Additional time required to prepare recovery strategies for six species at risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007

Protecting and recovering 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 (SARO) 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 is of the opinion that additional time is required because of either:

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

Developing recovery strategies for six species

The following species were added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List as threatened on January 26, 2022, triggering the requirement to develop recovery strategies for these species by January 26, 2024:

• Fern-leaved Yellow False Foxglove (a plant)
• Smooth Yellow False Foxglove (a plant)
• Hairy Valerian (a plant)

The following species were added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List as endangered, on January 25, 2023, triggering the requirement to develop recovery strategies for these species by January 25, 2024:

• Striped Whitelip (a snail)
• Red Knot rufa subspecies (Southeastern USA / Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean wintering population) (a bird)
• Red Knot rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia wintering population) (a bird)

Additional time is required to complete the recovery strategies for these six species.

The additional time will allow us to prepare the strategies in co-operation with the federal government as they complete work on the recovery strategies for these species.

We estimate that the recovery strategies for these two species will be finalized within two years (by January 2026):

• Fern-leaved Yellow False Foxglove
• Smooth Yellow False Foxglove

We anticipate that the recovery strategies for these four species will be finalized within three years (by January 2027):

• Hairy Valerian
• Striped Whitelip
• Red Knot rufa subspecies (Southeastern USA / Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean wintering population)
• Red Knot rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia wintering population)

The delay in preparing the recovery strategies for Fern-leaved Yellow False Foxglove, Smooth Yellow False Foxglove, Hairy Valerian, Striped Whitelip, Red Knot rufa subspecies (Southeastern USA / Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean wintering population) and Red Knot rufa subspecies (Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia wintering population) will not jeopardize the survival or recovery of these species in Ontario. These six species currently receive species and habitat protection under sections 9 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. In addition, implementing actions to protect and recover species at risk may continue in the absence of a final recovery strategy.

Ontario is working with partners, stakeholders, Indigenous peoples and the public to improve the effectiveness of the species at risk program so that we can continue to help preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.