Jasper National Park: proposed multi-species action plan

Recommended citation:

Parks Canada Agency. 2017. Multi-species Action Plan for Jasper National Park of Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. iv + 24 pp.

For copies of the action plan, or for additional information on species at risk, including COSEWIC Status Reports, residence descriptions, recovery strategies, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species At Risk Public Registry^Footnote1.

Cover illustration: © Parks Canada Agency. Photo credits: Parks Canada Agency.

Également disponible en français sous le titre :
« Plan d’action visant des espèces multiples dans le parc national du Canada Jasper [Proposition]”

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, 2016. All rights reserved.
ISBN ISBN to come
Catalogue no. Catalogue no. to come

Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Approval statement

The Parks Canada Agency led the development of this federal action plan under the Species at Risk Act. The relevant Field Unit Superintendent hereby approves this document indicating that the relevant Species at Risk Act requirements related to action plan development have been fulfilled in accordance with the Act.

Approved by:

___________________________________________________
Salman Rasheed
Interim Superintendent, Jasper National Park of Canada
Parks Canada Agency

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)^Footnote2 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 five years after the publication of the final document on the Species at Risk 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 strategies 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 strategies, 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 with the COSEWIC status reports, management plans, recovery strategies, and other action plans produced for these species.

The Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency (the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change) is the competent minister under SARA for the species found in Jasper National Park (JNP) of Canada and has prepared this action plan to implement the recovery strategies as they apply to the Park, as per section 47 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with First Nations, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta as per section 48(1) of SARA.

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

Acknowledgments

Special thanks go out to all of those who added to the content of this plan and especially those who participated in the site analysis workshop in the winter of 2013 and contributed their time, expertise and information.

Executive summary

The Multi-species Action Plan for Jasper National Park of Canada applies to lands and waters occurring within the boundaries of Jasper National Park of Canada (JNP). The plan meets the Species at Risk Act action plan requirements (SARA s.47) for Schedule 1 listed Endangered and Threatened species that regularly occur in the Park.

Park-specific objectives for species at risk are identified in this plan and represent the site’s contribution to objectives presented in federal recovery strategies. Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are protected by existing regulations and management regimes in national parks and national historic sites as well as by SARA. The Multi-species Action Plan for Jasper National Park of Canada describes additional measures that will contribute to the survival and recovery of the SARA listed species in JNP. Site-specific objectives are identified to help recover and/or manage the identified species, to be met through a number of recommended management activities. These activities represent the site’s contribution to objectives presented in federal recovery strategies and management plans. These measures were identified based on threats and actions outlined in federal and provincial status assessments and recovery documents, as well as knowledge of the status and needs of each species in JNP. Population monitoring measures are also identified for the species for which management activities at the sites can contribute to recovery objectives.

No new critical habitat is identified in this action plan. Critical habitat for some species has been identified previously in their respective recovery strategies. Measures used for protection of existing critical habitat are described.

Measures proposed in this action plan will have limited socio-economic impact and place no restrictions on land use outside of JNP. Direct costs of implementing this action plan will be borne by Parks Canada. Indirect costs are expected to be minimal. Benefits include opportunities to engage with and benefit from traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, including the potential to fill knowledge gaps and enhance and strengthen relationships. Additional benefits include positive impacts on Park ecological integrity, and greater awareness and appreciation of the value of biodiversity to Canadians.

Table of contents

• Approval statement
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Executive summary
• Table of contents
• 1. Context
  • 1.1 Scope of the action plan
• 2. Site-based population and distribution objectives
• 3. Conservation and recovery measures
• 4. Critical habitat
  • 4.1 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat
• 5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits
  • 5.1 Costs
  • 5.2 Benefits
• 6. Measuring progress
• 7. References
• Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for species at risk in JNP
• Appendix B: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted by JNP
• Appendix C: Effects on the environment and other species

1. Context

Canada’s national parks protect a country-wide system of representative natural areas of Canadian significance. Parks Canada is responsible for managing these special places for the benefit, education and enjoyment of Canadians, while ensuring that they are protected and maintained so that they are left unimpaired for future generations.

With over a century of accomplishments in establishing and protecting national parks, Parks Canada is a recognized world leader in conservation. Canada’s national parks afford a high level of protection to plant and wildlife species that rely upon these lands for their habitat. National parks also provide a unique opportunity to engage Canadians in learning and stewardship activities focused on species at risk. The conservation of species at risk, using both ecological measures and educational programs, is an important part of the day-to-day work of Parks Canada.

