Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) and Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma molissimum): action plan 2018 (proposed)

Official title: Action Plan for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) (Atlantic population) and Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma molissimum), in Canada 2018

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of action plans for species listed as Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened for which recovery has been deemed feasible. They are also required to report on progress within five years after the publication of the final document on the SAR Public Registry.

Under SARA, one or more action plan(s) provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in the recovery strategy for the species. The plan outlines what needs to be done to achieve the population and distribution objectives (previously referred to as recovery goals and objectives) identified in the recovery strategy, including the measures to be taken to address the threats and monitor the recovery of the species, as well as the proposed measures to protect critical habitat that has been identified for the species. The action plan also includes an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation. The action plan is considered one in a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together. Those being the COSEWIC status report, the recovery strategy, and one or more action plans.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency is the competent minister under SARA for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Atlantic population) (hereafter Boreal Felt Lichen) and Vole Ears Lichen and has prepared this action plan to implement the recovery strategies, as per section 47 of SARA. To the extent possible, it has been prepared in cooperation with the Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Nova Scotia Lichen Recovery Team, environmental non-government organizations, Indigenous groups, industry stakeholders, and private landowners, as per section 48(1) of SARA.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and actions set out in this action plan and will not be achieved by Environment and Climate Change Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this action plan for the benefit of the Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen and Canadian society as a whole.

Implementation of this action plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

The recovery strategy sets the strategic direction to arrest or reverse the decline of the species, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. It provides all Canadians with information to help take action on species conservation. When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA requires that critical habitat then be protected.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species including migratory birds SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federally protected area^{Footnote 1} be described in the Canada Gazette within 90 days after the recovery strategy or action plan that identified the critical habitat is included in the public registry. A prohibition against destruction of critical habitat under ss. 58(1) will apply 90 days after the description of the critical habitat is published in the Canada Gazette.

For critical habitat located on other federal lands, the competent minister must either make a statement on existing legal protection or make an order so that the prohibition against destruction of critical habitat applies.

If the critical habitat for a migratory bird is not within a federal protected area and is not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of Canada, the prohibition against destruction can only apply to those portions of the critical habitat that are habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies as per SARA ss. 58(5.1) and ss. 58(5.2).

For any part of critical habitat located on non-federal lands, if the competent minister forms the opinion that any portion of critical habitat is not protected by provisions in or measures under SARA or other Acts of Parliament, or the laws of the province or territory, SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to prohibit destruction of critical habitat. The discretion to protect critical habitat on non-federal lands that is not otherwise protected rests with the Governor in Council.

Acknowledgments

This action plan was prepared by Brad Toms (Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute), Julie McKnight (Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service), and Rob Cameron (Nova Scotia – Environment) with extensive input from Mark Elderkin (Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources). Maureen Toner (New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources), Claudia Hanel (Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation) and André Arsenault (Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service) provided comments on this action plan. The efforts and contributions of the Nova Scotia Cyanolichen Recovery Team and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources Lichen Working Group are gratefully acknowledged. Appreciation is also extended to Matt Mahoney (Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service) for developing the critical habitat maps.

Executive summary

This action plan compliments the amended recovery strategy for Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum) (Environment and Climate Change Canada 2018), and the recovery strategy for the Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma mollissimum) (Environment Canada 2014). It addresses the population and distribution objectives established in the amended Boreal Felt Lichen recovery strategy and the Vole Ears recovery strategy. Recovery measures are identified, in relation to the broad strategies set out in the recovery strategies for Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen.

The amended recovery strategy for Boreal Felt Lichen contains the identification of critical habitat for that species.

This action plan identifies new critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Nova Scotia taking into account new population information. 1000 hectares of critical habitat were identified in the recovery strategy and an additional 1420 hectares of critical habitat in Nova Scotia are identified in this action plan. Critical habitat is now identified at a total of 2420 hectares along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia. Critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Newfoundland and Labrador is identified in the recovery strategy for the species at 106 hectares on the Avalon Peninsula (Figures 23-25).

