Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia): recovery strategy 2025

Official title: Recovery Strategy for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in Canada

Species at Risk Act
Recovery Strategy Series
Adopted under Section 44 of SARA

2025

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Plan for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada

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^{Footnote 3}. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29)^{Footnote 4} (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened species and are required to report on progress within five years after the publication of the final document on the SAR Public Registry.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is the competent minister under SARA for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss and has prepared the federal component of this recovery strategy (Part 1), as per section 37 of SARA. To the extent possible, it has been prepared in cooperation with all relevant jurisdictions, wildlife management boards, indigenous organizations and others as per section 39(1) of SARA. SARA section 44 allows the competent minister to adopt all or part of an existing plan for the species if it meets the requirements under SARA for content (sub-sections 41(1) or (2)). The Province of British Columbia provided the attached recovery plan for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Part 2) as science advice to the jurisdictions responsible for managing the species in British Columbia. It was prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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 set out in this strategy and will not be achieved by Environment and Climate Change Canada or any other jurisdiction alone. All members of the public are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the species and society as a whole.

This recovery strategy will be followed by one or more action plans that will provide information on recovery measures to be taken by Environment and Climate Change Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations involved in the conservation of the species. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

The recovery strategy sets the strategic direction to support the recovery and/or survival of the species. It provides all persons in Canada with information to help take action on species conservation, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. Where available, critical habitat spatial data is found in the Critical Habitat for Species at Risk National Dataset^{Footnote 5}.

When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA provides a legal framework that enables the protection of that critical habitat.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species, including migratory birds, SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federal protected area, referred to in SARA ss. 58(2), 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. The 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 that are not a federal protected area, as in SARA ss. 58(2), the competent minister must make an order applying the ss. 58(1) prohibition against destruction of critical habitat if it is not already legally protected by a provision in, or measure under, SARA or any other Act of Parliament. If the competent minister does not make the order, a statement must be included on the Species at Risk Public Registry setting out how the critical habitat, or portions of it are legally protected on those federal lands.

If there are portions of critical habitat of a migratory bird to which the following applies:

1. habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies, and
2. not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone, or on the continental shelf of Canada, and
3. not within a migratory bird sanctuary

SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to prohibit destruction of critical habitat, if the competent minister forms the opinion that there are no provisions in, or measures under, SARA or other Acts of Parliament that legally protect them. If the competent minister does not make the recommendation, a statement must be included on the Public Registry setting out how those portions of critical habitat for the migratory bird are legally protected.

For any other part or portion of critical habitat located on non-federal lands (including the portions of critical habitat of a migratory bird that are not habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies), 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 apply the ss. 61(1) prohibition against 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.

Acknowledgements

Development of this recovery strategy was coordinated by Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC CWS) – Pacific Region staff: Cindy Bertrán Cerino and Kimberly Dohms. Emma Pascoe and Josiah Becker (ECCC CWS-National Capital Region) provided helpful editorial advice and comment. Danielle Yu (ECCC CWS-Pacific Region) provided additional assistance with critical habitat identification, mapping and figure preparation. Kella Sadler provided helpful expertise and advice on drafts of this document.

Additions and modifications to the adopted document

The following sections have been included to address specific requirements of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) that are not addressed in the Recovery Plan for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Segileria acutifolia) in British Columbia (Part 2 of this document, referred to henceforth as “the provincial recovery plan”) and/or to provide updated or additional information.

Under SARA, there are specific requirements and processes set out regarding the protection of critical habitat. Therefore, statements in the provincial recovery plan referring to protection of survival/recovery habitat may not directly correspond to federal requirements. Recovery measures dealing with the protection of habitat are adopted; however, whether these measures will result in protection of critical habitat under SARA will be assessed following publication of the final federal recovery strategy.

Recovery feasibility summary

Based on the following criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility, as described in the Species at Risk Policy on Recovery and Survival^{Footnote 6},it is considered to be biologically and technically feasible to recover the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss in Canada [Environment and Climate Change Canada 2021]).