This Species at Risk Action Plan describes the work that Parks Canada is doing as part of the larger national park conservation program to put vulnerable species on the path to recovery. It is one of the tangible ways Parks Canada protects species at risk, while providing ways to connect and educate Canadians about the endangered wildlife and plants found in these special places. Parks Canada will take a leadership role in implementing this action plan, but its full potential will be achieved by working with others, including Indigenous Peoples, Park visitors, neighboring landowners, businesses, local residents and other Canadians.

Jasper National Park (JNP) is 11,228 km² in size and is the most northerly Canadian national park in the Rocky Mountains (Figure 1). Located in Alberta, but sharing its western border with British Columbia, the Park attracts over 2 million visitors each year to enjoy its majestic peaks, glaciers, pristine wilderness, abundant wildlife and outdoor adventures. The Park was established in 1907 to protect the lands and headwaters of the Upper Athabasca, the proposed route for the Grand Trunk Pacific transcontinental railway. Together with six neighbouring protected areas, Jasper National Park shares the designation of the Canadian Rocky Mountains World Heritage Site.

The Park protects diverse mountain ecosystems including forests, alpine meadows, fresh water habitats, grasslands and sand dunes in the Montane Cordillera ecozone. JNP is home to a wide range of species including several species at risk. While 97% of JNP is designated as wilderness with low human activity, the most biologically productive area is the low elevation montane forest. This is also where the town of Jasper and most of the transportation and visitor infrastructure is located. Outside the Park, the surrounding lands in both Alberta and British Columbia are impacted by intensive use, including forestry, mining, oil and gas extraction and recreation (both motorized and non-motorized).

“Maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, through the protection of natural resources and natural processes, shall be the first priority of the Minister when considering all aspects of the management of parks” (Canada National Parks Act s. 8(2)). Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are therefore protected by existing national park regulations and management regimes. In addition, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) prohibitions protecting individuals and residences apply automatically when a species is listed, and all critical habitat in national parks and national historic sites must be legally protected within 180 days of being identified.

Recovery measures for species at risk will be integrated within the framework of Parks Canada’s ongoing ecological integrity programs. National parks maintain scientifically rigorous ecological integrity monitoring and restoration programs to sustain healthy, functional ecosystems and biodiversity throughout the Park. The recovery measures described in this action plan have been organized under four key priorities: active management, disease management, filling knowledge gaps, and working together. Parks Canada contributes to the recovery of species at risk by providing inventory and monitoring data, and through the implementation of habitat restoration projects and other conservation measures. The species-directed measures outlined in this plan will in turn contribute to improving the conservation status of species and their habitat, and maintaining biodiversity.

In addition to status assessments, SARA recovery strategies have been completed for woodland caribou, Haller’s Apple Moss, common nighthawk and olive-sided flycatcher, while a proposed recovery strategy has been prepared for little brown and northern myotis. A recovery strategy for whitebark pine is currently under development. These documents provide guidance for the recovery of individual species, including strategic direction, recovery objectives, critical habitat, and threats. This action plan was developed and will be implemented in a manner that is consistent with those recovery documents, and should be viewed as part of this body of linked strategies and plans.

1.1 Scope of the action plan

The geographic scope of this action plan includes all federally owned lands and waters managed by JNP (Figure 1). This multi-species action plan has been written specifically for JNP because the Parks Canada Agency (PCA) is legally responsible for species at risk on PCA lands and waters, has the ability to take direct conservation action, and deal with different threats, legislation, and management priorities than areas outside the Park. The advantage of a multi-species action plan is that it can minimize redundancies while allowing for coordination of key actions affecting multiple species at risk where these actions overlap in space or time.

Figure 1. Jasper National Park.

Action plans are legally required for all SARA Schedule 1 listed endangered and threatened species once a final recovery strategy has been published on the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry. This action plan is a SARA action plan (as per SARA s.47) for four species: woodland caribou, Haller’s apple moss, common nighthawk and olive-sided flycatcher. This action plan is also consistent with current direction in the draft recovery strategies for whitebark pine, northern myotis and little brown myotis.

This action plan addresses SARA-listed Endangered and Threatened species that regularly occur in JNP which require an action plan under SARA (s.47) (Table 1). The plan will be amended as required (e.g. as additional species are added to Schedule 1 of SARA) to meet SARA requirements for action planning.

2. Site-based population and distribution objectives

Parks Canada assessed the potential to take management actions in JNP that will contribute to the recovery of each species and site-specific population and distribution objectives were developed (Appendix A). Because they are directly linked to the site-based population and distribution objectives, monitoring activities are reported in Appendix A rather than in the tables of recovery measures (Appendix B). If there is little opportunity for the site to contribute to the recovery of a species, conservation actions may be limited to protection measures in place under the Canada National Parks Act. For a few species, population and distribution objectives for JNP will have little to no impact on the species’ national recovery objectives. This is primarily for two reasons: the threats cannot be controlled in the Park or do not exist in the Park (e.g., wide-spread disease, loss of overwintering habitat elsewhere); and/or the population within the site is a very small part of the Canadian distribution or is unknown or unconfirmed.