Proposed measures to protect critical habitat are presented in section 1.4. The recovery measures included in this plan build on the recommended approaches outlined in the amended recovery strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen and the recovery strategy for the Vole Ears Lichen. An implementation schedule is included and prioritizes each recovery measure and delineates timelines.

Proposed recovery measures in this action plan will have limited socio-economic impact and constraints to human land use. Indirect costs are expected to be minimal and the benefits relate to the value of biodiversity to Canadians, positive impacts cultural values, and conservation of other species.

1 Recovery actions

1.1 Context and scope of the action plan

Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicilatum) is an epiphytic cyanolichen. It is restricted to cool, moist, oceanic regions, occurring at elevations less than 200 m above sea level within 25 km of the Atlantic coast only in mature to over mature Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) forests within or adjacent to wetlands where sphagnum species cover the ground. There are two designated populations in Canada: the Boreal population in Newfoundland and the Atlantic population in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This action plan covers the Atlantic population. The Boreal Felt Lichen (Atlantic population) (hereafter Boreal Felt Lichen) was listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Endangered in 2005. It is believed to be extirpated from New Brunswick (Cameron et al.2009).

The Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma mollissimum) is also an epiphytic cyanolichen. It requires cool humid coastal conifer forests in and adjacent to wetlands dominated by Balsam Fir and/or Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and/or Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) where sphagnum species cover the ground. Vole Ears Lichen was listed under the Species at Risk Act as Endangered in 2012.

The recovery strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen in Canada was posted on the Species at Risk Registry in 2007 (Environment Canada 2007) and was amended in 2018 (Environment and Climate Change Canada 2018). The recovery strategy for Vole Ears Lichen was posted on the Species at Risk Registry in 2014 (Environment Canada 2014). This action plan should be considered along with the Multi-species Action Plan for Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada (Parks Canada Agency 2017).

The population and distribution objectives established by both recovery strategies are to ensure the species’ extent of occurrence (i.e., known range) and the health of the populations are not impacted by anthropogenic habitat deterioration or loss (i.e.,through biological resource use (of the species’ host tree), transportation and service corridors, or residential and commercial development).

All broad strategies and general approaches to meet objectives detailed in the amended recovery strategy for Boreal Felt Lichen and the recovery strategy for Vole Ears Lichen are addressed in this document.

Surveys undertaken from 2005 to present have increased the number of known sites of Boreal Felt Lichen, however, loss of the lichen from sites continues to occur and the estimated 10 year decline is 34% (COSEWIC 2014). Many new sites of Vole Ears Lichen have been found since 2012 due to recent survey efforts but declines continue, particularly in Nova Scotia, where at least 80% of sites documented in the 1980’s no longer contain the lichen. It is important to maintain intact biophysical attributes at sites that have apparently lost their lichens recently because they may still contain the necessary building blocks for colonization and juveniles are difficult to inventory until they reach a certain size.

Critical habitat is partially identified in the amended recovery strategy for Boreal Felt Lichen and the recovery strategy for Vole Ears Lichen.  No new critical habitat is identified for Boreal Felt Lichen in this document. New critical habitat is identified for Vole Ears Lichen in this action plan (refer to section 1.3) in addition to the 29 sites in two populations in Nova Scotia and the five sites in one population in Newfoundland and Labrador identified in the recovery strategy.

This action plan should be considered along with the amended recovery strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen and the recovery strategy for the Vole Ears Lichen. The recovery strategies provide more details on the strategic direction for recovery of the species, critical habitat information, and background information on the species and their threats.

1.2 Measures to be taken and implementation schedule

The recovery measures outlined below are arranged according to the broad strategies identified in the amended recovery strategy for Boreal Felt Lichen and the recovery strategy for Vole Ears Lichen.

Table 1: Implementation schedule

^a “Priority” reflects the degree to which the measure contributes directly to the recovery of the species or is an essential precursor to a measure that contributes to the recovery of the species. High priority measures are considered those most likely to have an immediate and/or direct influence on attaining the population and distribution objectives for the species. Medium priority measures may have a less immediate or less direct influence on reaching the population and distribution objectives, but are still important for the recovery of the population. Low priority recovery measures will likely have an indirect or gradual influence on reaching the population and distribution objectives, but are considered important contributions to the knowledge base and/or public involvement and acceptance of the species.

