Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park of Canada - [Proposed] 2025

Species at Risk Act

Action Plan Series

2025

On this page

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Executive Summary
• 1. Context
  • 1.1 Parks Canada Multi-species Action Planning
  • 1.2 Thousand Islands National Park
  • 1.3 Scope of the action plan
    • 1.3.1. Geographic scope
    • 1.3.2. Species scope
• 2. Site-based population and distribution objectives
• 3. Conservation and recovery measures
  • 3.1 Conservation and recovery measure approaches
  • 3.2 Classification of measures
• 4. Critical habitat
  • 4.1. Identification of critical habitat for the Least Bittern
    • 4.1.1. Geographic location
    • 4.1.2. Biophysical attributes
    • 4.1.3 Examples of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat
  • 4.2 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 Thousand Islands National Park.
• Appendix B: Conservation and recovery measures that will be implemented.
• Appendix C: Other conservation and recovery measures that will be implemented if partnerships or additional resources become available.

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)^{Footnote 2} agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. The Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA) was enacted to protect wildlife species at risk in Canada and to complement other legislation in conserving Canada’s biodiversity. Today, SARA is a key contributor Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy – Halting and Reversing Biodiversity Loss in Canada, which charts a path for how Canada will implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Under 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 action plans on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Under SARA, action plans provide the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in recovery strategies. They outline what needs to be done to achieve the population and distribution objectives identified in recovery strategies, including the measures to be taken to address the threats, the monitoring of the recovery of the species, as well as the proposed measures to protect critical habitat identified for the species. Action plans also include an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation. Action plans are considered one in a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together, including COSEWIC status reports, recovery strategies, and other action plans produced for the species.

The Minister responsible for Parks Canada is the competent minister under SARA for species found in Thousands Islands National Park and has prepared this action plan to implement recovery strategies that apply to the park as per section 47 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with the Mohawks of Akwesasne, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the province of Ontario as per section 48(1) of SARA.

Success in the recovery of these species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies and will not be achieved by Parks Canada or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this action plan for the benefit of multiple species and Canadian society as a whole.

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

Acknowledgments

Parks Canada would like to acknowledge those who have contributed to the development of this action plan.

First, Parks Canada respectfully acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples have been the caretakers of Turtle Island (North America) for millennia. Thousand Islands National Park is situated on the traditional homelands of the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe Peoples (Algonquins of Ontario). Parks Canada recognizes with gratitude, the culture, presence, and stewardship of Indigenous Peoples who nurtured the lands and water of the Thousand Islands region for many generations and will continue to do so for generations to come.

There were a number of key partners who contributed to the implementation of the Thousand Islands National Park’s first multi-species action plan (2016-2021) and our improved understanding of these Species at Risk. These partners have continually supported the park and added value to our objectives. Special thanks are owed to the Mohawks of Akwesasne Department of Infrastructure, Housing and Environment, especially Abraham Francis and Kayla Sunday for their input and perspectives. Thanks are also extended to partners who participated in the Action Plan Site Workshop: Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative; Brockville Aquatarium; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Eastern Ontario Model Forest; Fleming College; Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network; Leeds and Grenville Stewardship Council; Nature Conservancy of Canada; Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Ontario Parks; Ontario's Natural Heritage Information Centre; Queen’s University; St. Lawrence Parks Commission; Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust; and the University of Ottawa.

Finally, we would like to acknowledge the people who share our ecosystem, from landowners who protect critical habitat, to those who pull over their car to help a turtle cross the road. The reality is that this park is too small to influence the status of these species on its own. Additionally, we thank our partners that help us protect the Thousand Islands as part of the broader Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and as a critical pinch point in the internationally significant Algonquin to Adirondacks wildlife corridor. Maintaining biodiversity and vital connections in Thousand Islands National Park and other natural areas will require the support of residents and partners. The success of which will ultimately determine if TINP can remain an area of refuge and passage for species responding to our changing world.

Niá:wen, Miigwetch, Merci, Thank you

Executive summary

This Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park updates and replaces content in the 2016 action plan for the site ^{Footnote 3}. It applies to lands and waters occurring within the boundaries of Thousands Islands National Park (TINP). The plan identifies measures to conserve or recover SARA-listed species, species of conservation concern, and culturally important species that regularly occur^{Footnote 4} in TINP and fulfills SARA s.47 requirements for those species that require an action plan. Considerations related to landscape-scale conservation, ecological connectivity, climate-smart conservation, Indigenous conservation, and/or culturally important species were a central theme in the development of this action plan.

