical habitat, benefitting 11 species at risk: Desert Nightsnake, Great Basin Gophersnake, Western Rattlesnake, Pallid Bat, Lewis's Woodpecker, Behr's Hairstreak, Great Basin Spadefoot, Yellow-Breasted Chat (auricollis, Southern Mountain population), Williamson’s Sapsucker, Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population), and Olive Clubtail. |
Stewardship |
Lewis’s Woodpecker Spalding’s Campion |
Starting in 2019-20, with Community-Nominated Priority Places funding, ɁAq̓am, in partnership with Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it and the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Society, initiated grassland and open dry forest habitat restoration. In the 2021-22 year, over 160 ha of habitat were restored benefitting two species at risk with identified critical habitat within restoration areas: Lewis’s Woodpecker (33.6 ha) and Spalding’s Campion (4.2 ha). This multi-year project will continue to 2026. |
Stewardship Control of Activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Bank Swallow Lewis’s Woodpecker Northern Leopard Frog (Rocky Mountain population) Williamson’s Sapsucker |
Starting in 2019-20, with Community-Nominated Priority Places funding, the Kootenay Conservation Program and several partner organizations initiated a program of wetland and riparian and grassland-focused habitat restoration, with an emphasis on improving landscape connectivity throughout the Kootenay region of British Columbia. As part of the Kootenay Connect Community-Nominated Priority Place, in 2021-22 the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority restored wetland and riparian habitat on a former agricultural field near Creston, BC, improving critical habitat for Northern Leopard Frog (7.6 ha). Also in 2021-22, the Nature Trust of British Columbia and Nature Conservancy Canada undertook extensive repair and replacement of livestock exclusion fencing, invasive species control, and thinned infilling forest to improve grassland, open dry forest and riparian habitats throughout the Wycliffe Conservation Complex north of Cranbrook, BC. These works have improved the quality of habitat for Bank Swallow (100 ha), Lewis’s Woodpecker (540 ha), and Williamson’s Sapsucker (18 ha). This multi-year project will continue to 2026. |
1.2 Alberta
Status summary
In Alberta, there are 23 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands, and three species with federally identified critical habitat only on federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A2). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Alberta. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Government of Alberta does not have stand-alone species at risk legislation. The Wildlife Act and its Wildlife Regulation cover 12 SARA listed species (see Annex A2 for details) and are the primary provincial legislative tools that address wildlife management in Alberta. The Wildlife Act does not contain prohibitions against the destruction of habitat, but it enables the Minister to make regulations respecting the protection of wildlife habitat and endangered species.
The Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas and Heritage Rangelands Act, the Provincial Parks Act and the Willmore Wilderness Park Act include provisions on critical habitat destruction in wilderness areas, ecological reserves, wildland provincial parks, and within Willmore Wilderness Park respectively. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation, such as the Public Lands Act and the Public Lands Administration Regulation, may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Legislative or regulatory |
Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population) |
Not previously reported, although it did not occur within the April 2022 – September 2022 period, on February 3, 2022, West Fraser announced plans to postpone harvest operations within the A La Peche caribou range until 2023, when the Berland sub-regional plan, which will include the A La Peche range, is due to be finalized. |
Legislative or regulatory |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
Sub-regional plans have been completed for the Cold Lake and Bistcho caribou ranges. These plans include details on how boreal caribou critical habitat will be conserved, managed, and recovered in alignment with the provincial woodland caribou recovery plan and policy, as well as the federal boreal caribou recovery strategy. The expected outcome of these plans is that they will enable habitat to consistently recover towards a minimum level of 65% undisturbed critical habitat within 50-100 years. The plans also aim to ensure that there is sufficient biophysical critical habitat within these ranges to support boreal caribou survival and recovery. |
Stewardship |
Greater Sage-Grouse, urophasianus subspecies |
The Alberta Land Trust Grant Program (LTGP) provided funding to protect 160 acres of greater sage-grouse critical habitat in southern Alberta. This investment supported the Alberta Conservation Association in purchasing land as part of their Manyberries project. |
Securement Stewardship |
Greater Sage-Grouse, urophasianus subspecies |
The Orphan Well Association (OWA) continues to conduct reclamation activities within greater sage-grouse critical habitat, including pipeline abandonment, infrastructure removal of buildings, powerlines and storage tanks as well as a number of well abandoments. Work is coordinated with Alberta Environment and Parks to prioritize sites that will have the largest benefits to greater sage-grouse. Not previously reported, although it did not occur within the April 2022 – September 2022 period, in the fall of 2021, the OWA completed decommissioning activities and environmental site assessments at 85 sites in Greater Sage-Grouse critical habitat. Of these, decommissioning and reclamation activities are complete at 68 sites, which are now ready for Phase II environmental site assessments. Decommissioning/reclamation activities have occurred at an additional 17 sites, with more work planned for the fall of 2022. |
Stewardship |
Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population) |
Legacy seismic line restoration (including mechanical site preparation, tree felling deactivation and tree planting) was initiated in portions of the Little Smoky range (compartments 2&5, 1&3, and 6). Site preparation occurred November 2021 – March 2021, and tree planting and additional deactivation occurred in July/August 2022. The total treatment was 849,000 seedlings over 763 km. The areas have been protected from further disturbance to date with no scheduled harvest for at least 60 years. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stewardship |
Greater Sage-Grouse, urophasianus subspecies Western Spiderwort |
The Alberta Conservation Association’s Multiple Species at Risk (MULTISAR) program collaborates with producers to create Habitat Conservation Strategies. MULTISAR assessments were completed and Habitat Conservation Strategies were developed for three properties within greater sage-grouse range that include 1,239 ha of Greater Sage-Grouse critical habitat as well as a property containing 453 ha of Western Spiderwort critical habitat. |
1.3 Saskatchewan
Status summary
In Saskatchewan, there are 22 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A3). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Saskatchewan. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Government of Saskatchewan does not have stand-alone species at risk legislation. Rather, The Wildlife Act, 1998 and its Wild Species at Risk Regulations, covering nine SARA listed species (see Annex A3) are the primary provincial legislative tools that can address wildlife habitat and species at risk in the province. The Wildlife Act, 1998 allows for the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations that designate an area of the province for protection of wildlife and their habitat, however, it also includes provisions to authorize activities in these areas. The Wild Species at Risk Regulations is the only regulation that includes provisions regarding species at risk; however, the prohibitions are limited.