1.2.1 Monitoring

While there is currently no published monitoring protocol for Boreal Felt Lichen or Vole Ears Lichen, monitoring measures for Boreal Felt Lichen are in place and will be applied for Vole Ears Lichen as new sites are found and extant sites are revisited. Each time a site is visited, the following criteria/measures will be recorded:

• maturity of the lichen (i.e., adult or juvenile)
• the width and height of the lichen
• a rating of the lichen’s health
• percentage of the thallus area grazed
• a score for necrosis (percentage of thallus area discolored by death of the fungus)

Monitoring studies of Boreal Felt Lichen (consisting of a visual assessment of any major changes – e.g., death of trees, cutting) have been conducted and involve collecting habitat parameters using a standardized method. This methodology will be adopted for Vole Ears Lichen as new sites are found and extant sites are revisited.

1.3 Critical habitat

The critical habitat deemed necessary to meet the population and distribution objectives was partially identified for Boreal Felt Lichen in the amended recovery strategy. The amended recovery strategy contains the methodology for identifying critical habitat and outlines a schedule of studies required to complete the identification of critical habitat. Additional critical habitat for Boreal Felt Lichen is not identified in this action plan.

Critical habitat was also partially identified for Vole Ears Lichen in its recovery strategy. The recovery strategy contains the methodology for identifying critical habitat and outlines a schedule of studies required to complete the identification of critical habitat. Critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Newfoundland and Labrador is identified in the recovery strategy for the species (106 hectares) and is located on the Avalon Peninsula (Figures 23 to 25). Critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Nova Scotia is identified in the recovery strategy for the species (1000 hectares)in two populations. An additional 1420 hectares, in two populations along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, are identified in this action plan based on recent survey work, using the same approach described in the recovery strategy.

1.3.1 Identification of Vole Ears Lichen critical habitat

Critical habitat description

Critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen is presented in Figures 1 to 25. Critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Canada occurs within the shaded yellow and blue polygons (units where the critical habitat criteria and methodology described section 7.1 of the recovery strategy are met). The UTM grid overlay shown in the figures is a standardized national grid system that indicates the general geographic area containing critical habitat.

More detailed information on the location of critical habitat to support protection of the species and its habitat may be requested, on a need-to-know basis, by contacting Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Recovery Planning section at: ec.planificationduretablissement-recoveryplanning.ec@canada.ca.

1.3.2 Examples of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat

Examples of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen may be found in section 7.3 of the recovery strategy for the Vole Ears Lichen.

1.4 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

The information below outlines the measures proposed to be taken to protect critical habitat for Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen.

1.4.1 Measures proposed to protect critical habitat on federal lands

As required under SARA, a description of the portions of critical habitat found in federally protected areas^{Footnote 1}  are published in the Canada Gazette Part 1. This critical habitat will then be protected under subsection 58(1) of SARA. Gazette statements are available on the Species at Risk Public Registry. In March 2017, a gazette statement associated with the Multi-species Action Plan for Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada (Parks Canada Agency 2017) describing critical habitat for Vole Ears Lichen in Kejimkujik Seaside was posted on the Species at Risk Registry. This critical habitat was protected under s.58(1) of SARA.

1.4.2 Measures proposed to protect critical habitat on non-federal lands

With regard to the portions of critical habitat on non-federal lands, Environment and Climate Change Canada will assess the protection currently in place. This involves first working with the Governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to determine which provincial laws and legal instruments are in place to prevent destruction of critical habitat. If there are gaps in the protection of critical habitat, provisions or measures in place under SARA or other federal legislation will be reviewed to determine whether they prevent destruction of critical habitat. The laws and legal agreements in place that protect critical habitat will be monitored for efficacy at least every five years. Conservation measures, including stewardship initiatives, that contribute to preventing critical habitat destruction will also be considered and monitored.