49 species that regularly occur at TINP are addressed in this action plan: 38 SARA-listed species and 11 additional species of conservation concern and/or cultural significance to Indigenous partners (e.g., COSEWIC assessed but not SARA-listed, provincially listed). 24 of the SARA-listed species are Endangered or Threatened (and require an action plan) and 14 are Special Concern. Including non-SARA-listed species of conservation concern and species of cultural importance provides a comprehensive plan for species conservation and recovery at the site.

8 site-based population and distribution objectives are identified in this plan (Appendix A) and represent the sites’ contribution to range-wide objectives for the species as identified in SARA recovery strategies and management plans. Measuring progress towards achieving site-based objectives over time will determine the ecological impacts of implementing the action plan.

Conservation and recovery measures were developed to mitigate the three main threats to the species within the park:

7 conservation and recovery measures are identified as commitments in this action plan (Appendix B). An additional 36 measures will be implemented if resources and/or partnerships become available to support the work (Appendix C). The number of committed measures fall within these categories:

No additional critical habitat is identified in this action plan beyond what was previously included in the 2016 version of this action plan for Least Bittern, which is carried forward and included in this document to ensure continuity of legal protection. Measures to protect critical habitat already identified for species addressed in this plan are described.

The financial cost to implement this MSAP will be borne by Parks Canada, and through partnerships if resources become available. No negative socio-economic impacts are anticipated from implementing the measures in this plan. Benefits of this action plan include the targeted recovery of species at risk and an overall positive impact on biodiversity, contributing to federal and global sustainability goals. Benefits also include protecting key species of cultural significance to local Indigenous partners, opportunities for regional residents to protect turtles, and the empowerment of residents and partners to become local turtle conservation leaders.

Progress toward implementation of this action plan and meeting the objectives set within will be assessed annually and a report summarizing the results will be published on the Species at Risk Public Registry five years after posting, as per section 55 of SARA.

1. Context

This Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park of Canada updates and replaces content in the 2016 action plan (Parks Canada Agency 2016). Under Section 52 of the Species at Risk Act, the competent minister may amend an action plan at any time. An amendment is being undertaken now to update species information and integrate knowledge and new information gained during implementation of the 2016 action plan. The five-year implementation report (Parks Canada Agency, 2021) is available on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

1.1 Parks Canada multi-species action planning

Parks Canada (PC) takes a multi-species, site-based approach to action planning that identifies and prioritizes conservation and recovery measures for a suite of species at one or more Parks Canada sites. This approach enables Parks Canada to consider the needs of multiple species and identify and prioritize measures that can be implemented at the site(s) to provide the greatest contributions to species conservation and recovery.

Parks Canada multi-species action plans focus on lands and waters under Parks Canada’s administration; however, Indigenous communities, neighbouring jurisdictions, partners, stakeholders, and species and subject-matter experts are engaged throughout development and implementation of the plans. This collaborative approach facilitates species conservation and recovery at a landscape scale.

The action planning process considers a suite of species that occur regularly at the site(s), including species at risk listed in Schedule 1 of SARA, species assessed by COSEWIC and under consideration for addition to Schedule 1 of SARA, provincially listed species, and other species of interest, including those of Indigenous importance. Inclusion of species that don’t require a SARA action plan enables Parks Canada to take a holistic approach and develop a comprehensive plan for species conservation and recovery at the site(s).

In many cases, several federal and provincial recovery strategies and plans, management plans, and action plans have been prepared for the species included in this action plan (e.g., Kraus and Thompson 2010; Environment Canada 2010-2016; Environment and Climate Change Canada 2018a-2022; Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2024). Along with COSEWIC status assessments, those documents provide guidance for the recovery of individual species, including the identification of threats, recovery objectives, strategic direction to achieve objectives, and critical habitat. 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.

Parks Canada’s approach to multi-species action planning aligns with the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2018b). It considers priorities of landscape-scale conservation, ecological connectivity, climate-smart conservation, Indigenous conservation, and cultural species. In addition, Parks Canada is increasingly using the adaptive management framework Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (i.e., Conservation Standards) to support and inform the action planning process.