The Provincial Lands Act, 2016 and The Conservation Easement Act include provisions on critical habitat destruction in Ecological Reserves, Representative Area Ecological Reserves and on land that is under a crown conservation easement, respectively. However, the scope of lands covered under these Acts is limited and there are specific provisions associated with each designated reserve and easement. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment, please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Legislative or regulatory |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
The Forest Operating Plan Standard, a chapter in the Saskatchewan Environmental Code, was amended to include a requirement to implement harvest event planning. Harvest event planning aims to concentrate harvest disturbance and minimize road networks with an overall objective of more closely emulating natural disturbance patterns and reducing total human disturbance. The amended Standard also includes a mapping requirement to identify Caribou Habitat Management Areas or other habitat areas designated within a recovery plan for species at risk. All approved Forest Management Plans contain a commitment to defer harvest within Tier 1 caribou habitat and this will now be spatially delineated in annually submitted operating plans. The amended Standard was approved on June 15, 2022. |
Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
Forestry annual operating plans did not approve forest harvest in any Tier 1 caribou habitat areas for 2022-23. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Between April 1, 2022 and September 23, 2022, a total of 111 wells received the Acknowledgement of Reclamation (AOR; 12 gas wells and 99 stratigraphic test wells) between February 2021 and March 31, 2022 and had not been previously reported, involving an area of 32.13 acres. 99 stratigraphic wells occur in boreal woodland caribou habitat whereas the remaining 12 gas wells affect multiple species (Burrowing Owl, Greater Sage-Grouse urophasianus subspecies, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Swift Fox, Sprague's Pipit). |
Policy |
Multiple species |
The Ministry of Agriculture's Lands Branch's Improvement Authorization Guidelines were revised in May 2022 to streamline the improvement application review process. This included a table of species-specific critical habitat conditions for Chestnut-collared Longspur, Piping Plover, Sprague's Pipit, and Swift Fox. The Ministry of Agriculture uses this information as part of its internal assessment to determine if the agricultural Crown land can proceed to sale or should be made available for sale with an Integrated Land Use Crown Conservation Easement (ILU-CCE) or retained. The implementation of this application process has reduced the risk of habitat and permanent cover loss (e.g. conversion of native prairie) following the sale of agricultural Crown land. The process also recognizes land with a high ecological value; when this occurs the land is retained by the Crown and added to WHPA which stops the sale and adds additional protection. |
1.4 Manitoba
Status summary
In Manitoba, there are 22 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A4). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for two new species (Bank Swallow and Fascicled Ironweed) was identified on non-federal lands within Manitoba. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act (ESEA) covers 20 SARA listed species with critical habitat identified on non-federal lands (see Annex A4) and is the primary provincial legislative tool to protect species at risk and their habitat on non-federal lands. In general, the ESEA includes prohibitions against destroying, disturbing or interfering with the habitat of listed endangered or threatened species. However, the ESEA includes exemptions for developments and licenses under The Environment Act. Manitoba has not required proponents to apply for exemption under the ESEA for development projects licensed under The Environment Act. The ESEA also includes provisions for designating endangered or threatened ecosystems as protected through ecosystem preservation zones, which would apply to any overlapping critical habitat. However, as of March 2022, no ecosystem preservation zones had been designated.
Additionally, the Ecological Reserves Act and the Provincial Parks Act includes provisions on critical habitat destruction in ecological reserves, and certain zones within provincial parks. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Agreements or easements |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
In May 2022, Manitoba and Canada published a draft section 11 conservation agreement under the federal Species at Risk Act for boreal caribou. Following completion of Indigenous and public engagement in June 2022, Manitoba and ECCC are working collaboratively to finalize the agreement. Consistent with commitments in the draft agreement, Manitoba has contracted additional capacity to move forward with the development of management unit range plans. |
Legislative or regulatory |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
Not previously reported, although it did not occur within the April 2022 – September 2022 period, in May 2021, Manitoba's Forestry Branch incorporated into the 20-Year Forest Management Plan Guidelines a requirement for license holders to include a management strategy to mitigate impacts to core habitat for boreal caribou. The requirement includes the development of a caribou habitat protection plan that would be incorporated into the Forest Management Plan. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for multiple species during this reporting period. |
1.5 Ontario
Status summary
In Ontario, there are 100 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands and two species with federally identified critical habitat only on federal land to which this report relates (see Annex A5). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Ontario. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
Habitat protection under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) is in place for 184 species at risk in Ontario, 97 of which are part of the 100 terrestrial species with critical habitat identified on non-federal lands in the province (see Annex A5). Under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA), forest operations in Crown forests are exempt from certain prohibitions of the ESA provided the forest operations are conducted in accordance with an approved forest management plan. Impacts to species at risk as a result of forest operations are managed through requirements under the CFSA framework. Western Chorus Frog (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield population) (not currently listed under ESA), Golden-winged Warbler (currently listed Special Concern under the ESA) and Goldenseal (currently listed Special Concern under the ESA) are the only three species with final critical habitat in Ontario that do not currently receive any direct habitat protection under the ESAFootnote 7.
