What is Canada doing to protect plants?

Rare plants and animals in Canada are brought to the attention of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), a federally coordinated group made up of representatives of resource agencies and organizations from across the country. This committee considers information from the most reliable sources, and then assigns status in one of the following categories:

Definition of Terms

Species: Any indigenous species, subspecies, variety or geographically defined population of wild fauna or flora. Because COSEWIC lists subspecies and populations, a species name may appear more than once on the list; one population may be designated in one risk category while a different population may be in another category, or it may be considered as being not at risk.

Extinct: A species that no longer exists.

Extirpated: A species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere (for example, in captivity or in the wild in the United States).

Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

Vulnerable: A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

Not at Risk: A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk.

Indeterminate: A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.

Rare: a native species that has small populations and is therefore at risk. These populations may be stable, but are low because of biological characteristics, the fact that it exists in small numbers naturally, or is at the limit of its range. (not a COSEWIC designation)

In April 1999, COSEWIC listed the following statistics for Canadian plants:

A total of 339 Canadian plant and animal species have been designated so far.

 

Rare and Endangered Plants and the Law

Legislation to protect plant species is a provincial matter. Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, under the Ontario Endangered Species Act (Revised Statutes of Ontario - 1980) protects 13 animal species and 6 plants (1991). The Act provides for fines of up to $50,000, and/or jail sentences of up to 2 years for those found causing harm to any of the species listed.

Plants listed in 1991 were:

  * small white lady's-slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

  * small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides)

  * whorled pogonia (Isotria verticillata)

  * cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata)

  * prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa)

  * heart-leaved plantain (Plantago cordata)

Plants are also protected by nature reserves such as parks and protected lands and other legislation (e.g. Natural Heritage section of the Provincial Policy Statement for the Planning Act of Ontario)

Protecting Plant Habitat

Though the Ontario Endangered Species Act is the only legislation that protects selected individual species in this province, plant habitat may receive various degrees of protection under legislation and planning/zoning regulations that identify significant sites.

Municipal Protection: In southern Ontario, the presence of rare plants and animals may result in a site being designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (E.S.A.) under the local Official Plan. Though this doesn't guarantee protection, it does mean that all potential impacts of development would be examined and hopefully minimized before permits were issued.

Provincial Protection: The Ministry of Natural Resources and several other provincial agencies and bodies contribute to the conservation and protection of plant habitat, through a number of programmes. Provincial Parks - One objective of this system is to protect significant natural areas that represent the range of ecosystems, plants and animals found in this province. Currently 261 Provincial Parks (especially 9 wilderness parks, 55 natural environment parks, 29 waterway parks and over 300 nature reserves) protect significant segments of each of Ontario's 4 biomes.

Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI's) - In addition to Provincial Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources also identifies ANSI's, to help protect representative and special natural areas, plants and animals. To date, some 600 natural and scientific areas have been identified on both public and private land, and work continues on identifying additional sites. While MNR is responsible for sites located on Crown Land, private landowners are encouraged to protect these sites through the Conservation Land Tax Reduction Programme, and the Private Stewardship Programme of the Natural Heritage League. Other - Conservation Areas administered by Ontario's 38 Conservation Authorities, MNR's wetland identification and classification programmes, and natural areas under the jurisdiction of the

Niagara Escarpment Plan also contribute to the protection of habitat in this province. MNR is a member of the World Wildlife Fund's Endangered Spaces Campaign, an initiative designed to push for protection of 12% of Canada's area. At present approximately 5.5% of the province is under protective legislation. A proposed land use act called Lands For Life may change the amount and nature of protected lands.

Federal Protection: Ontario has 5 National Parks, where natural habitat receives strong protection.

RBG: Royal Botanical Gardens is one of a number of smaller bodies that own and protect natural habitat in Ontario. Our regulations (under the Royal Botanical Gardens Act, 1989), protect plant and animal life in our 1100 hectares (2700 acres) of sanctuary. The Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Hamilton Naturalist's Club, and Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre are among other non-government organizations who protect natural habitat in Ontario.

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