If it is determined that any portions of critical habitat are not protected, and steps are being taken to protect those portions, those steps will be communicated via the Species at Risk Public Registry through the reports referred to in section 63 of SARA.

2 Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

SARA requires that an action plan include an evaluation of the socio‑economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation (SARA 49(1)(e), 2002). This evaluation addresses only the incremental socio-economic costs of implementing this action plan from a national perspective as well as the social and environmental benefits that would occur if the action plan were implemented in its entirety, recognizing that not all aspects of its implementation are under the jurisdiction of the federal government.  It does not address cumulative costs of species recovery in general nor does it attempt a cost-benefit analysis. Its intent is to inform the public and to guide decision making on implementation of the action plan by partners.

The protection and recovery of species at risk can result in both benefits and costs. The Act recognizes that “wildlife, in all its forms, has value in and of itself and is valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons” (SARA 2002). Self-sustaining and healthy ecosystems with their various elements in place, including species at risk, contribute positively to the livelihoods and the quality of life of all Canadians. A review of the literature confirms that Canadians value the preservation and conservation of species in and of themselves. Actions taken to preserve a species, such as habitat protection and restoration, are also valued. In addition, the more an action contributes to the recovery of a species, the higher the value the public places on such actions (Loomis and White 1996; DFO 2008). Furthermore, the conservation of species at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada’s commitment to conserving biological diversity under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government of Canada has also made a commitment to protect and recover species at risk through the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The specific costs and benefits associated with this action plan are described below.

2.1 Policy baseline

The provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have access to many legislative, regulatory, and management tools for the conservation and stewardship of Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen. For example,

in Nova Scotia:

• Endangered Species Act: requires recovery planning which must identify areas of habitat to be considered for designation as core habitat. Once core habitat has been designated the Minister may create regulations controlling, restricting or prohibiting access to or activities in the habitat.

• Parks Act: preserves unique, rare, representative, or otherwise significant elements of the natural environment and historic resources of Nova Scotia and prevents the willful destruction of park property (including trees and other natural resources). In addition, the Minister may take such measures as the Minister deems necessary to protect flora and fauna within a provincial park.

• Crown Lands Act: enables the Minister to set aside special areas on Crown lands for habitat protection and requires the Minister to integrate appropriate protective measures in forest-management planning for Crown lands to respect wildlife habitats.

• Environment Act: protects the environment including biological diversity, requires many activities to undergo an approval process that may incorporate consideration of habitat, and requires environmental assessments for designated undertakings. The Minister can reject an undertaking or place conditions on an undertaking including conditions to protect habitat.

• Forests Act: maintains or enhances wildlife and wildlife habitats, and water quality. The intent and purpose of this Act is to ensure that wildlife, wildlife habitats, and the long term diversity and stability of the forest ecosystems, water supply watersheds, and other significant resources are maintained or enhanced.In addition, under the Wildlife Habitat and Watercourse Protection Regulations, buffers are maintained around the associated wetland.

• Special Places Protection Act: preserves ecological sites containing rare or endangered species in their natural habitats, enables designation of land as ecological sites. The Minister may develop a management plan for an ecological site and the Minister may issue ecological research permits.

• Nova Scotia Wetland Conservation Policy: prevents the net loss of wetlands in Nova Scotia through wetland conservation practices that integrate the need for wetland protection with the need for sustainable economic development.

• Wilderness Areas Protection Act: provides for the establishment, management, protection, and use of wilderness areas; maintains and restores the integrity of natural processes and biodiversity; and protects representative examples of natural landscapes and ecosystems.