1. Survival characteristics: Can survival characteristics be addressed to the extent that the species’ risk of extinction or extirpation as a result of human activity is reduced?

Yes: The Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is currently assessed as Endangered on the basis of the redundancy^{Footnote 7}key survival characteristic (linked with COSEWIC B2ab i,ii,iii,iv,v indicators) (COSEWIC 2018). The distribution of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is highly restricted in North America, where it is known from only two locations on western Vancouver Island BC, and one site in southeastern Alaska, USA. There is no historic population or distribution information for this species, however, it is not believed that this species was significantly more abundant/widespread (that is, present in more than two locations in Canada) prior to the results of human activity. Notwithstanding, there is an inferred decline in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations, and quality of habitat for the species in Canada due to past and ongoing human-caused threats of mining and quarrying, road maintenance, and logging and wood harvesting. Loss of connective habitat between locations is not considered to be relevant to recovery feasibility, as the distance between the two known locations is greater than the species would be expected to disperse. It is biologically and technically feasible to cease, mitigate, or avoid the primary human-caused threats at the two known locations of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss in Canada. In its recovered condition, the species should no longer meet the quantitative assessment for assessment as Endangered on the basis of B COSEWIC indicators. However, it is anticipated that this naturally precarious species will always meet the COSEWIC D2 assessment criteria for Threatened in its recovered condition, on the basis of small index area of occupancy (< 20 km²) and small number of locations (< 5).

2. Independence: Is the species currently able to persist in Canada independent of deliberate human interventions, and/or will it eventually be able to achieve and maintain independence in the state where condition (1) is met (that is, after the key survival characteristic(s) are addressed), such that it is not reliant on significant, direct, ongoing human intervention?

Yes: The species is considered to be extant and currently persisting independently at the two known locations in Canada. Significant, direct, ongoing human interventions such as population augmentation are not considered to be necessary, provided human-caused threats to redundancy are addressed.

3. Improvement: Can the species’ condition be improved over when it was assessed at risk?

Yes: It is biologically and technically feasible to meaningfully improve the condition of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss in Canada through addressing the redundancy key survival characteristic, as it pertains to results of human activity (that is, through ceasing, mitigating, or avoiding primary human-casued threats), such that the species’ risk of extinction or extirpation is reduced.

1. Population and distribution objectives

This section replaces “Section 5.1 Recovery (Population and Distribution) Goal” and “Section 5.2 Rationale for the Recovery (Population and Distribution) Goal”.

Population and distribution objective

To recover the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss in Canada by improving its redundancy, that is, to stabilize inferred declines in population (number of individuals) and distribution (extent of occurrence, and index area of occupancy), at all known sites in Canada, including any new sites that may be discovered.

Rationale

The distribution of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is highly restricted in Canada, where it is known from only two locations on western Vancouver Island, BC.There is no historic population or distribution information for this species, however, it is not believed that this species was significantly more abundant/widespread (that is, present in more than two locations in Canada) prior to the results of human activity (COSEWIC 2018).

The Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is currently assessed as Endangered on the basis of the redundancy key survival characteristic (linked with COSEWIC B2ab i,ii,iii,iv,v indicators) (COSEWIC 2018). There are inferred declines in (i) extent of occurrence (< 500 km²), (ii) index of area of occupancy, (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat, (iv) number of locations or subpopulations, and (v) number of mature individuals, as well as ongoing vulnerability to human-caused threats, at the two known locations (COSEWIC 2018).

The primary threats to the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss include impacts to habitat from quarrying, logging and roads. There are plans to quarry the marble deposit at the site near Wood Cove, where two-thirds of the known populations occur. Knowing that the estimated extent of occurrence of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is only 8 km² and the index of area of occupancy (IAO) is 8 km², if the quarry is mined in the future, it imminently threatens this subpopulation (COSEWIC 2018). Thus, there is an inferred decline in the area, extent and quality of habitat of occurrence due to planned quarrying. Planned quarrying is inferred to also reduce the index of area of occupancy and to cause decline in the number of locations of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (COSEWIC 2018).

Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss’s restricted distribution and small population compromises the species’ survival over long term due to an increase risk of catastrophic loss from a single, local event. For instance, there is a potential (inferred) reduction in the total number of known individuals if the quarrying of marble substrates at the Wood Cove proceeds. If the quarry is mined in the future, 50% of subpopulations or about ~62-66% of known individuals would be lost permanently (COSEWIC 2018).

The focus of the objective is on improving the redundancy (extent of occurrence, index of area of occupancy, number of locations) at extant sites through ceasing or mitigating human-caused threats, rather than attempting to deliberately increase population size via augmentation or restoration activities.

Recovery of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss will be achieved by ceasing, mitigating, or avoiding the primary human-caused threats at all known locations in Canada, such that the species persists at known locations, and declines in population (number of individuals) and distribution (extent of occurrence, and index area of occupancy) can no longer be inferred. In its recovered condition, the species should no longer meet the quantitative assessment criteria for assessment as Endangered on the basis of B COSEWIC indicators. However, it is anticipated that this naturally precarious species will always meet the COSEWIC D2 assessment criteria for Threatened in its recovered condition. Loss of connective habitat between locations is not considered to be relevant to recovery, as the distance between the two known locations is greater than the species would be expected to disperse.

2. Critical habitat

This section replaces the entirety of “Section 7: Species Survival and Recovery Habitat” in the provincial recovery plan.

Critical habitat is defined in SARA (Subsection 2(1)) as “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”. Section 41(1)(c) of SARA requires that recovery strategies include an identification of the species’ critical habitat, to the extent possible, as well as examples of activities that are likely to result in its destruction. A primary consideration in the identification of critical habitat is the amount, quality, and locations of habitat needed to achieve the population and distribution objectives.

Critical habitat for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is identified in this document to the extent possible and is considered sufficient to meet the population and distribution objectives. Therefore, a schedule of studies to identify critical habitat is not required. As responsible jurisdictions and/or other interested parties conduct research to address knowledge gaps, the existing critical habitat methodology and identification may be modified and/or refined to reflect new knowledge.

2.1 Identification of the species’ critical habitat

2.1.1 Biophysical attribute description

A description of the essential features and attributes of habitat for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss that are required to support its life history functions are provided in the provincial recovery plan (Part 2, Section 3.3). The geospatial areas containing critical habitat represent the minimum areas required to sustain both the suite of features that contribute to the broader site context (necessary to sustain the occurrence) as well as the very specific growing location(s). As such, within these geospatial polygons, the biophysical attributes of critical habitat include all natural features, including associated vegetation and substrates. Within these polygons, only unsuitable areas that do not possess any of the features and attributes required by Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss at any time are excluded from identification as critical habitat. Examples of these excluded areas include: any non-naturalized features such as roadways, trails, railways, gravel pits, as well as all non-forested or treeless areas and non-vertical limestone formations.

2.1.2 Information and methods used to identify critical habitat

The geospatial area containing critical habitat for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is based on the following additive components:

1. point occurrences, represented by individuals or colonies that were recorded within the last 25 years; and
2. an additional distance around each point to accommodate the potential location error associated with the occurrence (ranging from 15 m to 100 m uncertainty distance for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss occurrences); and
3. an additional 50 m distance (that is, critical function zone^{Footnote 8}) beyond the point location of each occurrence and the associated location error^{Footnote 9}, to support the production and maintenance of suitable microhabitat conditions required by Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss

2.1.3 Geospatial location of areas containing critical habitat

Critical habitat for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss is identified for the two known populations on western Vancouver Island in British Columbia:

• Kashutl Inlet (Figure 1)
• Kennedy Lake (Figure 2)

Figure 1. Critical habitat for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss at Kashutl Inlet, B.C. (EO1) is represented by the yellow shaded polygon (unit), except where unsuitable areas (as described in section 2.1.1) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid systems used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Figure 2. Critical habitat for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss at Kennedy Lake, B.C. (EO2) is represented by the yellow shaded polygon (unit), except where unsuitable areas (as described in section 2.1.1) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid systems used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat. Areas in green denote Provincial terrestrial protected or conserved areas.

