Species at risk public registry
In this registry you will find documents relating to the administration of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The act is part of Canada’s strategy to protect hundreds of wild plants and animal species from becoming extinct, and to help in their recovery. Please visit the species at risk sub-topic page to read more about species at risk and the act, the accord and the funding program, and visit our education centre. Help navigating the Species at Risk Public Registry.
Species
Species
Search species list by range, taxonomy group, risk category or schedule.
Schedule 1 - List of wildlife species at Risk
Access the official lists of wildlife species at risk (schedules 1, 2 and 3).
Species listing process under the Species at Risk Act
Species at Risk Act (SARA) instruments
The following sections provide information relating to SARA instruments and the implementation of the Act.
- Regulations
- Orders
- Permits and agreements
- Policies and guidelines
- Round table reports and Minister's response
- Environmental Assessment Best Practice Guide for Wildlife at Risk in Canada
- Species at Risk Program: Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework and Risk-Based Audit Framework
Parliamentary review
Section 129 of the Species at Risk Act requires Parliament to review the Act five years after that section comes into force.
Status reports
Status reports
Recovery
Recovery strategies
A recovery strategy is a planning document that identifies what needs to be done to stop or reverse the decline of a species.
Action plans
Action plans identify the measures to take to implement the recovery strategy for threatened, endangered and extirpated species.
Management plans
Management plans include measures for the conservation of species of special concern and their habitat.
Residence descriptions / rationales
Residence descriptions and rationales describe the dwelling-place such as a den, nest or other similar area or place that is occupied by a species.
Critical habitat orders, reports and statements
Documents on the identification and protection of habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a species.
List of recovery team chairs
Recovery team chairs, alphabetically listed by species.
Recovery guidance handbook (ROMAN) [archived]
Current best practices for recovery.
Saving the wild; an opportunity to participate in species at risk recovery in Canada
This publication celebrates the tens of thousands of Canadians from all walks of life who are striving to save the wild in Canada.
Identification of critical habitat
Critical habitat identification toolbox
Under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), critical habitat (CH) is the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of listed extirpated, endangered, or threatened species, and that is identified as CH in a recovery strategy or action plan. This CH Identification Toolbox is intended to be used by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recovery practitioners and those who work with ECCC in the development of recovery documents where CH identification is required.
ECCC invites you to familiarize yourself with the process by which ECCC identifies critical habitat for endangered and threatened species.
Recovery document posting plans
Documents detailing multi-year plans for posting recovery documents by Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Permits
Permits
A permit may be required to conduct an activity that could affect a species listed under SARA, or its habitat.
Find a document
Find a document
A requirement of SARA is the establishment of this registry for the purpose of providing easy access to documents relating to matters under the act.
In addition to the documents listed in the previous tabs, this registry contains thousands of documents in 40 categories.
Latest publications and news
Publications
January 2021
- 2021-01-08 Recovery Strategy and Action Plan for the Eastern Waterfan (Peltigera hydrothyria) in Canada [Proposed Version]
- 2021-01-07 Management Plan for the Eastern Wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) in Canada [Final version]
December 2020
- 2020-12-31 Progress Report on Steps Taken for Protection of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada (October 2019 to September 2020)
- 2020-12-23 Recovery Strategy for the Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in Canada [Final version]
- 2020-12-22 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population, in Canada [Final]
- 2020-12-22 Summary report on comments received on the proposed amended recovery strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal population, in Canada
- 2020-12-21 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Transient Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in Canada for the Period 2013 to 2018
- 2020-12-17 Management Plan for the Blue Felt Lichen (Degelia plumbea) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2020-12-16 Recovery Strategy and Action Plan for the Sable Island Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum sablense) in Canada [Final Version]
- 2020-12-09 Action Plan for the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Nova Scotia Population, in Canada [Final version]
- 2020-12-09 Recovery Strategy for the Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), Carolinian and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence populations, in Canada [Final version]
- 2020-12-05 Description of critical habitat for the Bull Trout, Saskatchewan – Nelson Rivers populations in Banff National Park of Canada, Jasper National Park of Canada, and Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada
- 2020-12-05 Description of critical habitat of Rainbow Trout, Athabasca River populations in Jasper National Park of Canada
- 2020-12-02 Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Terrestrial Species December 2020
- 2020-12-02 Recovery Strategy for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Atlantic Canada
- 2020-12-02 The Minister of the Environment's response to Species at Risk assessments submitted by COSEWIC on September 2, 2020
November 2020
- 2020-11-24 Recovery Strategy for the Tweedy’s Lewisia (Lewisiopsis tweedyi) in Canada [Proposed version]
- 2020-11-16 Action Plan for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) (Atlantic population) and Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma molissimum), in Canada [Final version]
- 2020-11-16 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum), Atlantic Population, in Canada [Final version]
- 2020-11-09 COSEWIC List of wildlife species assessed (including October 2020)
- 2020-11-06 Management Plan for the Lake Erie Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) in Canada
News
2020
2018
- 2018-08-28 Summary of the Imminent Threat Assessment for the Southern Resident Killer Whale
- 2018-08-28 Summary of the imminent threat analysis for southern mountain caribou
- 2018-08-28 Minister’s response statement to the emergency assessment of Steelhead Trout, Chilcotin River population
- 2018-08-28 Minister’s response statement to the emergency assessment of Steelhead Trout, Thompson River population
- 2018-08-28 Action Plan for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population, in Canada - Federal Actions
- 2018-08-28 Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Terrestrial Species January 2018
- 2018-08-28 The governments of Canada and British Columbia reach a draft conservation agreement for southern mountain caribou
- 2018-08-28 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Species at Risk Act Listing Policy and Directive for "Do Not List" Advice
- 2018-06-21 Conservation commitment on the boreal caribou: Val-d'Or population
2016 to 2017
- 2017-12-11 Letter from COSEWIC to Minister McKenna regarding an upcoming Emergency Assessment
- 2016-07-15 Emergency Order for the Protection of the Western Chorus Frog (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence - Canadian Shield Population)
- 2016-05-03 Recovery Document Posting Plans
- 2016-12-22 Bats and White-nose Syndrome in Canada
Consultations
Consultations
Search current and past public consultations.
E-mail newsletter
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter and receive periodical updates on new items that were added to the public Registry.
Contact us
Report a problem or mistake on this page
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