• Special Management Practices: this policy requires surveys for the presence of endangered lichens (specifically for Boreal Felt Lichen) on all provincial Crown lands where forest harvesting and silviculture operations are proposed in areas with suitable habitat biophysical attributes (as determined by the habitat supply model (Cameron et al. 2013)) and enacts forested buffers around phorophytes.

in Newfoundland and Labrador:

• Endangered Species Act: prohibits the disturbance or destruction of a designated species’ residence, provides further protection for ‘critical habitat’ and ‘recovery’ habitat

• Environmental Protection Act: protects the environment through regulation. Prohibits certain activities (refer to regulations) unless the appropriate approvals are in place and requires environmental assessments for certain projects involving endangered species and their habitats

• Forestry Act: requires the proponent to submit a management plan that addresses the impacts to wildlife habitat

• Lands Act: allows for the designation of special management areas to protect wildlife habitat

• Water Resources Act: requires permits for development activities in, and affecting, wetlands

• Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act: provides the Minister with broad authority to prohibit or control activities within protected areas

2.2 Socio-economic profile and baseline

The forestry industry is primarily affected by the protection of these lichen species and their critical habitat. Stakeholders include the Government of Canada, the governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, and private landowners.

Many recovery measures are undertaken with the assistance of federal or provincial species at risk funding programs, in-kind contributions by recovery biologists, or research by universities.

2.3 Socio-economic costs of implementing this action plan

Implementation of the recovery measures identified in Table 1 may generate direct costs as well as societal costs. These costs are reported in this section only if they result in incremental expenditures or constraints in land uses (including foregoing or modifying current and future activities; e.g., forest harvesting activities) compared to measures already in place (see ongoing measures in Table 1).

A special management practice is already in place on crown lands in Nova Scotia for Boreal Felt Lichen which places restrictions on forestry activities in the vicinity of the species’ critical habitat.

For Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen, the direct and societal costs are expected to be low (i.e., between $0 and $5 million) over the short term (five years). Costs at the regional or provincial scale are expected to be minimal. These anticipated costs include salary, volunteer time, travel, materials, equipment, and other related costs. Indirect costs are those resulting from implementing the action plan, which may have an impact on various stakeholders. Impacts to stakeholders include foregoing or modifying current and future activities.

Costs would only be incurred locally as the species occupy a limited geographic area in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Costs at the regional or provincial scale are expected to be minimal.

2.4 Benefits of implementing this action plan

Nearly half (46%) of respondents to the 2012 Canadian Nature Survey (Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments of Canada 2014) reported taking some form of direct action to assist in the recovery of species at risk. Care for the environment is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top priorities in public opinion polls (Environment Canada 2009). A recent opinion poll found that three quarters of Canadian respondents feel that preserving natural areas and the variety of native plant and animal life in Canada is important to them (Ipsos Reid Opinion Poll  2011).

Wetlands are designated by international convention (The Ramsar Convention) specifically to foster conservation because they provide a myriad of essential ecosystem services. Among others, wetlands filter sediments and toxins, serve as groundwater recharge areas, supply food and habitat for wildlife and humans, provide products, and provide areas for outdoor recreational activities such as bird watching, fishing, and hunting.

Forest ecosystems provide a number of goods and services such as: provisional goods (e.g., fishing, hunting and gathering forest plants, fresh water), regulating services (e.g., air quality maintenance, climate and atmospheric regulation, water regulation and supply, water purification, pollination, erosion control and sediment retention), cultural services (e.g., recreation and ecotourism, aesthetic cultural heritage) and supporting services (e.g., soil formation, nutrient cycling, habitat refugium, primary production).

Cyanolichens such as the Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen contribute to forest ecosystem services through nutrient cycling including converting biologically inactive nitrogen gas into forms usable for other plant species. Cameron and Richardson (2006) show that cyanolichens can contribute significant amounts of nitrogen to ecosystems. Cyanolichens give humans the ability to detect fluctuations in local air quality due to the lichen’s sensitivity to pollution. This makes cyanolichens valuable indicators of environmental and ecosystem health. Given that Nova Scotia receives air pollution from industrialized areas of the eastern United States and central and eastern Canada, Nova Scotia lichens can provide an early warning system for the ecosystem effects of pollutants (Cameron 2004).

By focusing on increasing protection measures, as well as improved public outreach, education and stewardship, it is expected that the recovery approaches outlined in the action plan will benefit the larger ecological community as well. Achieving the goal of this action plan will have a positive impact for Canadians.

2.5 Distributional impacts

Although Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen both occur on private properties, landowners are not expected to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the species’ recovery. Non-governmental organizations are active in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador where the species occur, and an approach of this action plan is to foster cooperative relationships with landowners and others to maintain critical habitat.