2.2 Activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat

Understanding what constitutes destruction of critical habitat is necessary for the protection and management of critical habitat. Destruction is determined on a case‑by‑case basis. Destruction would result if part of the critical habitat were degraded, either permanently or temporarily, such that it would not serve its function when needed by the species. Destruction may result from a single or multiple activities at one point in time or from the cumulative effects of one or more activities over time. Activities described in Table 4 include those likely to cause destruction of critical habitat for the species; destructive activities are not limited to those listed.

3. Measuring progress

The provincial recovery plan contains a section on measuring progress, that is, “Section 8 Measuring Progress” that outlines performance measures toward achieving six recovery objectives that are set out in that plan (that is, Part 2, section 5.3). Environment and Climate Change Canada adopts this content, with the inclusion of the following performance measures toward achieving the population and distribution objectives (as stated in Section 1 of this document) and:

• the persistence of Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss has been maintained at all known extant sites, with no observed declines in colony sizes (total number of shoots) at extant sites as measured over five years of colony monitoring; and
• the quantity and quality of suitable habitat has been maintained within the areas containing critical habitat at Kashult Inlet and at Kennedy lake, such that declines in population and distribution can no longer be inferred at either of these sites

4. Statement on action plans

One or more action plans for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss will be posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry within 10 years of the posting of the final recovery strategy.

5. References

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2018. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia): COSEWIC assessment and status report 2018 - Canada.ca Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/acuteleaf-small-limestone-moss-2018.html#toc1 [Accessed January, 21 2022]

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. Species at risk policy on recovery and survival: final version 2021. Ottawa, ON. Species at Risk policy on survival and recovery: final version 2021 - Canada.ca Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/policies-guidelines/survival-recovery-2020.html

Appendix A: Effects on the environment and other species

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted for all SARA listed species , in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals ^{Footnote 10}  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^{Footnote 11}  (FSDS) goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies 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 strategy itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

The provincial recovery plan for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss contains a section describing the effects of recovery activities on other species (that is, Section 9). Environment and Climate Change Canada adopts this section of the provincial recovery plan as the statement on effects of recovery activities on the environment and other species.

Recovery planning activities for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss will be implemented with consideration for all co-occurring species at risk, including Marbled Murrelet, in order to avoid negative impacts to these co-occuring species or their habitats. Some management actions for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (for example, inventory and monitoring, threat mitigation, habitat conservation, education, and research) may promote the conservation of other species at risk that overlap in distribution and rely on similar coastal forest habitat attributes.

Part 2: Recovery plan for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in British Columbia, prepared by the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Prepared by B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

May 2021

Document information

About the British Columbia recovery series

This series presents recovery documents that are prepared as advice to the Province of British Columbia on the general approach required to recover species at risk. The Province prepares recovery documents to ensure coordinated conservation actions, and to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

What is recovery?

Species at risk recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species’ persistence in the wild.

What is a provincial recovery document?

Recovery documents summarize the best available scientific and traditional information of a species or ecosystem to identify goals, objectives, and strategic approaches that provide a coordinated direction for recovery. These documents outline what is and what is not known about a species or ecosystem, identify threats to the species or ecosystem, and explain what should be done to mitigate those threats, as well as provide information on habitat needed for recovery and survival of the species. The provincial approach is to summarize this information, along with guidance for implementation within a recovery plan. For a federally-led recovery planning processes, information is most often summarized in two or more documents that make up a recovery plan: a strategic recovery strategy, followed by one or more action plans used to guide implementation.

Information in provincial recovery documents may be adopted by Environment and Climate Change Canada for inclusion in federal recovery documents that federal agencies prepare, in order to meet their commitments to recover species at risk under the Species at Risk Act.