Implementation of the conservation and recovery measures identified in these action plans is often integrated into the existing framework of Parks Canada conservation programs. Ecological integrity is a cornerstone of Parks Canada’s mandate to protect and promote significant examples of Canada’s natural heritage. It is the first priority in the maintenance of Canada’s National Parks. In addition to the protections provided under SARA, species at risk, their residences, and their habitat in Parks Canada places are often protected under additional federal acts and regulations, including but not limited to the Migratory Birds Convention Act and regulations, Fisheries Act, Canada National Parks Act, and the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

1.2 Thousand Islands National Park

Thousand Islands National Park (TINP) is 26.1 km2 in size and is in the Thousand Islands Region of the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. This region, also known as the Frontenac Axis, connects the Canadian Shield from Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario to the Adirondack State Park in New York. The park consists of mainland properties, 26 islands and 89 islets and shoals. The properties extend along a 120-kilometre stretch of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario from Brockville to Prince Edward County (Figure 1).

The Thousand Islands area has long been important to Indigenous peoples. It was an important trade and travel route for many Nations, and the area also contained an abundance of foods and medicines to sustain them. As European settlement expanded into the area during the 1800s, the area became known for its natural beauty and tourism potential. While some legal protection was afforded to the current park area as early as 1875, it was not until 1904 that TINP was established as the first Canadian national park east of the Rockies (Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy, 2004). The park was originally known as St. Lawrence Islands National Park but was renamed as Thousand Islands National Park in 2013. The area has been officially designated by the United Nations in 2002 as a Biosphere Reserve. This designation recognizes the region as a place where people live, work, and enjoy a variety of economic and recreational activities based on respect for the environment. The park is also part of two national Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA, 2025) and the area was designated as an Important Amphibian and Reptile Area (IMPARA) (Canadian Herpetological Society, 2019). The park consists of several ecologically important mainland properties and 26 islands between Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario and Brockville, Ontario. Due to the fragmented nature of the park properties, many of the stresses on the park’s ecosystem originate from outside its boundaries. For this reason, Indigenous peoples, local residents, conservation organizations, and other groups and land users play an important role in managing, restoring, and protecting the Thousand Islands Ecosystem.

The park is located at the meeting point of the St. Lawrence River and the Frontenac Arch. The rugged nature of the Frontenac Arch resulted in less anthropogenic landscape modification than most of southern Ontario and, as a result, the area remains important for migration and dispersal of local species of flora and fauna (Snetsinger, 1997). The islands of the park are important “stepping stones” in the connectivity corridor linking Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario to Adirondack State Park in New York (Snetsinger, 2001). Being in a transition zone, the park, for its size, is rich in biodiversity and provides habitat for many species that are at the northern or southern limits of their range. Notably, TINP has the highest known diversity for invertebrates and reptiles/amphibians of any Canadian national park (Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, 2015).

Maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity is the first priority of national 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 as well as by SARA. National parks maintain comprehensive, scientifically rigorous ecological integrity monitoring and restoration programs that are organized according to the major ecosystems present in the park. The recovery measures described in this action plan are therefore organized in the same manner. Parks Canada’s ecological integrity programs make contributions 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 maintaining and improving the ecological integrity of TINP by improving the conservation status of native species and their habitat and maintaining biodiversity.

1.3 Scope of the action plan

1.3.1. Geographic scope

The geographic scope of this action plan includes all federally owned lands and waters managed by TINP (Figure 1). This MSAP has been written specifically for TINP because Parks Canada is legally responsible for species at risk on the lands and waters it administers, has the ability to take direct conservation action, and deals with different threats, legislation, and management priorities than areas outside the park. However, this plan has been developed and will be implemented collaboratively with partners in the broader landscape to maximize conservation benefits to species conservation and recovery.

1.3.2. Species scope

This action plan addresses a total of 38 SARA-listed species plus 11 species of conservation concern and / or cultural significance that regularly occur in TINP (Table 1). This includes 24 SARA-listed Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened species (for which an action plan is required under s.47 of SARA) and 14 SARA-listed Special Concern species. This plan specifically addresses the portion of the species’ population that occurs within TINP. Note that over the course of implementation of this action plan, some species’ COSEWIC or SARA status may change.

2. Site-based population and distribution objectives

The potential for Parks Canada to undertake direct management action at the site that will contribute measurably to the recovery of each species was assessed. Site-specific population and distribution objectives were developed for 8 species (Appendix A). These objectives identify the contribution that conservation and recovery measures implemented by the site or in collaboration with partners can make towards achieving the national objectives identified in SARA recovery strategies and management plans.