3. Conservation and recovery measures

Managing wide-ranging species like woodland caribou at a park landscape level, or a keystone species like whitebark pine that is intricately connected to many other species, for example, all have their own complexities. While the vast majority of the Park area is wilderness, habitat alteration and fragmentation has occurred in the main valleys (the Athabasca, Miette, Maligne, Fiddle and Sunwapta), through past tourism and community development, transportation corridors and recreation. Recreational activities can also contribute to local and regional stresses on caribou and other sensitive species. Historical management practices have altered the natural range of ecosystem variability (e.g. fire suppression, aquatic connections). Industrial, recreational, residential and hunting activities on regional landscapes adjacent to Park boundaries directly or indirectly impact shared wildlife populations, aquatic resources and vegetation communities. Changes in climate impact wildlife and vegetation distributions, freshwater flows and natural disturbance processes. Exotic (non-native), invasive diseases affect species at a continental scale. Collaboration with adjacent land managers and owners will be important to conserving cross-boundary species at risk.

As reflected in the Parks Canada mandate, it is a priority to maintain ecological integrity and to facilitate opportunities for Canadians to experience and learn about these special places. JNP has worked with partners and volunteers to improve the ecological health of the Park, and increase opportunities to support the recovery of species at risk. Innovative species at risk programs and activities engage and connect Canadians both in the Park and where they live, to their national parks and Parks Canada’s role in conservation. Canadians are invited to get involved in species recovery through citizen science, volunteering and partnering opportunities. Academic collaboration in the park is a source of valuable research and data collection that supports better management and restoration efforts. Visitor facilities and trail networks have been redesigned and continuously improved to provide meaningful experiences while protecting park habitats and species.

This action planning process identified measures that will contribute to site-based population and distribution objectives, as well as measures required to protect the species and learn more about them. These measures were then prioritized to determine which will be conducted by the Park (Appendix B). The primary consideration was the ecological effectiveness of measures, but opportunities to enhance visitor experience in the Park, to increase awareness through outreach and education, as well as financial costs and benefits were also considered. Wherever possible, Parks Canada is taking an ecosystem approach, prioritizing actions that benefit numerous species at once to effectively and efficiently protect and recover species at risk.

Four priority themes emerge from these measures: active management, disease management, filling knowledge gaps and working together.

Active management

Active management is a course of action directed toward maintaining or changing the ecological condition to achieve specific objectives. Active management measures for Whitebark Pine include habitat restoration and actions to directly increase stand-level resistance to blister rust infection. A key action in restoring whitebark pine is to ensure that future stands have some resistance to blister rust by increasing the number of trees with genetic resistance to the disease. We do this by collecting seeds from whitebark pine trees that appear to be rust-resistant, testing them for resistance to the disease and planting the seedlings. Whitebark pine is also vulnerable to forest ingrowth by other tree species, particularly where natural fire cycles have been disrupted through fire suppression. Climate change may also contribute to greater risk of mountain pine beetle-caused mortality of whitebark pine and increased competition with other plant species. Restoring natural fire cycles on the landscape is an important strategy for ensuring the persistence of high quality whitebark pine habitat. Reducing forest ingrowth by restoring fire may also benefit common nighthawk, as this species nests on the ground in open forest and grassland habitat. Additionally, carrying out prescribed burns in mature conifer stands near bogs and meadows to create a mosaic of live and dead trees near water and open areas may favour Olive-sided Flycatcher. Parks Canada is internationally recognized for leadership in restoring fire through prescribed burning and continues to conduct burns and manage wildfire as part of a national program.

We identify a suite of coordinated actions aimed at halting caribou population declines. The proximate cause of caribou decline in Jasper National Park is predation, mainly by wolves. The broader cause of increased predation is related to a change in the predator-prey dynamic, linked to previous wildlife management (i.e., reintroducing elk in 1920 and decades of simultaneous wolf control from 1920-1959). Predator-prey dynamics in the park are also affected by habitat alteration in the larger landscape, external to the park. Recovering caribou may require augmenting existing populations supported by a multi-partner, multi-jurisdictional captive breeding program contingent on the availability of captive-bred animals, and the persistence of a sufficient amount of suitable habitat with low predation risk. Due to the complexity of augmentation, we will first investigate feasibility of augmentation with partners. Old growth forest is a seasonal habitat requirement for this species. Careful management of the fire regime will be essential to ensure a suitable range of forest patches of varying stand ages across the landscape over time. Any future re-introduction of caribou would be coordinated with the work of other mountain parks.

