Finalizing recovery strategies for five species at risk and initiating pre-consultation on government response statements

Recovery strategies have been finalized for:

• Black Ash
• Cerulean Warbler
• Gillman’s Goldenrod
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Spoon-leaved Moss

These documents form the foundation of scientific advice to government on the protection and recovery of these species at risk.

Species at risk in Ontario

Ontario provides protections for species at risk and their habitats under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. The government is committed to working with 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.

When a species is listed as endangered or threatened in Ontario, there is a process for gathering information and developing policy to support the protection and recovery of each species.

First, we engage individuals and organizations outside of government with expertise on the species to write recovery strategies. Recovery strategies form the foundation of scientific advice to government and can include knowledge from:

• the public
• stakeholders
• Indigenous communities
• organizations

Once recovery strategies are finalized, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks develops a government response statement for each species recovery strategy. Each government response statement is a species-specific policy that includes:

• the provincial goal for the recovery of the species
• a summary of the prioritized actions we intend to lead and support in response to the associated recovery strategy

Finalized recovery strategies

We finalized recovery strategies for the following five species:

• Black Ash
• Cerulean Warbler
• Gillman’s Goldenrod
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Spoon-leaved Moss

Pre-consultation on government response statements

We invite you to review the advice in the final recovery strategies and provide early input to inform draft government response statements. Between September 6 and October 6, 2022, you can complete these online surveys or email us at recovery.planning@ontario.ca with your input.

• survey for Black Ash
• survey for Cerulean Warbler
• survey for Gillman’s Goldenrod
• survey for Red-headed Woodpecker
• survey for Spoon-leaved Moss

We will use your feedback, along with the recovery strategies to develop draft government response statements. We anticipate posting the draft government response statements on the Environmental Registry for consultation in winter 2022-2023.

Please note that the Endangered Species Act, 2007 protections for Black Ash have been temporarily suspended until January 25, 2024. Information provided in response to the above survey may also inform the development of a long-term protection approach for Black Ash.