What’s next?

The Province of British Columbia accepts the information in these documents as advice to inform implementation of recovery measures, including decisions regarding measures to protect habitat for the species.

Success in the recovery of a species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this document. All British Columbians are encouraged to participate in these efforts.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in British Columbia, please visit the B.C. Recovery Planning webpage.

Recommended citation

B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. 2021. Recovery Plan for Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Victoria, BC. 19 pp.

Additional copies

Additional copies can be downloaded from the B.C. Recovery planning webpage.

Disclaimer

This recovery plan has been prepared by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy as advice to the responsible jurisdictions and organizations that may be involved in recovering the species. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has received this advice as part of fulfilling its commitments under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

This document identifies the recovery strategies and actions that are deemed necessary, based on the best available scientific and traditional information, to recover acuteleaf small limestone moss populations in British Columbia. Recovery actions to achieve the goals and objectives identified herein are subject to the priorities and budgetary constraints of participatory agencies and organizations. These goals, objectives, and recovery approaches may be modified in the future to accommodate new findings.

The responsible jurisdictions have had an opportunity to review this document. However, this document does not necessarily represent the official positions of the agencies or the personal views of all individuals on the recovery team.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this plan. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy encourages all British Columbians to participate in the recovery of acuteleaf small limestone moss.

Acknowledgements

This recovery plan was prepared by G. Karen Golinski, Collections Curator, University of British Columbia Herbarium. Funding for this document was provided by Environment Canada and Climate Change (ECCC). The following individuals participated in the threats assessment for the 2018 COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report: G. Karen Golinski and Richard Caners (COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report authors and Mosses and Lichens Specialist Subcommittee [M&L SSC] members), René Belland (M&L SSC co-chair), Dwayne Lepitzki (moderator and COSEWIC Molluscs SSC co-chair), Darwyn Coxson (M&L SSC member), Jennifer Doubt (M&L SSC member and COSEWIC member for Canadian Museum of Nature), Dave Fraser (COSEWIC member for British Columbia), Joe Carney (Molluscs SSC co-chair) and Angèle Cyr (COSEWIC Secretariat). Brenda Costanzo (B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change - ENV), Alanah Nasadyk (ENV), Ian Parnell (ECCC), Angela Barakat (ECCC), Megan Harrison (ECCC), Lindi Anderson (Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation [EMLI]), Christopher Minchuk (EMLI) provided review comments.

Executive summary

Acuteleaf small limestone moss (Seligeria acutifolia) was designated as Endangered in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2018. In North America the species is known from only two sites on western Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, and one site in southeastern Alaska, in the United States. The Canadian population grows on moist, slightly granular limestone outcrops beneath a high, coniferous forest canopy near sea level near the coast. Both Canadian subpopulations are located within the southern variant of the Very Wet Hypermaritime subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone (CWHvh1).

The species was listed as Endangered in Canada on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2021. In British Columbia, it is ranked S1 (Critically Imperiled) by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre and is on the provincial ‘Red List’. The two main threats to acuteleaf small limestone moss are quarrying and road maintenance. Logging will be a major threat if it occurs in the vicinity of the subpopulations.

The recovery goal for this species is to improve the resiliency of the extant subpopulations, as well as any additional subpopulations that are found, through management of human-caused threats in Canada.

The recovery objectives are as follows:

1. to recover acuteleaf small limestone moss in Canada by improving the resiliency of the extant subpopulations, as well as any additional subpopulations that are found, through management of human-caused threats
2. to conduct inventories of suitable habitat to discover additional subpopulations
3. to conduct scientific research to address gaps in knowledge of the biological requirements and habitat attributes of the species
4. to initiate a formal monitoring program to reliably document population trends
5. to raise awareness of acuteleaf small limestone moss; and
6. to increase capacity to conserve this species and other endangered bryophytes in British Columbia

Achieving the stated recovery objectives will require habitat protection and management, inventory, scientific research, monitoring, outreach, and education.

