2019 amendment to schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act: migratory birds
A review of the potential environmental impacts of amendments to the list of species at risk under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) published in the Canada Gazette.
The SARA provides protections to species at risk by:
- preventing wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct
- providing for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened as a result of human activity and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened
- responding to the advice of scientists
Species can be added to the list of species at risk (Schedule 1 of SARA) under various designations depending on the severity of the risk of disappearance from the wild in Canada. Following listing, species designated as endangered, threatened or extirpated benefit from SARA’s general prohibitions, including protections against the killing, harming or harassing and against damaging or destroying their residences (i.e. nests, burrows, etc.). SARA also requires recovery planning efforts to address threats to the survival or recovery of the listed species.
A special concern status in Schedule 1 of SARA does not trigger the general prohibitions, but a management plan is developed. This plan includes conservation measures to preserve the wildlife species and avoid a future decline of its populations.
The Order Amending Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (the Order) helps protect 9 migratory bird species at risk by adding them or by updating their designation on the list of species at risk. The objective of the Order is to protect species so they can recover. COSEWIC reassesses species every 10 years, which is one of the ways to monitor the health of the species. Monitoring will also be done through the recovery plans or management plans to be developed for the species and reassessed every 5 years.
Table 1: Modifications to Schedule 1 of SARA
| Legal population name | Scientific name | Previous status | New status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | None | Endangered | British Columbia, Alberta |
| Cassin’s Auklet | Ptychoramphus aleuticus | None | Special concern | British Columbia, Pacific Ocean |
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | None | Special concern | Everywhere in Canada except Nunavut |
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | None | Threatened | Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba |
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | None | Special concern | Everywhere in Canada |
| Legal population name | Scientific name | Previous status | New status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Parkesia motacilla | Special Concern | Threatened | Ontario, Quebec |
| McCown's Longspur | Rhynchophanes mccownii | Special Concern | Threatened | Alberta, Saskatchewan |
| Pink-footed Shearwater | Ardenna creatopus | Threatened | Endangered | British Columbia, Pacific Ocean |
| Red Crossbill percna subspecies | Loxia curvirostra percna | Endangered | Threatened | Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador |
The economic impacts of making these modifications have been assessed and it was determined that they will have a low socio-economic impact.
Protecting species at risk in Canada helps to maintain biodiversity. Protecting species at risk can help maintain ecosystem function and services, such as natural pest control, pollination, temperature regulation and carbon fixing. Ecosystem functions and services in turn are important to the health of Canadians and have important ties to Canada’s economy. Small changes in an ecosystem can result in the loss of individuals and species, which can lead to irreversible and wide-ranging effects.
The Order supports the following the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals:
- Healthy wildlife populations: by providing protection for species at risk
- Effective action on climate change: by supporting conservation, since many ecosystems play a key role in mitigating the impacts of climate change
It also supports the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) concerning SDG 15 Life on Land and SDG 13 Climate Action.
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