On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment, please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Agreements or easements |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
On April 21, 2022, the province of Ontario entered into a conservation agreement with Canada under sections 10 and 11 of the federal Species at Risk Act to maintain or achieve self-sustaining boreal caribou populations across Ontario. This agreement provides an overall framework for establishing collaborative commitments, including habitat planning, protection, and restoration activities to protect and recover boreal caribou. The overarching goal of this agreement is for the province of Ontario, with the support of Canada, to work collaboratively with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to sustain or improve the environmental conditions necessary for the recovery of the boreal caribou at the range scale, informed by the best available science. This agreement also includes a commitment to finalize and implement a Management Approach for the Coastal Range. Ontario and Canada are now working towards implementation. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Protected areas |
Blanding's Turtle (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population) Eastern Whip-poor-will Least Bittern |
During this reporting period, the province of Ontario has made progress to designate Ostrander Crown Land Block and Point Petre Provincial Wildlife Area, two ecologically significant areas along the southern shore of Prince Edward County, as a conservation reserve under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserve Act. As of September 30, 2022, a Land Use Amendment to redesignate the lands as a "Recommended Conservation Reserve" was being considered for approval, the boundary refinement was completed, and an Environmental Assessment was ongoing. Consultations for the Land Use Amendment and boundary refinement were completed. Consultation on the Environmental Assessment was ongoing. |
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
During this reporting period, the provincial Species at Risk Stewardship Program (SARSP) supported 67 ongoing or new stewardship projects that support the protection and recovery of the province of Ontario’s species at risk. SARSP projects contribute to the restoration of important habitat, mitigate threats, fill knowledge gaps through research and monitoring, and promote awareness through education and outreach initiatives. Specific measures, including information on hectares restored or enhanced, and outreach impressions to the public are collected in March each year and will be available for the next reporting period. |
Legislative or regulatory |
Multiple species |
The option for proponents to pay charges to the Species at Risk Conservation Fund (Fund), introduced through changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2019, became available as of April 29, 2022. Habitat protection under section 10 of the ESA remains in place for conservation fund species. The Fund provides a new option for proponents that are authorized to undertake activities that impact select species at risk (Butternut, Barn Swallow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Whip-poor-will, and Blanding’s Turtle). Instead of completing beneficial actions for species impacted by those activities, proponents have the option of contributing to a fund that allows the agency to pool the resources and determine how best to implement long-term, large-scale and strategic protection and recovery activities that benefit eligible species. Under this approach, proponents are still required to take action to avoid and minimize impacts on species at risk and their habitats. |
Stewardship |
Multiple species, including: Acadian Flycatcher American Badger, jacksoni subspecies American Chestnut Bank Swallow Bent Spike-rush (Great Lakes Plains population) Blanding’s Turtle (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population) Cerulean Warbler Cucumber Tree Eastern Flowering Dogwood Eastern Foxsnake (Carolinian population) Eastern Whip-poor-will Fowler’s Toad Golden-winged Warbler Gray Ratsnake (Carolinian population) Horsetail Spike-rush Jefferson Salamander Large Whorled Pogonia Least Bittern Little Brown Myotis Northern Myotis Prothonotary Warbler Queensnake Red-headed Woodpecker Round-leaved Greenbrier (Great Lakes Plains population) Rusty-patched Bumble Bee Spiny Softshell Spotted Turtle Spotted Wintergreen Tri-coloured Bat Virginia Goat's-rue |
In 2022-2023, the Canada Nature Fund provided funding to 11 projects in the Long Point Walsingham Forest (LPWF) Priority Place. Through these projects, the LPWF Collaborative is continuing to implement the actions identified in the Integrated Conservation Action Plan that directly and indirectly benefit the CH of multiple SAR. Actions implemented include:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species, including: Blanding's Turtle (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population) Eastern Foxsnake (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population) Massasauga (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population) Spotted Turtle |
ECCC supported the continued implementation of conservation actions in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Region Community Nominated Priority Place, now named Maamwi Ankiakiziwin, with funding in 2022-2023. Actions implemented include:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species, including: Blanding’s Turtle (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population) Spotted Turtle Wood Turtle |
ECCC supported the continued implementation of conservation actions in the Land Between Bioregion Community Nominated Priority Place with funding in 2022-2023. Actions implemented include:
|
1.6 Quebec
Status summary
In Quebec, there are 38 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A6). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Quebec. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
In Quebec, the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species (LEMV) covers 32 SARA listed species (see Annex A6) and designates species as threatened or vulnerable. Additionally, LEMV has a List of Species Likely to be Designated Threatened or Vulnerable that, essentially preventive in nature, is an administrative and educational tool aimed at halting, or even reversing, the decline of species. However, there is no legislative obligation to designate or protect habitats necessary for the survival or recovery of a species. In addition, although the LEMV and the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (LCMVF) apply in principle to both private and public lands, the Regulation respecting wildlife habitats (RHF) limits the designation of wildlife habitats to land in the domain of the State, therefore limiting protection of habitat of at-risk wildlife species. However, efforts are continuing to modernize the RHF and review these provisions.
In addition, Quebec has several tools available to create different types of protected areas. The designation of protected areas is an element of the Quebec Government’s strategy to promote sustainable development and the protection of biodiversity, including species at risk. However, with few exceptions, the areas of critical habitat covered by protected areas are generally very small except for the Green-scaled Willow for which 100% of the critical habitat is in the Gaspésie National Park established under the Parks Act. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No content on the steps and actions taken for specific species was provided by the province for this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Agreements or easements Securement Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat Stewardship |
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Appalachian population) American Ginseng American Water-willow Blanding’s Turtle (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population) Eastern Whip-poor-will False Hop Sedge Forked Three-awned grass Golden-winged Warbler Least Bittern Little Brown Myotis Northern Myotis Purple Twayblade Spiny Softshell Victorin's Gentian Western Chorus frog (Great Lakes St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield population) White Wood Aster Wood Turtle |
In 2021-2022, the Canada Nature Fund provided funding for 12 projects in the St. Lawrence Lowlands (SSL) Priority Place established in Quebec under the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation. All of these are multi-year projects involving a wide range of partners. The critical habitat of some 17 species at risk could benefit from the various conservation actions taken under these projects. They include:
|
Agreements or easements Securement Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat Stewardship |
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Appalachian population) American Ginseng Bicknell’s Thrush Eastern Whip-poor-will Golden-winged Warbler Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster Horned Grebe (Magdalen Islands population) Little Brown Myotis Northern Myotis Piping Plover, melodus subspecies Roseate Tern Wood Turtle |
In 2021-2022, the Canada Nature Fund provided additional funding for two projects under way in the Magdalen Islands and Northern Green Mountains Community-Nominated Priority Places in Quebec. These are multi-year projects involving a number of partners and a range of collaborative activities. The critical habitat of some 12 species at risk could benefit from the various conservation actions carried out in these projects. They include:
|
1.7 New Brunswick
Status summary
In New Brunswick, there are 15 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A7). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within New Brunswick. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Species at Risk Act (NB SARA) is the primary provincial legislative tool that can protect critical habitat for species at risk on non-federal lands. It replaced the New Brunswick Endangered Species Act (NB ESA) in 2013. Schedule A of the NB SARA contains the species that were transferred from the NB ESA and kept the status they had under the NB ESA, including species that were listed as Endangered. Of the 15 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat in New Brunswick, 10 species of Schedule A may receive habitat protection through transitional provisions of the NB SARA up until they are removed from Schedule A (see Annex A7). To be removed from Schedule A, the species must be listed and regulations provide that the prohibitions under section 28 applyFootnote 8. Section 28 of the NB SARA states that no person shall kill, harm, harass, take, possess, buy, sell or trade an individual of a listed species at risk. Section 28 only applies to listed extirpated, endangered, or threatened species. Once listed, the NB SARA provides the Government of New Brunswick with the power to protect species at risk critical habitat by regulation or by order but only at the discretion of the Minister. To date no species has been listed under the NB SARA, and therefore no regulations have been made or orders issued in respect to the designation or protection of species at risk critical habitat under the NB SARA.