Recovery feasibility summary

Recovering acuteleaf small limestone moss is considered technically and biologically feasible based on the following four criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility:

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.

Yes. The Canadian population of acuteleaf small limestone moss produces sporophytes, and new plants become established as the limestone surfaces it occupies slowly erode.

2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.

Yes. Suitable habitat is available.

3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.

Yes. The threats of quarrying, road maintenance, and logging can all be mitigated.

4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.

Yes. The population and distribution objectives can be met by mitigating present and future threats.

1. COSEWIC* species assessment information

Assessment summary: April 2018

Common name^a: Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss

Scientific name^a: Seligeria acutifolia

Status: Endangered

Reason for designation: This minute, habitat-specific moss has a very restricted distribution in Canada, where it is known from only two sites on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is confined to limestone outcrops near sea level beneath a high, coniferous forest canopy in hypermaritime climatic regions near the coast. Primary threats include impacts to habitat from quarrying, logging, and roads. The site near Kennedy Lake is currently not expected to be harvested. However, plans to quarry the marble deposit at the site near Wood Cove, where two-thirds of the known Canadian population occurs, imminently threaten this subpopulation.

Occurrence: British Columbia

Status history: COSEWIC: Designated Endangered in April 2018

* COSEWIC = Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

^a Common and scientific names reported in this recovery plan follow the naming conventions of the B.C. Conservation Data Centre, which may be different from names reported by COSEWIC.

2. Species status information

Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss^a

Legal Designation

Forest and Range Practices Act:^b No

Oil and Gas Activities Act:^b No

B.C. Wildlife Act:^c No

Species at Risk Act:^d Schedule 1

Conservation Status^e

B.C. List: Red
B.C. Rank: S1 (2015)
National Rank^f: N1 (2016)
Global Rank: G3G5 (2000)

Other Subnational Ranks: N/A

^a Data source: Conservation Data Centre (2020) unless otherwise noted.

^b No = not listed in one of the categories of wildlife that requires special management attention to address the impacts of forestry and range activities on Crown land under Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA; Province of British Columbia 2002) and/or the impacts of oil and gas activities on Crown land under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA; Province of British Columbia 2008).

^c No = not designated as wildlife under the B.C. Wildlife Act (Province of British Columbia 1982).

^d Schedule 1 = found on the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under the SARA (Government of Canada 2002).

^e Red: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies that have, or are candidates for, Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in British Columbia. S = subnational; N = national; G = global; 1 = critically imperiled; 2 = imperiled; 3 = special concern, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4 = apparently secure; 5 = demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure; NA = not applicable.

^f Data source:Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (2016).

3. Species information

3.1 Species description

Acuteleaf small limestone moss (Seligeria acutifolia) is a delicate, light green-coloured moss. It is less than 3 mm in height, and its stiffly erect vegetative leaves are <1 mm in length. The leaves are broadly linear to lance-shaped, and taper from a broad base to a short awl-shaped tip. The midrib of the vegetative leaves reaches the tip of the leaf, but does not extend beyond it. The leaf margins are untoothed (Vitt 1976, 2007).

Characteristics that distinguish acuteleaf small limestone moss from closely related species include the long, clasping perichaetial leaves (that is, specialized leaves surrounding the archegonium—the female reproductive organ) which are at least twice as long as the vegetative leaves (Vitt 1976) and the straight, stout setae (stalks supporting the spore-filled capsules), which vary in length from 1 to 1.5 mm (Smith 1978; Vitt 2007). The capsules are about equal in length and width, and are widest at the mouth (Vitt 2007; Smith 1978). The peristome (ring of teeth inside the mouth of the capsule) consists of 16 well-developed smooth, red, triangular-to- trapezoidal teeth (Vitt 1976, 2007). The spherical, brownish spores range from 12 to 14 µm (micrometres) in diameter (Vitt 2007).