Monitoring progress towards achieving the site-based objectives over time will help determine whether implementation of the conservation and recovery measures (identified in Appendix B) is having the desired influence on species recovery.

For many species addressed in this action plan, recovery cannot be measurably influenced by management actions implemented by the site for various reasons, including: 1) there are no direct management actions required within the site (apart from regular site operations) to protect or recover the species, because there are no or few known threats acting in the site (e.g., primary threat is a loss of overwintering habitat outside of the site); 2) there are no known management actions to address threats acting in the site (e.g., the threat of widespread disease); and/or 3) the site makes up such a small portion of the species’ range in Canada that the impact of management actions at the site cannot be measured. When there is little opportunity for direct management action at the site to measurably contribute to the recovery of a species, site-specific objectives are not appropriate and conservation measures may be limited to protection measures in place under the Canada National Parks Act, the Impact Assessment Act, and SARA, as well as through indirect threat mitigations such as education/outreach, habitat maintenance, and addressing knowledge gaps through inventory, research and monitoring.

3. Conservation and recovery measures

Conservation and recovery measures aimed at addressing threats to the species at the site and making progress towards achieving site-based population and distribution objectives were identified and prioritized. The prioritization process primarily considered ecological effectiveness, but also considered opportunities for landscape-scale conservation, ecological connectivity, climate-smart conservation, Indigenous conservation and cultural species, strengthened partnerships, and opportunities for visitor experience and increased awareness through education and outreach. Prioritization also considered current budgetary opportunities and constraints. Wherever possible, Parks Canada is taking an ecosystem approach, prioritizing measures that benefit multiple species to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of species protection and recovery.

In total, 7 conservation and recovery measures are identified for implementation by TINP based on existing resources. (Appendix B). An additional 36 measures will be encouraged through partnerships or if additional resources become available (Appendix C). Each measure is associated with one or more identified threats. The three main threats addressed in this action plan are: Invasive Non-native Plants and Animals; Problematic Native Plants and Animals; and Hunting and Collecting Terrestrial Animals. Each measure is also associated with a desired outcome and the anticipated timeline for achieving the desired outcome. Desired outcomes are designed to be quantifiable and achievable over the implementation period of this plan (10 years).

3.1 Conservation and recovery measure approaches

The identification and prioritization of conservation and recovery measures considered opportunities to integrate the following recovery measure approaches: landscape-scale conservation, climate-smart conservation, ecological connectivity, Indigenous conservation and cultural species, and Conservation Standards.

Landscape-scale conservation:

TINP works collaboratively with partners and conducts outreach with private landowners for many of the species in this action plan. Given most species move in and out of park boundaries, many of the recovery actions in this plan tie into a landscape scale approach. An example is the park’s Draft Landscape Connectivity and Stewardship Strategy, which was developed to help prioritize parcels of land adjacent to TINP for stewardship or land securement.

Climate-smart conservation:

Climate change is considered throughout this Action Plan. Many of the rare species found in TINP are at the northern tip of their range, often in disjunct populations. The recovery actions and site objectives selected for this MSAP were developed considering the impact climate change will have on range shifts for species at risk populations in and adjacent to TINP, and the ability of species to move to new areas in the park as possible climate refugia.

Ecological connectivity:

TINP is a small and fragmented park. Connecting habitats and reducing threats to animals as they move between habitat patches is a key management objective. TINP works with partners at local, regional and international scales to maintain key connections for wildlife and ecological processes. Examples range from working with partners to promote ecological corridors and highway ecopassages in the Algonquin to Adirondack Wildlife Corridor to working with local partners to promote connections between Gray Ratsnake hibernacula in and adjacent to park boundaries.

Indigenous conservation and cultural species:

TINP works closely with Indigenous partners on the planning and implementation of conservation projects, ranging from ecosystem level to individual species management. Examples include protecting stands of culturally significant Black Ash and providing resources to protect turtles in Indigenous communities. Additionally, culturally important species that are not species at risk were incorporated into the plan through consultation with Indigenous partners (e.g., Wild Rice mapping).

Conservation standards:

Conservation standards (or similar approaches) have been used to develop a number of recovery actions in the park. Notably, many of the recovery actions related to species in the Jones Creek Wetland Complex were developed through a multi-day workshop with partners that utilized the Conservation Standards developed by the Conservation Measures Partnership.