The NB SARA and the Protected Natural Areas Act include provisions for species at risk critical habitat within Protected Natural Areas. Additionally, the Parks Act includes prohibitions against activities that could result in the destruction of species at risk critical habitat, though limited.
Under the Conservation Easements Act, individual easements could include prohibitions against activities likely to result in the destruction of species at risk critical habitat. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for specific species during this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Protected areas |
Bank Swallow Bicknell’s Thrush Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster Piping Plover, melodus subspecies Wood Turtle |
Nature Legacy Protected Areas, which function as conservation easements, were created on July 13, 2022, with some critical habitat overlap. The overlapped sections include 332 ha for Wood Turtle, 1 ha for Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, 11039 ha for Bicknell's Thrush, 611 ha for Piping Plover, and an uncalculated amount for Bank Swallow. |
Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Bicknell’s Thrush Little Brown Myotis Northern Myotis Tri-coloured bat |
Bicknell's Thrush mitigation advice was provided ten times during the reporting period, for mineral exploration applications regarding trenching and/or drilling, to stipulate that work could be done without affecting Bicknell’s Thrush if: 1) the work is done within clearcuts, or stands under 10 years old; or 2) clearing, grubbing, trenching or drilling in breeding habitat is performed outside of the breeding season (before June 1st and after July 31st), to prevent the direct destruction of nests, eggs, nestlings, fledglings or adult birds. As an alternative, monitoring is required to ensure no impacts to the species. A grate was installed on one mine entrance in September 2022, to prevent people from entering the cave used by Tri-colored bats. The grate was designed to have the least amount of impact on bats. |
Stewardship |
Bank Swallow Piping Plover, melodus subspecies |
Wele’k Pemjajika’q Siknikt – Côtes en santé N.B. – Healthy Coasts NB Community-Nominated Priority Place through support of the Canada Nature Fund, Nature New Brunswick, Birds Canada and partners are working to conserve and steward species at risk critical habitat. Examples of actions implemented include:
|
1.8 Prince Edward Island
Status summary
In Prince Edward Island (PEI), there are two species at risk with federally identified critical habitat habitat on non-federal lands and one species with federally identified critical habitat only on federal land to which this report relates (see Annex A8). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within PEI. There have been no modifications to legislation which applies to species at risk within this reporting period.
The Wildlife Conservation Act is the primary provincial legislative tool that can protect critical habitat for species at risk on non-federal lands. The Wildlife Conservation Act provides the Government of Prince Edward Island with the power to protect the critical habitat of species at risk that have been designated (at the discretion Lieutenant Governor in Council) as a threatened or endangered species. To date, no regulations have been made under the Wildlife Conservation Act to designate a species at risk. Species at risk critical habitat could also, potentially, be protected on private land under an agreement with a private landowner which may impose a covenant or easement on the private landowner’s land. Unlike stand-alone easement legislation, which tends to be enforced under common law, such an agreement appears to be enforceable under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
The Natural Areas Protection Act includes provisions for species at risk critical habitat that occurs within natural areas designated under the Act. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation, such as the Planning Act, may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No content on the steps and actions taken for specific species was provided for this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stewardship |
Bank Swallow Piping Plover, melodus subspecies |
Prince Edward Island Coastal Ecosystems: Understanding Connections, Protecting and Sharing the Space Community -Nominated Priority Place through support of the Canada Nature Fund, Island Nature Trust and partners are working to conserve and steward species at risk critical habitat. Examples of actions implemented include:
|
1.9 Nova Scotia
Status summary
In Nova Scotia, there are 16 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands and one species with federally identified critical habitat only on federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A9). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Nova Scotia.
The Endangered Species Act (NS ESA) covers 17 SARA listed species (see Annex A9) and is the primary provincial legislative tool that can protect habitat for species at risk on non-federal lands. The NS ESA has prohibitions against the destruction of residence such as nests or hibernacula, including dwellings that are anthropogenic structures. The NS ESA also provides the mechanism (through regulation or an order) to list prohibitions against the destruction of species at risk critical habitat on non-federal lands. However, no regulations or orders protecting species at risk critical habitat have been issued under the NB ESA.