Increased awareness, engagement and education will encourage stewardship and support for actions that protect species at risk in JNP and that lead to on-the-ground changes to habitat conditions.

Disease management

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is decimating bat populations in eastern North America and moving west, and has recently been discovered in Washington State. Parks Canada manages access to all caves in Jasper National Park using a permit system (i.e., caves are closed to access, unless by permit). Currently, the Park’s one known hibernaculum is closed to recreational access to reduce the risk of WNS contamination. Determining and tracking population numbers and distribution before the arrival of WNS is key to the early detection of the disease. This knowledge allows early and targeted action to prevent disease spread to the most important bat sites (e.g. decontamination procedures for cavers reduces the spread of WNS). For whitebark pine, white pine blister rust is the main cause of decline across North America. Determining infection rates and identifying resistance in stands is essential to support recovery. Protection measures against other threats, including mountain pine beetle, can then be focused on the rare disease-resistant whitebark pine trees.

Filling knowledge gaps

For some species at risk, research and monitoring is needed to fill gaps in the knowledge base necessary to support protection or recovery. Identifying and mapping important habitat is essential to inform protection and recovery actions. For the species in this Action Plan, this includes ongoing work on: bat hibernacula and roost sites, stands of whitebark pine and breeding sites for bird species at risk. In many cases, this will require partnerships and/or additional funding and will benefit from the opportunity to work with Indigenous communities, the academic community and citizen scientist programs.

Working together

Engaging others in recovery of species at risk through involvement of Indigenous communities, partnering efforts, visitor experience opportunities, and outreach activities is an important component of this multi-species action plan.

The potential reintroduction of southern mountain caribou to the Park can only proceed by working with partners to establish the best way forward to augment herds to support recovery efforts throughout the species’ range. Species at risk recovery in JNP will be positively influenced by increased public awareness, understanding, support and engagement. It is important that Canadians, including our Indigenous partners and key stakeholders, have opportunities to learn about and participate in species at risk recovery in JNP. These opportunities help foster a sense of connection to JNP that motivates them to act as stewards for the Park and builds support for conservation actions. Interactive in-park programs like JNP’s whitebark pine street theatre or the Caribou Ambassador volunteer program, engage visitors in the Park. Hands-on volunteer citizen science opportunities like the bat monitoring program, foster new park stewards. Innovative urban outreach tools and activities like the whitebark pine, caribou and fire travelling exhibit and collaboration with the Calgary Zoo, bring JNP’s stories to Canadians where they live. The “bat-camera” takes images of bats inside a small bat roost at the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre and not only supports monitoring, it provides a unique and engaging education and awareness tool to reach audiences across the country.

Engaging Indigenous communities may create opportunities to incorporate traditional knowledge and work together on specific recovery actions for species at risk. Their understanding of the land and the interconnectedness between species can enrich learning and awareness opportunities as well as contributing to protection and recovery measures.

Where recovery measures include access restrictions or specific protection actions, such as the seasonal closure of important caribou winter habitat, restricting access to bat hibernaculum, or the protection of common nighthawk nests, integrated communications will increase awareness, support and compliance for the measures, as well as establish guidelines for enforcement. Education and awareness programs will also target external audiences. This is critical, as most of the species that are included in this action plan are found regionally beyond the park boundaries. External communications may also help to build support for species at risk generally.

For wide-ranging species like woodland caribou and whitebark pine, collaboration with external partners and stakeholders supports the broader national recovery goals of the species.

4. Critical habitat

Critical habitat is “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 the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species” (SARA s.2(1)). As of January 2016, no additional information is available to identify more critical habitat within this action plan. Recovery strategies have identified critical habitat in JNP for woodland caribou, Haller’s Apple Moss, little brown myotis, and northern myotis. Where critical habitat identification is not complete, it will be identified in an upcoming or amended action plan or revised recovery strategies for the species; refer to the schedule of studies in relevant recovery strategies for further details.

4.1 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

Critical habitat identified in other recovery documents within JNP will be legally protected from destruction as per section 58 of the SARA. Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are therefore protected in Canada’s national parks by existing national park regulations and management regimes as well as by SARA.

5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

The Species at Risk Act requires the responsible federal minister to undertake “an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation”.