3.2 Classification of measures

Measures identified in this plan are categorized based on Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) Conservation Actions Classifications^{Footnote 5}. The following action classifications are addressed in this plan:

Land / Water management:

Most of the recovery actions that will be undertaken in this action plan fall under this heading. Invasive Alien Species are widespread and increasing throughout TINP and are a significant threat to many species at risk. Rapid response is always the priority; however, the park will also continue to remove established invasions away (e.g. 50m buffer) from species at risk populations such as Deerberry.

Awareness raising:

Given the small, fragmented nature of TINP, species conservation is often dependent on partnerships and outreach to adjacent residents and visitors. In conjunction with park External Relations, Visitor Experience and Law Enforcement staff, TINP conservation staff will communicate the issues around poaching, foraging, and subsequent overharvesting and that these activities are not permitted in national parks. Special focus will be given to species that are known to be poached or persecuted, such as Blanding’s Turtle and Gray Ratsnake.

Partnerships / collaborations^{Footnote 6}:

Many conservation and recovery measures outlined in this plan will be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous communities and regional partners. Academic interest in TINP sites provides a consistent source of research that informs management and restoration efforts. Parks Canada will work to maintain existing partnerships and cultivate new ones related to conservation issues and research questions of mutual interest. Additionally, Parks Canada will continue to engage local communities, visitors, and volunteers to improve the ecological health of TINP sites and support the recovery of species at risk. The over 100,000 annual visitors, provides opportunities to connect with the public through direct involvement in species recovery and to draw upon citizen science and volunteers in resource conservation.

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)). Where the recovery strategy for a species states that the identification of critical habitat is not complete, a schedule of studies is included towards gathering additional information to complete the identification. Additional critical habitat can be identified in an amended recovery strategy or in an upcoming or amended action plan for the species.

Critical habitat was identified in TINP within recovery strategies for Blanding’s Turtle, Deerberry, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Gray Ratsnake, Golden-winged Warbler, Pale-bellied Frost Lichen, Pugnose Shiner and Western Chorus Frog. Where critical habitat identification is not complete, it will be identified in upcoming revised recovery strategies; refer to the schedule of studies in relevant recovery strategies for further details.

Critical habitat for Least Bittern was identified in TINP in the first (2016) MSAP and is outlined in section 4.1 below and will be included in future MSAP amendments to ensure continuity of legal protection. This amendment does not contain an identification of any additional critical habitat beyond what was identified in the 2016 MSAP.

4.1 Identification of critical habitat for the Least Bittern

4.1.1 Geographic location

Parts of two wetland complexes at Jones Creek and Grenadier Island are identified as critical habitat for the Least Bittern. These parts were identified using the methodology outlined in the 2014 recovery strategy and include all suitable habitat within 500m of suitable breeding records.

4.1.2 Biophysical attributes

The biophysical attributes of critical habitat for the Least Bittern are described in section 7.1.1 of the recovery strategy (Environment Canada, 2014). Critical habitat for Least Bittern occurs where the critical habitat criteria and methodology described in section 7.1 of the recovery strategy are met (Environment Canada, 2014).

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

Examples of activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat are described in section 7.3 of the Least Bittern recovery strategy (Environment Canada, 2014a).

4.2 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

Critical habitat identified in TINP within this action plan and in the recovery strategy for Least Bittern is legally protected from destruction as per section 58 of SARA. SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federally protected area^{Footnote 7} be described in the Canada Gazette within 90 days after the final 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) applies 90 days after the description of the critical habitat is published in the Canada Gazette. For critical habitat located on other federal lands (e.g., National Historic Sites), 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 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 Registry through the reports referred to in section 63 of SARA.

5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

The Species at Risk Act requires the competent minister to undertake an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation (s.49(1)(e)). This socio-economic assessment is narrow in scope, as it applies only to protected lands and waters in TINP which are often subject to fewer threats (e.g., industrial activities) compared to other areas because the lands are managed to maintain and restore ecological and commemorative integrity. Furthermore, this evaluation addresses only the incremental socio-economic costs and benefits of implementing the measures outlined in this action plan and does not include socio-economic impacts of existing activities or management regimes in those Parks Canada sites. It does not address total cumulative costs or benefits of species recovery in general nor does it attempt to conduct a full cost-benefit analysis as is done to support a regulatory initiative.