The NS ESA, the Wilderness Areas Protection Act, the Brothers Islands Wildlife Management Regulations (under the Wildlife Act), the Provincial Parks Act, the Conservation Easements Act and the Special Places Protection Act include provisions for species at risk critical habitat. On non-federal lands, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for specific species during this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Legislative or regulatory |
Bank Swallow Blanding's Turtle (Nova Scotia population) Boreal Felt Lichen (Atlantic population) Eastern Ribbonsnake (Atlantic population) Little Brown Myotis Northern Myotis Tri-coloured Bat Vole Ears lichen |
Not previously reported, although it did not occur within the April 2022 – September 2022 period, SARA Recovery Plans and Action Plans, including critical habitat as core habitat, were adopted by the province for the following species: Bank Swallow – November 4, 2021 Blanding's Turtle – May 20, 2020 Boreal Felt Lichen – September 27, 2020 Eastern Ribbonsnake – May 20, 2020 Little Brown Myotis – September 27, 2020 Northern Myotis – September 27, 2020 Tri-colored Bat – September 27, 2020 Vole Ears lichen – September 27, 2020 |
Agreements or easements |
Blanding's Turtle (Nova Scotia population) Eastern Ribbonsnake (Atlantic population) Pink Coreopsis Plymouth Gentian Roseate Tern Wood Turtle |
Nova Scotia has established Section 16 agreements under the Endangered Species Act for several species around hydro-development and road development and maintenance (Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis). Nova Scotia has also established permits with protective conditions that ensure effective protection of critical habitat, research and monitoring initiatives, and data sharing and reporting requirements for the following species: Pink Coreopsis, Plymouth Gentian, Wood Turtle, Eastern Ribbonsnake, Blanding's Turtle and Roseate Tern. |
Protected areas |
Multiple species |
Medway Lakes Wilderness Area Expansion, Annapolis County, now known as "Katewe’katik Wilderness Area" is classified as "Established-Interim" (total area 1256.9 ha) by the Protected Areas Branch as it completes the designation process. "Established-Interim" implies that designation has been confirmed and boundaries are fully delineated. This Wilderness Area contains 3002.8 ha of Blanding's Turtle critical habitat. It should be also noted that the Nova Scotia Nature Trust owns a peninsula and several islands in McGowan Lake totaling 26 ha. These private lands are protected in perpetuity and complement the wilderness area. |
Stewardship Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat Agreement or easements |
Wood Turtle |
Completion of a Nova Scotia-based five-year pilot program that trialed voluntary conservation agreements that limited activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat and adjacent habitats for Wood Turtle through beneficial management practices (BMPs) on farms in exchange for financial incentives. BMPs such as riparian buffer establishment, livestock exclusion, raised mowing, delayed mowing, and mowing avoidance were implemented on 390 ha of Wood Turtle critical habitat in Nova Scotia. |
Stewardship Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat Agreement or easements |
All Annex A9 species (excluding Bicknell’s Thrush) |
Within the Kespukwitk/ Southwest Nova Scotia Priority Place for species at risk and through support of the Canada Nature Fund, the Kespukwitk Conservation Collaborative (including Indigenous, academic, non-government organizations, provincial and federal government departments), is working collaboratively toward better outcomes for species at risk. Through this multi-species, ecosystem-based conservation approach in Kespukwitk/ Southwest Nova Scotia critical habitat for up to 14 species could benefit from priority conservation actions implemented. Examples of actions include:
|
Protected areas |
Blanding’s Turtle (Nova Scotia population) Eastern Ribbonsnake (Atlantic population) |
Within the Kespukwitk/ Southwest Nova Scotia Priority Place and through support of the Canada Nature Fund, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust permanently protected six properties totaling 244 ha, including critical habitat for Blanding’s Turtle and Eastern Ribbonsnake. |
1.10 Newfoundland and Labrador
Status summary
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are 11 species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A10). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within Newfoundland and Labrador. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act (NFL ESA) covers ten SARA listed species (see Annex A10) and is the primary provincial legislative tool that can protect critical habitat for species at risk on non-federal lands. The NFL ESA enables the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to make an order to set aside an area of land to be protected as species at risk critical habitat. However, no orders have been issued for species at risk under the NFL ESA.
The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act and the Provincial Parks Act both include provisions for species at risk critical habitat within Ecological Reserves and Provincial Parks respectively. On non-federal land, some provisions in other pieces of legislation may be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the provincial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
There are no Pan-Canadian Approach Priority Places within this province.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No content on the steps and actions taken for specific species was provided for this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stewardship Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Bats Long’s Braya Piping Plover, melodus subspecies |
Within the Long Range Biodiversity Community-nominated Priority Place, several core and supporting partners (including non-profit groups, universities, provincial and federal government department, Indigenous group) are working on conservation projects that benefit multiple species at risk with critical habitat in their project area. Examples of actions include:
|
2. Protection of critical habitat in the territories
For critical habitat occurring on non-federally administered lands and in respect of the spirit of devolution agreements in the territories, the Government of Canada first looks to the laws of the territory for the protection of terrestrial species’ habitat. In the following sections, a summary of the applicable legislation is provided followed by the different actions and measures put in place which reduce the risk of destruction of critical habitat, as reported by the territorial governments.
2.1 Yukon
Status summary
In the Yukon, there are two species at risk with identified critical habitat on non-federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A11). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Bank Swallow) was identified on non-federal lands within the Yukon. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Yukon has no stand-alone legislation protecting species at risk; however, certain activities impacting individuals of wildlife species are regulated under the Wildlife Act. On territorial lands, some provisions in various territorial acts can be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
For more details on the territorial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
There is no critical habitat on non-federal land in this Pan-Canadian Approach Priority Place within this territory.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for specific species during this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species, priority places and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for multiple species during this reporting period. |
2.2 Northwest Territories
Status summary
In Northwest Territories (NWT) there are three species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands and three species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A12). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for two new species (Bank Swallow and Hairy Braya) was identified on non-federal lands within NWT and critical habitat for one new species (Peary Caribou) was identified on federal lands within NWT.
The Government of NWT’s primary legislation for protecting species at risk, their Species at Risk (NWT) Act (NWT SARA), applies to Caribou (Boreal population). The NWT SARA has the authority to make regulations to protect critical habitat, however no such regulations have been put in place.
Protected areas in NWT can prevent some disturbance due to human activity in certain critical habitat, while ‘candidate areas’ may have interim protection through land withdrawals or land use plans. Moreover, regional land use plans contribute to conservation of species at risk habitat in the NWT in certain areas. Approved land use plans are implemented through comprehensive land claim agreements and the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.
