The Nature Conservancy of…

Comments in response to the Massasauga GRS

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a national charitable organization that focuses on conservation of high priority natural areas, species, and habitats. As Canada’s largest land trust, we work at the landscape level to accelerate conservation, connect more Canadians to nature, and inspire future generations to join NCC in increasing conservation efforts across Canada.
In Ontario, NCC is currently implementing 15 Natural Area Conservation Plans (NACPs). Three of these NACPs encompass known Massasauga populations: the Essex Forests and Wetlands NACP encompass the range for the Ojibway Prairie Complex subpopulation, and the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula NACP and the Eastern Georgian Bay Coast NACP for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence subpopulation.

Key conservation actions implemented through NACPs that are most relevant to the recovery of Massasauga are the conservation and restoration of forests, and tallgrass prairie and savannahs.

The Government Response Statement for Massasauga is currently thorough and flexible, and obviously developed from a solid foundation of existing knowledge and collaboration. Much like progress for our NACPs, achieving progress for Massasauga recovery will take commitment from multiple sectors, and require leadership, coordinated effort, and ongoing, appropriate resources.

Please accept the following comments for your consideration:

#1. Massasauga recovery requires Ontario’s ongoing support
NACP’s take a landscape level approach to conservation; they focus on increasing natural cover and connectivity. When NCC acquires a property within a natural area, we generate detailed property management plans that are generally focused on habitat stewardship and restoration needs, but we can incorporate species-specific activities into these plans when it is reasonable to do so. Species-specific stewardship actions are often developed using the science-based knowledge that the government and conservation partners have gathered during the implementation of recovery plans. It is therefore imperative that the Government of Ontario continues to lead and support the implementation of species-at-risk recovery plans.

#2. Massasauga Recovery requires collaboration and information sharing.
NCC is partnering with Wildlife Preservation Canada as a new member of the Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery Working Group (OPRRWG). This Working Group is well-informed and networked in the area to get a variety of objectives complete (i.e. barrier fencing, garbage removals, monitoring, etc.), while maintaining public awareness and engagement activities. This Working Group has provided NCC with science-based recommendations for land protection in the Ojibway Complex. While we will only work with willing landowners, this is still highly valuable information that allows for land protection and associated fundraising activities to potentially focus on Massasauga habitat protection. Ongoing support and resources for this collaborative approach is crucial for the survival of the Ojibway Prairie Massasauga subpopulation.

#3. Ojibway Prairie Complex Subpopulation
To avoid extirpation of the Ojibway Prairie Complex subpopulation, the proposed actions described in the GRS, especially the population management actions such as conservation translocations and population augmentation, are great options and the OPRRWG is well-positioned to implement these activities. Ensuring adequate support for outreach and education programs, supporting opportunities to increase connectivity throughout the complex, efforts to improve habitat quality through active management activities, and efforts to expand and protect the Ojibway Prairie Complex, alongside population management actions will increase the likelihood of long term success.