1. Overview of the Species at Risk Act for Local Governments
Powell River
Regional District
Brad Langman
Conservation Project Development Officer
Canadian Wildlife Service
November 17, 2016

2. Overview of the Species at Risk Act (SARA)
Federal Act administered by
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Parks Canada
Currently over 500 species (including ~400 terrestrial species) on SARA Schedule 1
Approximately 170 terrestrial species at risk in BC
Short-eared Owl
Monarch

3. Overview of the Species at Risk Act (SARA)
Applies on all lands in Canada; how it applies depends on species and land tenure
On federal lands and for federal species legal protection is automatic
On “non-federal” land for “non-federal” species, SARA is available to provide protection if needed
Great Blue Heron (Fannini subspecies)
Western Painted Turtle

4. Implementation & Monitoring
Overview of the Species at Risk Act (SARA)
Purpose of SARA
Prevent species from becoming extinct or extirpated
Provide for recovery
Assessment
Listing
Recovery Planning
Implementation & Monitoring

5. Implementation & Monitoring
The SARA Process
Assessment
Listing
Recovery Planning
Implementation & Monitoring
sararegistry.gc.ca

6. Implementation & Monitoring
The SARA Process
List of species at risk:
Endangered
Threatened
Special Concern
Assessment
Listing
Recovery Planning
Implementation & Monitoring
Identification of “critical habitat”

7. The SARA Process Assessment Listing Recovery Planning
Implementation & Monitoring
Western Bumble Bee
Wolverine
Western Painted Turtle
Marbled Murrelet
Western Screech Owl, kennicottii ssp.

8. The SARA Process Assessment Listing Recovery Planning
Implementation & Monitoring
Barn Swallow
Grizzly Bear, Western Pop.
Contorted-pod Evening Primrose
Whitebark Pine

9. Critical Habitat for Species at Risk
“…the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in a recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species.”
Only identified for species listed as Threatened, Endangered, or Extirpated
Consists of a geographic area and a description of biophysical attributes within that area

10. Powell River Regional District
Critical Habitat for Species at Risk
Powell River Regional District
Critical Habitat - habitat necessary for survival or recovery
Powell River Regional District

11. Powell River Regional District
Critical Habitat for Species at Risk
Powell River Regional District
Critical Habitat - habitat necessary for survival or recovery
Savary Island

12. Critical Habitat for Species at Risk
Current critical habitat in Powell River RD
Marbled Murrelet
Contorted-pod Evening-primrose
Possible future critical habitat in Powell River RD
Little Brown Myotis (if identified in recovery document)
Western Painted Turtle (if identified in recovery document)
Whitebark Pine (if identified in recovery document)
Western Screech Owl (if identified in recovery document)
Barn Swallow (if species is listed and identified in recovery document)
Others (TBD)

13. Critical Habitat Protection
Existing tools on non-federal land
Forest and Range Practices Act
Water Sustainability Act
Wildlife Act
Land codes, bylaws, zoning, permitting
Others
“Safety net” on non-federal land
E.g. “Emergency orders” for Sage Grouse and Western Chorus Frog

14. Resources Canadian Wildlife Service (brad.langman@canada.ca)
Data to assist in land use planning including draft CH when available
Assistance in interpreting CH ID and activities likely to destroy CH
Ecological Gifts program & funding programs
Species at Risk Public Registry (sararegistry.gc.ca)
Green Bylaws Toolkit (
BC CDC (env.gov.bc.ca/cdc)
iMap BC including federal CH data (maps.gov.bc.ca/ess/sv/imapbc)