For more details on the territorial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
There are no Pan-Canadian Approach Priority Place within this territory.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Agreements and easements |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
Work to support the development of the Wek’èezhìı, Gwich’in, and Southern NWT boreal caribou range plans continued, including, for example, holding working group meetings/workshops to identify important habitat, providing funds for Indigenous knowledge workshops and verification, and undertaking a public engagement meeting. |
Control of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat |
Caribou (Boreal population) |
In July 2022, GNWT launched the NWT Species and Habitat Viewer (https://www.maps.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=NWT_SHV). This tool will help developers, land managers and regulators identify, avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts of proposed projects. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for multiple species during this reporting period. |
2.3 Nunavut
Status summary
In Nunavut, there are two species at risk with federally identified critical habitat on non-federal lands and one species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands to which this report relates (see Annex A13). From April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, critical habitat for a new species (Peary Caribou) was identified on federal lands within Nunavut. There have been no modifications to species at risk legislation within this reporting period.
The Wildlife Act is the main legislative tool that can specifically protect habitat for species at risk. In general, the Wildlife Act provides prohibitions against the destruction of species at risk critical habitat on public lands. However so far, no species are listed under the Nunavut Wildlife Act. On public lands the Territorial Parks Act includes prohibitions against activities on critical habitat, and some provisions in various territorial acts can be used to prohibit specific activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat.
In addition, the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) leads the development of the Nunavut Land Use Plan (NLUP), an obligation under the Nunavut Agreement. Through its provisions, the NLUP is another legislative tool that could support the protection of critical habitat if the three approving Parties (Government of Canada, Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated) came to agreement. In July 2021, NPC released a new version of the draft NLUP.
For more details on the territorial legislative assessment please refer to the 2019 Report on Steps Taken and Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada.
There is no Pan-Canadian Approach Priority Place within this territory.
The following section highlights the actions taken for species at risk critical habitat protection within the designated reporting period.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for specific species during this reporting period. |
Steps and actions taken related to multiple species and priority sectors
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
All |
Multiple species |
No new steps and actions were taken for multiple species during this reporting period. |
3. Other collaborative and federal protection of critical habitat
Other collaborative efforts for steps and actions related to multiple species.
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Critical Habitat Interdepartmental Program (CHIP) From April 2021 to March 2022, the CHIP contributed $460, 468.71 in funding for ten multi-year projects lead by six federal departments and one Crown corporation. Participating federal departments and Crown corporations, alongside their multiple partners, contributed $340,645.70$ in leveraged funds (cash and in-kind). The CHIP’s species at risk recovery and critical habitat conservation projects targeted 36 species at risk listed as endangered or threatened under Schedule 1 of SARA, 28 of which are CHIP Priority Species. The projects contributed to the following initiatives:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) In 2022-2023, the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk allocated $457,248 in funding to 13 projects that directly or indirectly benefit the critical habitat of multiple species. Conservation actions supported include but are not limited to:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) In 2022-2023, the Habitat Stewardship Program has allocated $1,288,166 in funding to 31 projects that may directly or indirectly benefit the critical habitat of multiple species. Conservation actions supported include but are not limited to:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Ecological Gifts Program (EGP) In 2021-2022 through Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, more than $52 million worth of ecologically sensitive land was secured, resulting in nearly 5,000 hectares conserved.
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) In 2021-2022 through the Canada Nature Fund, $50 million was invested in the NHCP resulting in approximately 101,000 hectares conserved.
|
Stewardship |
Waterfowl and wetland dependent species |
North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) - Habitat In 2021-2022, almost $173 million was invested in support of the NAWMP in Canada in wetland and waterfowl conservation, which may directly or indirectly benefit the critical habitat of multiple species. Conservation actions supported include but are not limited to:
|
Stewardship |
Multiple species |
Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) In 2022-2023, the Environmental Damages Fund allocated funding to three projects that may directly or indirectly benefit the critical habitat of multiple species (funding total for three projects: $1.5 million). Activities included, but were not limited to:
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4. Protection of critical habitat on federal land
The Government of Canada relies on provisions of SARA to legally protect critical habitat on federal lands. There are three tools available for use under SARA: description in the Canada Gazette [s.58(2)]; protection statements [s.58(5)(b)]; and, orders [s.58(5)(a)]. A description of critical habitat in the Canada Gazette applies to species at risk found in federally protected areas (including National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, National Parks, and Rouge National Urban Park). A protection statement included in the public registry can also be used to describe how critical habitat is protected. The government can also make use of orders under specific sections of SARA for the protection of critical habitat not legally protected by provisions in, or measures under, this or any other Act of Parliament. In addition to regulatory tools mentioned above, ECCC also takes a stewardship approach to support critical habitat protection on federal lands. The Critical Habitat Interdepartmental Program (CHIP), established in 2020, is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of ECCC. This program provides funding to federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations for projects aimed at the recovery of Canada's species at risk through the restoration and conservation of their critical habitat on federally owned or administered lands.
PCA administers more than 464,000 km2 of lands and waters in Canada and protects species at risk in these places. In addition to implementing SARA, PCA has a range of legislative tools that protect species at risk and their critical habitat. For example, in national parks, PCA uses the Canada National Parks Act other legislation like the Impact Assessment Act and associated regulations give special protection to species at risk through mechanisms like zoning, designation of “Environmentally Sensitive Areas” and seasonal closures. Ecological integrity is the first priority in managing national parks which includes the protection of species at risk and their critical habitat.
The following section summarizes the actions and measures taken by both ECCC and PCA for the protection of critical habitat for terrestrial species at risk. This section includes information for the reporting period of April 2022 to September 2022.