Indirect incremental costs resulting from the impacts of implementing some recovery measures may be absorbed by the forestry industry through increased operating costs.

3 Measuring progress

The performance indicators presented in the associated recovery strategies provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives.

Reporting on implementation of the action plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the broad strategies.

Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing the results of monitoring the recovery of the species and its long term viability, and by assessing the implementation of the action plan.

4 References

Cameron, R. 2004. Lichen Indicators of Ecosystem Health in Nova Scotia’s Protected Areas. Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour. Available: http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/protectedareas/pubs.asp [accessed October 2014]

Cameron, R. P., and Neily, T. 2008. Heuristic model for identifying the habitats of Erioderma pedicellatum and other rare cyanolichens in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Bryologist 111: 650 to 658.

Cameron, R. and D. Richardson. 2006. Occurrence and Abundance of Epiphytic Cyanolichens in Protected Areas of Nova Scotia, Canada. Opuscula Philolichenum. 3: 5 to 14.

COSEWIC 2014. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Boreal Felt Lichen Erioderma pedicellatum, Boreal population and Atlantic population, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xiv + 66 pp. (www.registrelepsararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm ).

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Estimation of the Economic Benefits of Marine Mammal Recovery in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Policy and Economics Regional Branch, Quebec 2008.

Environment Canada. 2007. Recovery Strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum), Atlantic population, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. viii + 31 pp.

Environment Canada. 2009. Canada’s 4th National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Available: http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/ca/ca-nr-04-en.pdf [accessed December 2010]

Environment Canada. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Vole Ears Lichen (Erioderma mollissimum) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. v + 31 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Amended Recovery Strategy for the Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum), Atlantic population, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. viii + 48 pp.

Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments of Canada. 2014. 2012 Canadian Nature Survey: Awareness, participation, and expenditures in nature-based recreation, conservation, and subsistence activities. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers.

Ipsos Reid Opinion Poll “Nine in Ten (87%) Canadians Say That When Connected to Nature They Feel Happier.” Released January 7, 2011, www.ispsos.ca

Loomis, J.B. and White, D.S. 1996. Economic Benefits of Rare and Endangered Species: Summary and Meta-analysis. Ecological Economics, 18: 197 to 206.

Parks Canada Agency. 2017. Multi-species Action Plan for Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. v + 28 pp.

Species at Risk Act (SARA) (S.C. 2002, c. 29) http://laws‑lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/s‑15.3/FullText.html

Appendix A: effects on the environment and other species

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted on all SARA recovery planning documents, in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s (FSDS) goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that implementation of action plans may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process based on national guidelines directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the action plan itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

This action plan will clearly benefit the environment by promoting the recovery of the Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen. The potential for the plan to inadvertently lead to adverse effects on other species was considered. The SEA concluded that this plan will clearly benefit the environment and will not entail any significant adverse effects. The reader should refer to relevant sections in the recovery strategies (e.g., effects on other species; and the recommended approaches for recovery).

The effects on other species were also considered. Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen are part of a suite of rare cyanolichens, all of which occur in similar habitats within the humid Atlantic forest region of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. In fact, the habitat suitability mapping algorithm for Boreal Felt Lichen in Nova Scotia is much more effective at identifying habitats that support one or more of these species (approx. 50% accuracy) than it is at identifying habitat that supports Boreal Felt Lichen (approx. 7% accuracy). Survey work directed towards locating new Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen sites has produced many new records for members of this larger group of species (Cameron and Neily 2008). Furthermore, since all of these species share similar habitat requirements, actions directed towards better understanding ecosystem-level associations and securing habitat for Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen will almost certainly result in the protection of populations of other rare cyanolichens, such as Degelia plumbea (special concern) Frosted Glass-whiskers (Sclerophora peronella) (special concern) and other rare cyanolichens not yet assessed by COSEWIC. At a regional level, any progress in reducing air pollution will benefit not only Boreal Felt Lichen and Vole Ears Lichen, but most (if not all) of the flora and fauna of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador as well.