5.1 Costs

The cost to implement the action plan will be borne by Parks Canada out of existing salaries and goods and services dollars, and national ecosystem restoration project funding. This includes incremental salary costs, materials, equipment, and contracting of professional services for measures outlined in Appendix B. No major socio-economic costs to partners, stakeholders or Indigenous Peoples are expected as a result of this action plan. Specific project implementation will be contingent on funding being allocated through the Park’s annual business planning process, or from alternative funding sources such as Parks Canada’s national Conservation and Restoration Program.

Some recovery measures are already being implemented in the Park. The other proposed measures will be integrated into the operational management of the Park and there will be few new costs. These costs will be covered by prioritization of existing funds and salary dollars at the Park and therefore will not result in additional costs to society.

The action plan applies only to lands and waters in JNP and does not bring any restrictions to land use outside the sites. This action plan, therefore, will not result in any significant socio-economic impacts to the public. Minor restrictions may be placed on visitor activities on Park lands and waters where they are considered necessary to protect and recover species at risk.

5.2 Benefits

Measures presented in this action plan for JNP will contribute to meeting recovery strategy objectives for threatened and endangered species. These measures are expected to have an overall positive impact on ecological integrity and enhance opportunities for appreciation of the sites and the species by visitors and the general public. Opportunities to engage with Indigenous communities and incorporate traditional knowledge could yield significant benefits for species at risk. Other measures that could result in benefits to Canadians, such as positive impacts on biodiversity and the value individuals place on preserving biodiversity (Federal, Provincial, Territorial Governments of Canada, 2014).

The proposed measures seek a balanced approach to reducing or eliminating threats to species-at-risk populations and habitats, and include protection of individuals and their habitat (e.g., restrictions to human activities within areas occupied by the species, combined with ongoing research and monitoring), potential species re-establishment, and increasing public awareness and stewardship (e.g., signage, visitor programs, and highlights in communication media).

Potential economic benefits of the recovery of the species at risk found in JNP cannot be easily quantified, as many of the values derived from wildlife are non-market commodities that are difficult to appraise in financial terms. 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. The conservation of wildlife at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada’s commitment to conserving biological diversity, and is important to Canada’s current and future economic and natural wealth.

Implementing this action plan is expected to have positive benefits for park visitors, local residents, and Indigenous groups. Some activities in the plan may create opportunities for local residents to become involved in the recovery of species at risk and for cooperation and community partnerships in species at risk recovery. Benefits should be relatively evenly distributed across individuals in local communities, and opportunities for involvement will be available to all local residents. These include opportunities to learn about and take part in the recovery of culturally important species at risk, opportunities for visitors and local communities to be involved in conservation issues, opportunities for integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge into conservation in JNP, and greater awareness of Indigenous values and culture among local residents and visitors to the parks. In doing so the plan supports the goals under the Species at Risk Act: “the traditional knowledge of the Indigenous peoples of Canada should be considered in the assessment of which species may be at risk and in developing and implementing recovery measures”.

6. Measuring progress

Reporting on implementation of the action plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the measures. Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan will be done by assessing progress towards meeting the site-based population and distribution objectives.

7. References

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery strategy for Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa, vii + 49p.

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery strategy for Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa, vii + 52p.

Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery strategy for Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada (Proposed). Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. 110 pp.

Environment Canada. 2014. Recovery strategy for Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Canada (Draft). Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa.

Haller’s Apple Moss Recovery Team. 2010. Recovery Strategy for Haller’s Apple Moss (Bartramia halleriana) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Parks Canada Agency. viii + 32pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2010. Jasper National Park Management Plan. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. xiv + 81 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2011. Conservation strategy for southern mountain caribou in Canada’s national parks. Parks Canada Agency. 30pp.

Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for species at risk in JNP

Appendix B: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted by JNP

Appendix C: 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 achievement of any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s^Footnote4 goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that recovery actions may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process, which is 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 plan itself, and are summarized below.

Overall, it is anticipated that implementation of this action plan will have a beneficial impact on non-target species, ecological processes, and the environment in JNP. This plan puts into practice recovery goals presented in recovery strategies already developed for some of the species at risk in this plan, which were subject to SEAs during the development of those documents. Further, this action plan was developed to benefit all species at risk that regularly occur in JNP and; all of these species were considered in the planning process, any potential secondary effects were considered and mitigated, and where appropriate, measures were designed to benefit multiple species. The planning process was also guided by priorities identified in the Park’s ecological integrity monitoring program and the Park’s management plan (Parks Canada, 2010). Consequently activities outlined in this plan address key management priorities aimed at improving the broader ecological health of both sites. Finally, this plan outlines stewardship actions, educational programs, and awareness initiatives that will involve visitors, local residents, Indigenous organizations, and the general public. This will lead to greater appreciation, understanding, and action towards the conservation and recovery of species at risk in general.