Steps and actions taken for specific species
| Category | Species | Details |
|---|---|---|
SARA SS.58(2) Description in the Canada Gazette (Legislative or Regulatory) |
Bank Swallow Eastern Whip-poor-will |
In June and July 2022, ECCC led the completion of one description of critical habitat for Bank Swallow and one for Eastern Whip-poor-will published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
SARA SS.58(2) Description in the Canada Gazette (Legislative or Regulatory) |
Bank Swallow |
Between April and July 2022, Parks Canada Agency led the completion of a description of critical habitat for Bank Swallow published in the Canada Gazette Part I. |
SARA ss. 58(5)(b) Ministerial Order (Legislative or Regulatory) |
Cerulean Warbler |
In May 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an order to protect the critical habitat of Cerulean Warbler on federally administered lands, pursuant to section 58 of SARA. |
Annex A – Lists of species with critical habitat identified on non-federally administered lands by province/territory
A1 – Species with critical habitat identified in British Columbia
Bank Swallow
Batwing Vinyl Lichen
Bear’s-foot Sanicle
Bearded Owl-clover
Behr’s Hairstreak
Blue-grey Taildropper
Bog Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Branched Phacelia
Brook Spike-primrose
California Buttercup
Caribou (Boreal population)
Cliff Paintbrush
Coast Microseris
Coastal Giant Salamander
Coastal Scouler’s Catchfly
Coastal Vesper Sparrow
Contorted-pod Evening-primrose
Crumpled Tarpaper Lichen
Deltoid Balsamroot
Dense-flowered Lupine
Dense Spike-primrose
Desert Nightsnake
Dromedary Jumping-slug
Dun Skipper, vestris subspecies
Dwarf Sandwort**
Dwarf Woolly-heads (Southern Mountain population)
Edwards’ Beach Moth
Foothill Sedge
Fragant Popcornflower
Golden Paintbrush
Grand Coulee Owl-clover
Gray’s Desert-parsley
Great Basin Gophersnake
Great Basin Spadefoot
Half-moon Hairstreak
Haller’s Apple Moss
Howell’s Triteleia
Kellogg’s Rush
Lemmon’s Holly Fern
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Lindley’s False Silverpuffs
Little Brown Myotis
Macoun’s Meadowfoam
Marbled Murrelet
Mexican Mosquito-fern
Mormon Metalmark (Southern Mountain population)
Mountain Holly Fern
Muhlenberg’s Centaury
Northern Goshawk, laingi subspecies
Northern Leopard Frog (Rocky Mountain population)
Northern Myotis
Northern Saw-whet Owl, brooksi subspecies
Nugget Moss
Okanagan Efferia
Olive Clubtail
Oregon Forestsnail
Oregon Spotted Frog
Pacific Water Shrew
Pallid Bat
Phantom Orchid
Poor Pocket Moss
Porsild’s Bryum
Prairie Lupine
Purple Sanicle
Rayless Goldfields
Rigid Aple Moss
Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog
Roell's Brotherella Moss
Rosy Owl-clover
Rusty Cord-moss
Sage Thrasher
Sand-verbena Moth
Scarlett Ammannia
Seaside Birds-foot Lotus**
Seaside Bone Lichen
Seaside Centipede Lichen**
Sharp-tailed Snake
Short-rayed Alkali Aster
Showy Phlox
Slender Collomia
Slender Popcornflower
Small-flowered Lipocarpha
Small-flowered Tonella
Smooth Goosefoot
Southern Maidenhair Fern
Spalding’s Campion
Spotted Owl, caurina subspecies
Stoloniferous Pussytoes
Streambank Lupine
Tall Bugbane
Tall Woolly-heads
Taylor’s Checkerspot
Toothcup (Southern Mountain population)
Townsend’s Mole
Vancouver Island Marmot
Victoria’s Owl-clover
Water-plantain Buttercup
Western Painted Turtle (Pacific Coast population)
Western Rattlesnake
Western Tiger Salamander (Southern Mountain population)
White Meconella
Williamson's Sapsucker
Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population)
Yellow-breasted Chat, auricollis subspecies (Southern Mountain population)
Yellow Montane Violet, praemorsa subspecies
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A2 – Species with critical habitat identified in Alberta
Banff Springs Snail**
Bank Swallow
Bolander’s Quillwort**
Caribou (Boreal population)*
Dusky Dune Moth
Five-spotted Bogus Yucca Moth
Gold-edged Gem
Greater Sage-Grouse, urophasianus subspecies*
Greater Short-horned Lizard*
Little Brown Myotis
Loggerhead Shrike, Prairie subspecies
Non-pollinating Yucca Moth
Northern Myotis
Ord’s Kangaroo Rat*
Piping Plover, circumcinctus subspecies*
Porsild’s Bryum*
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)
Slender Mouse-ear-cress*
Small-flowered Sand-verbena*
Smooth Goosefoot
Soapweed*
Tiny Cryptantha*
Western Harvest Mouse dychei subspecies**
Western Spiderwort*
Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population)*
Yucca Moth
* Species listed provincially under Alberta’s Wildlife Regulations, prescribed as endangered species.
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A3 – Species with critical habitat identified in Saskatchewan
Bank Swallow
Black-footed Ferret*
Burrowing Owl*
Caribou (Boreal population)
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Dusky Dune Moth
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer
Gold-edged Gem
Greater Sage-Grouse, urophasianus subspecies*
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Loggerhead Shrike, Prairie subspecies
Mountain Plover
Piping Plover, circumcinctus subspecies*
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)
Slender Mouse-ear-cress*
Small-flowered Sand-verbena*
Smooth Goosefoot
Sprague’s Pipit
Swift Fox*
Tiny Cryptantha*
Western Spiderwort*
* Species listed provincially under the Saskatchewan Wild Species at Risk Regulations as threatened, endangered or extirpated wild species at risk.
A4 – Species with critical habitat identified in Manitoba
Bank Swallow
Caribou (Boreal population)*
Dusky Dune Moth*
Eastern Whip-poor-will*
Fascicled Ironweed*
Gattinger's Agalinis*
Gold-edged Gem*
Golden-winged Warbler*
Least Bittern*
Little Brown Myotis*
Northern Myotis*
Piping Plover, circumcinctus subspecies
Poweshiek Skipperling*
Red-headed Woodpecker*
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)*
Rough Agalinis*
Small White Lady's-slipper*
Smooth Goosefoot*
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid*
Western Silvery Aster*
Western Spiderwort*
White Flower Moth*
* Species listed provincially as endangered or threatened species under the ESEA regulations.