The protection and recovery of species at risk can result in both costs and benefits, which affect various groups of Canadian society in different ways. The proposed measures in this action plan seek a balanced approach to reduce or eliminate threats to species at risk populations and habitats. Potential socio-economic costs as well as the social and environmental benefits that may occur through implementation of this action plan are outlined below. Information for this summary was collected through cooperation and consultation, and focuses on the potential impact on Indigenous communities, adjacent residents and landowners, and other partners

5.1 Costs

The total incremental cost to implement the measures outlined in Appendix B will be borne by Parks Canada out of existing salaries and goods and services dollars that are integrated into the operational management of the site and thereby will not result in additional costs to society. Implementation of the measures in this plan are subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints. Measures outlined in Appendix C will only be implemented through partnerships or if additional resources become available to TINP and are not considered in this evaluation.

There are no anticipated costs to Indigenous communities, adjacent residents and landowners, or other partners associated with the recovery actions listed in Appendix B.

5.2 Benefits

Potential economic benefits of the conservation and recovery of species at risk at this site 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 species 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. Measures in this plan help to meet the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goal of protecting and recovering species and conserving Canadian biodiversity. It also contributes to the global goal of ensuring “biodiversity is sustainably used and managed and nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, are valued, maintained and enhanced, with those currently in decline being restored” (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2022).

The protected natural capital assets (forests, grasslands, wetlands, freshwater, coastal and marine areas) of national parks and national marine conservation areas provide a flow of ecosystem services (e.g.: climate regulation, provision of habitat, water supply and regulation) that benefit individuals and communities across Canada. Parks Canada works to sustain and improve the ecological condition of the national network of protected places. Efforts that improve species’ condition and their role in the ecosystem, such as recovery measures in this action plan, have an impact on the overall health of the ecosystem. For TINP, the potential annual value of ecosystem services has been estimated to range between $10 million and $72 million (medium value $41 million) (Mulrooney and Jones, 2023). Implementing the measures within this MSAP will contribute to sustaining the valuable flow of ecosystem services to Canadians.

Measures presented in this action plan will contribute to meeting recovery strategy objectives for threatened and endangered species and will also contribute to meeting management objectives for species of special concern. Recovery Strategies, Action Plans and Management Plans for SARA listed species are an integral part of species management aimed at species’ survival and recovery, maintaining biodiversity in Canada and conserving Canada’s natural heritage.

The measures outlined in this document are expected to have a positive impact on ecological integrity and enhance opportunities for appreciation of the park and the species by visitors and the public. The measures are also expected to have overall positive benefits to the environment and Canadians, such as positive impacts on biodiversity and the value individuals place on preserving biodiversity. Protecting rare species and removing invasive species provides additional benefits such as empowering local residents to conserve nature and preserve TINP’s exceptional biodiversity. For example, providing nest protectors to residents enables them to protect turtle nests on their properties or elsewhere within the region. This small but impactful measure enables caring, conservation-minded residents with the ability to help rare turtles. Additionally, providing partners with nest protectors and the expertise to host workshops and build their own in the future, empowers local groups to create landscape scale benefits for rare turtles.

TINP works closely with its Indigenous partners to identify culturally significant species and prioritize conservation actions for species at risk. Recovery actions in TINP, such as removing invasive species, will help preserve biodiversity and medicinal plants, including plants with few remaining populations in Canada. Partnering with the Mohawks of Akwesasne to create turtle nest protectors will help maintain turtles in the Akwesasne community, and hosting nest protector building workshops will engage additional community members to protect more turtles. Additionally, Black Ash is a culturally significant species for Indigenous partners and is disappearing from the landscape due to the invasive Emerald Ash Borer. Protecting groups of Black Ash trees in TINP has symbolic importance, but also affords TINP and Indigenous partners the opportunity to collect seeds and utilize those trees in the future.

6. Measuring progress

Reporting on implementation of the action plan (under section 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the measures listed in Appendix B and C. Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan will be done by assessing progress towards meeting site-based population and distribution objectives (Appendix A). Progress will be reviewed annually and an implementation report summarizing the results of this plan will be posted to the SAR Public Registry five years following publication as final.

7. References

Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative. 2023. The Right to Roam: A Strategy to Reconnect a Continental Wildlife Pathway in the Frontenac Arch. 116 pp.

Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph. 2015. DNA Barcode-based Assessment of Arthropod Diversity in Canada’s National Parks; Progress Report for Thousand Islands National Park. https://biobus.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CNP-2014-Progress-Report-Thousand-Islands.pdf (PDF)

Canadian Herpetological Society. 2019. Important Amphibian and Reptile Areas Nomination Form, Thousand Islands Ecosystem. https://canadianherpetology.ca/conservation/doc/IMPARA%20Nomination%20Form_Thousand%20Islands_Nov2020.pdf. (PDF, 636 kb) 19 pp.

Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy. 2004. Life on the Edge: The Cultural Landscape of the Thousand Islands Area. Thousand Islands Publishers Ltd.: Gananoque.

Convention on Biological Diversity. 2022. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-04-en.pdf (PDF, 351 kb)

Environment Canada. 2013. Management Plan for the Swamp Rose-mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iv + 18 pp.

Environment Canada. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 41 pp.

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen (Physconia subpallida) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. 22 pp. + Annexes.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018a. Recovery Strategy for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. viii + 59 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018b. Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/species-risk/pan-canadian-approach-transforming-species-risk-conservation-canada.pdf. (PDF, 558 kb) 12 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2020. Recovery Strategy for the Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), Carolinian and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence populations, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 3 parts, 47 pp. + vi + 23 pp. + 5 pp.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2024. Recovery Strategy for the Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. v + 85 pp.

KBA Canada. 2025. Key Biodiversity Areas in Canada. https://kbacanada.org/explore/map-viewer/

Kraus, T., B. Hutchinson, S. Thompson and K. Prior. 2010. Recovery Strategy for the Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) – Carolinian and Frontenac Axis populations in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. vi + 23 pp.

Mulrooney, D., and B. Jones. 2023. The Value of Natural Capital in Canada’s National Parks and National Marine Conservation Areas. 51 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2010. Recovery Strategy for Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. iv+ 15 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2016. Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park of Canada. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. V+ 30 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2021. Implementation Report: Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park of Canada (2016 - 2021). Species at Risk Act Action Plan Report Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. v + 19 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2022. Thousand Islands National Park Management Plan. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. xii + 27 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2024. Thousand Islands National Park Vernal Pool Mapping Project. Unpublished Report. 16 pp.

Snetsinger, M.A. 1997. Historic Land Use Study Synthesis Report. St. Lawrence Islands National Park. Unpublished Report.

Snetsinger, M.A. 2001. Assessment and Classification of St. Lawrence River Habitat in the FASTLINE Area: Analysis Pertaining to Fisheries and Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Unpublished Report.

St. Lawrence Islands National Park. 2009. A Framework for the Restoration of Pitch Pine. Unpublished Document. 60 pp.

Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for species at risk in Thousand Islands National Park

Footnotes

Footnote 1

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry.html

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Footnote 2

www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-act-accord-funding/protection-federal-provincial-territorial-accord.html

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Footnote 3

Parks Canada Agency. 2016. Multi-species Action Plan for Thousand Islands National Park of Canada. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. vi+ 30 pp.

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Footnote 4

Occurrence of the species is, or is thought to be, consistent in the park, e.g., it may migrate in and out of the park, but it returns on a regular basis.

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Footnote 5

Conservation Measures Partnership Conservation Actions Classification version 2.0 is an international standard designed to provide a simple, hierarchical, comprehensive, consistent, expandable, exclusive and scalable classification of all conservation actions.

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Footnote 6

The CMP actions classification title is Institutional Development. Here we have changed the title to better reflect Parks Canada’s approaches and relationships with partners.

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Footnote 7

SARA ss. 58(2) describes a federal protected area as a national park of Canada named and described in Schedule 1 to the Canada National Parks Act, the Rouge National Urban Park established by the Rouge National Urban Park Act, a marine protected area under the Oceans Act, a migratory bird sanctuary under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 or a national wildlife area under the Canada Wildlife Act.

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Footnote 8

National objectives as per the most recent version of relevant recovery documents found in References section.

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Footnote 9

Where population and distribution objectives have been established for TINP, monitoring is designed to directly measure success in achieving those goals.

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Footnote 10

Threats were classified using the CMP (Level 1 and 2) threats classification system, version 4.0.

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Footnote 11

Recovery Measures were classified using the CMP (level 1 and 2) action classification system, version 2.0.

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Footnote 12

Threats were classified using the CMP classification system, version 4.0.

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Footnote 13

Recovery Measures were classified using the CMP classification system, version 2.0.

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