We require additional time to prepare a recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush

Species at risk in Ontario

Under the Endangered Species Act, 2007, recovery strategies provide recommendations on the protection and recovery of endangered and threatened species. From the time a species is added to, or has its status changed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List, a recovery strategy is to be prepared within:

• one year for endangered species
• two years for threatened species

These time limits may be extended if the Minister believes additional time is required due to:

• the complexity of the issues
• the desire to prepare the recovery strategy in cooperation with one or more other jurisdictions, or
• the desire to give priority to the preparation of recovery strategies for other species

The Louisiana Waterthrush

On June 22, 2017, the Species at Risk in Ontario List status of Louisiana Waterthrush (a bird) was changed from ‘special concern’ to ‘threatened’, triggering the requirement to develop a recovery strategy for this species within 2 years.

We require additional time to complete the recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush to allow for cooperation with other jurisdictions. Environment and Climate Change Canada has primary jurisdictional responsibility for migratory birds and is expected to lead development of the recovery strategy for this species.

A decision on whether to list the Louisiana Waterthrush as threatened on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act will be made in 2019. If listed as threatened, it is estimated that the federal recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush will be posted proposed within 2 years of its listing. Once completed, it will be available for adoption under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007. We estimate that the recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush will be finalized in Ontario within 24 months of the completion of a recovery strategy for the species under the Species at Risk Act. Should the 2019 federal listing decision not result in the species being listed as threatened under the Species at Risk Act, we estimate that the recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush will be finalized in Ontario within 24 months of this decision.

In implementing the Endangered Species Act, 2007, we assign priority to: 

• preparing recovery strategies for newly listed species
• species with strategies already in development prior to the Act coming into force
• species experiencing the greatest threats.

To date, this has resulted in recovery strategies being completed for 140 species. Final recovery strategies are available on the Ontario Species at Risk website. 

The delay in preparing the recovery strategy for Louisiana Waterthrush will not jeopardize the survival or recovery of this species in Ontario. Louisiana Waterthrush currently receives species and habitat protection under sections 9 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. We may continue to implement actions to protect and recover species at risk in the absence of a final recovery strategy.