A5 – Species with critical habitat identified in Ontario
Acadian Flycatcher*
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Carolinian population)*
American Badger, jacksoni subspecies*
American Chestnut*
American Columbo*
American Gingseng*
American Water-willow*
Bank Swallow*
Bashful Bulrush*
Bent Spike-rush (Great Lakes Plains population)*
Bird’s-foot Violet*
Blanding's Turtle (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)*
Bluehearts*
Blue Racer*
Blunt-lobed Woodsia*
Bogbean Buckmoth*
Branched Bartonia*
Butler's Gartersnake*
Caribou (Boreal population)*
Cerulean Warbler*
Cherry Birch*
Colicroot*
Cucumber Tree*
Deerberry*
Dense Blazing Star*
Drooping Trillium*
Dwarf Hackberry*
Eastern Flowering Dogwood*
Eastern Foxsnake (Carolinian population)*
Eastern Foxsnake (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)*
Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid*
Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus*
Eastern Whip-poor-will*
Engelmann’s Quillwort*
False Hop Sedge*
False Rue-anemone*
Five-lined Skink (Carolinian population)*
Forked Three-awned Grass*
Fowler's Toad*
Gattinger's Agalinis*
Goldenseal
Golden-winged Warbler
Gray Ratsnake (Carolinian population)*
Gray Ratsnake (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)*
Grey Fox*
Heart-leaved Plantain*
Hill’s Thistle*
Hine’s Emerald*
Hoary Mountain-mint*
Horsetail Spike-rush**
Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle*
Jefferson Salamander*
Juniper Sedge*
Kentucky Coffee-tree*
Kirtland’s Warbler**
Lakeside Daisy *
Large Whorled Pogonia*
Least Bittern*
Little Brown Myotis*
Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern subspecies*
Massasauga (Carolinian population)*
Massasauga (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)*
Nodding Pogonia*
Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle*
Northern Dusky Salamander (Carolinian population)*
Northern Myotis*
Pale-bellied Frost Lichen*
Pink Milkwort*
Piping Plover, circumcinctus subspecies*
Prothonotary Warbler*
Purple Twayblade*
Queensnake*
Rapids Clubtail*
Red-headed Woodpecker*
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)*
Red Mulberry*
Riverine Clubtail (Great Lakes Plains population)*
Round-leaved Greenbrier (Great Lakes Plains population)*
Rusty-patched Bumble Bee*
Scarlett Ammannia*
Showy Goldenrod (Boreal population)*
Slender Bush-clover*
Small-flowered Lipocarpha*
Small-mouthed Salamander*
Small White Lady’s-slipper*
Small Whorled Pogonia*
Spiny Softshell*
Spoon-leaved Moss*
Spotted Turtle*
Spotted Wintergreen*
Toothcup (Great Lakes Plains population)*
Tri-coloured Bat*
Virginia Goat’s-rue*
Virginia Mallow*
Western Chorus Frog (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield population)
Western Silvery Aster*
White Wood Aster*
Wild Hyacinth*
Willowleaf Aster*
Wood Poppy*
Wood Turtle*
Yellow-breasted Chat, virens subspecies*
* Species provincially listed as endangered or threatened, and receiving some habitat protection under the Ontario ESA.
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A6 – Species with critical habitat identified in Quebec
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Appalachian population)
American Gingseng*
American Water-willow*
Bank Swallow
Bicknell’s Thrush*
Blanding’s Turtle (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population)*
Blunt-lobed Woodsia*
Caribou (Atlantic-Gaspésie population)*
Caribou (Boreal population)*
Cerulean Warbler*
Eastern Waterfan
Eastern Whip-poor-will*
False Hop Sedge*
Forked Three-awned Grass*
Golden-winged Warbler*
Green-scaled Willow*
Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster*
Horned Grebe (Magdalen Islands population)*
Least Bittern*
Little Brown Myotis
Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern subspecies*
Maritime Ringlet*
Mountain Holly Fern*
Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle*
Northern Myotis
Piping Plover, melodus subspecies*
Purple Twayblade
Red-headed Woodpecker*
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)*
Roseate Tern*
Skillet Clubtail*
Spiny Softshell*
Tri-coloured Bat*
Van Brunt's Jacob's ladder*
Victorin's Gentian*
Western Chorus frog (Great Lakes St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield population)*
White Wood Aster*
Wood Turtle*
* Species designated as Threatened or Vulnerable under the Act respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species (LEMV) or listed as a species likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable under the LEMV.
A7 – Species with critical habitat identified in New Brunswick
Bank Swallow*
Bicknell’s Thrush
Cobblestone Tiger Beetle*
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Furbish's Lousewort*
Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster*
Least Bittern
Little Brown Myotis*
Maritime Ringlet*
Northern Myotis*
Piping Plover, melodus subspecies*
Skillet Clubtail*
Tri-coloured Bat*
Van Brunt’s Jacob’s-ladder
Wood Turtle
* Species provincially listed as endangered in Schedule A of the New Brunswick Species at Risk Act.
A8 – Species with critical habitat identified in Prince Edward Island
Bank Swallow
Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster**
Piping Plover, melodus subspecies
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A9 – Species with critical habitat identified in Nova Scotia
Bank Swallow*
Bicknell’s Thrush*
Blanding's Turtle (Nova Scotia population)*
Boreal Felt Lichen (Atlantic population)*
Eastern Mountain Avens*
Eastern Ribbonsnake (Atlantic population)*
Little Brown Myotis*
Northern Myotis*
Pink Coreopsis*
Piping Plover, melodus subspecies*
Plymouth Gentian*
Roseate Tern*
Sable Island Sweat Bee**
Thread-leaved Sundew*
Tri-coloured Bat*
Vole Ears lichen*
Wood Turtle*
* Species provincially listed as endangered or threatened wildlife species under the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act.
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A10 – Species with critical habitat identified in Newfoundland and Labrador
American Marten (Newfoundland population)*
Bank Swallow
Barrens Willow*
Caribou (Boreal population)*
Fernald’s Braya*
Little Brown Myotis*
Long’s Braya*
Northern Myotis*
Piping Plover, melodus subspecies*
Porsild’s Bryum*
Vole Ears lichen*
* Species provincially listed as endangered or threatened under the Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act.
A11 – Species with critical habitat identified in Yukon
Bank Swallow
Caribou (Boreal population)
A12 – Species with critical habitat identified in the Northwest Territories
Bank Swallow
Caribou (Boreal population)
Hairy Braya
Little Brown Myotis**
Peary Caribou**
Whooping Crane**
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
A13 – Species with critical habitat identified in the Nunavut
Ivory Gull
Peary Caribou**
Red Knot, rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia population)
**Species with critical habitat identified only on federal lands.
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