The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario’s annual report on species assessments

The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario

As outlined in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, Ontario is committed to providing protections for species at risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) is an independent committee of experts, including members with expertise in scientific disciplines, community knowledge or Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge, that is responsible for assessing species at risk in Ontario and provides classifications to the Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks.

In accordance with sections 6 and 7 of the ESA:

1. COSSARO is required to submit an annual report to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks in January of each year listing species that have been assessed and classified since its previous annual report was submitted.
2. If the report submitted to the Minister classifies any species as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern, O. Reg. 230/08 – Species at Risk in Ontario must be amended within one year of receiving the report from COSSARO.

On January 27, 2021 the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks received the required annual report from COSSARO along with corresponding species assessments and classifications. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks will make and file any corresponding amendments to Ontario Regulation 230/08 by January 27, 2022.

Section 51 of the ESA requires the Minister to ensure that the report to the Minister is made available to the public.

Highlights of COSSARO’s annual report

COSSARO’s annual report includes:

• a working draft of COSSARO’s approach to addressing legislative changes to the rules for species classification
• species assessments (brief description of species biology, threats, etc.) and classifications of 35 species/populations as determined by COSSARO

Species classifications resulting from the species assessments conducted by COSSARO in 2020 include:

• new listings (species not currently on SARO List):
  • 7 new endangered species:
    • Gilman’s Goldenrod
    • Shagreen
    • Toothed Globe
    • Black Ash
    • White-rimmed Shingle Lichen
    • False-Foxglove Sun Moth
    • Downy Yellow False Foxglove
  • 7 new threatened species:
    • Lake Whitefish (Opeongo Lake large-bodied populations)
    • Lake Whitefish (Opeongo Lake small-bodied populations)
    • Carolina Mantleslug
    • Hudsonian Godwit
    • Smooth Yellow False Foxglove
    • Fern-leaved Yellow False Foxglove
    • Hairy Valerian
  • 1 new Special Concern species:
    • Red-tailed Leafhopper
• up-listings of species currently on the SARO List:
  • 1 species previously listed as special concern up listed to endangered:
    • Red-headed Woodpecker
• down-listings of species currently on the SARO List:
  • 1 species down listed from endangered to threatened:
    • Spoon-leaved Moss
  • 1 species down listed from threatened to special concern:
    • Goldenseal
• the committee also assessed 2 species as extinct:
  • Lake Whitefish (Como Lake large-bodied populations)
  • Lake Whitefish (Como Lake small-bodied populations)

Early engagement on Black Ash

COSSARO’s report includes the assessment and classification of Black Ash (a tree species) as Endangered. As Black Ash is widely distributed in Ontario, we invite you to review the information in COSSARO’s report and provide early input to the ministry to inform the protection and recovery approach for Black Ash. Between April 27, 2021 and May 27, 2021, you can complete this survey or email us with your input.