Figure 1 of part 2. Acuteleaf small limestone moss (Seligeria acutifolia) habit, leaves, and perichaetial leaves. (Flora of North America Association 2020)

3.2 Distribution, abundance, and population trends

In Canada, acuteleaf small limestone moss is known from two sites on western Vancouver Island, B.C. Elsewhere in North America it has been collected from one site in southeastern Alaska, and it is also known from multiple countries in the northern hemisphere.

The known Canadian population consists of two subpopulations: one near Wood Cove in Kashutl Inlet on northwestern Vancouver Island, and one near Kennedy Lake, near Tofino and Ucluelet on western Vancouver Island. The two subpopulations have not been monitored, therefore population trends are unknown. However, both subpopulations have persisted for at least 45 years (COSEWIC 2018).

^a Extant: occurrence has been recently verified as still existing (NatureServe 2002).

3.3 Habitat and biological needs of species Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss

Acuteleaf small limestone moss is a narrow habitat specialist. The two known subpopulations in B.C. occupy the moist vertical surfaces of slightly granular limestone outcrops, in sheltered habitats near sea level in coastal regions with a cool, wet climate and very high humidity (COSEWIC 2018). These subpopulations are located within the southern variant of the Very Wet Hypermaritime subzone of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone (CWHvh1). The limestone outcrops on which they occur are ‘pure’ to ‘highly pure’, and seem to be associated with undifferentiated Parson Bay and Quatsino formations, and possibly an undifferentiated Buttle Lake Group Formation (BCGS 2017), and the subpopulations are shaded by a tall canopy of mature coniferous trees (COSEWIC 2018). One of the subpopulations is close to a waterfall and the other is near a lake.

In Europe, the species occurs on soft calcareous sandstone bedrock and in caves (for example, Smith 1978; Dia and Hallingback 2005; Ellis et al. 2011).

Although the above attributes of the biophysical habitat of acuteleaf small limestone moss have been quantitatively described, neither the biological needs of the species nor its habitat—either in B.C. or elsewhere in its range—have been quantified through research and monitoring.

^a Function: a life-cycle process of the species (for example, growth, reproduction, dispersal).

^b Feature: the essential structural components of the habitat required by the species.

^c Attribute: the building blocks or measurable characteristics of a feature. Note: more information needs to be gathered to better quantify the essential attributes of the features for this species.

^d Note: many vertical limestone cliff faces have been surveyed for Seligeria acutifolia, and were not found to support the species. More information on the precise requirements of the species is needed to present a complete picture of its biophysical requirements.

3.4 Limiting factors

Limiting factors are generally not human-induced and include characteristics that make the species less likely to respond to recovery or conservation efforts (for example, small population size, genetic isolation).

The two known subpopulations of acuteleaf small limestone moss in Canada are small and highly isolated, and the niche breadth of the species is extremely narrow. In 2016, many capsules were observed in both subpopulations, and the spores were likely to be viable—because viable spores allow Seligeria to repeatedly colonize its slowly-eroding (crumbling) habitat (K. Hassel pers. comm. 2018). However, Vitt (1976) suggested that all species of Seligeria are limited by dispersal because the spores are thin-walled, delicate, and short-lived, and therefore unlikely to persist for long periods of time. The delicacy of the spores, coupled with an absence of nearby suitable habitat, likely limits potential range expansion.

As previously noted, this species is a narrow habitat specialist. Although calcareous bedrock is not uncommon in several areas of coastal B.C., the combination of habitat attributes it requires is rare.

4. Threats

Threats are defined as the proximate activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause in future the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of the entity being assessed (population, species, community, or ecosystem) in the area of interest (global, national, or subnational) (adapted from Salafsky et al. 2008). For purposes of threat assessment, only present and future threats are considered. Past threats may be recorded but are not used in the calculation of threat impact. Effects of past threats (if not continuing) are taken into consideration when determining long-term and/or short-term trend factors (Master et al. 2012). Historical threats, indirect or cumulative effects of the threats, or any other relevant information that would help understand the nature of the threats are presented in the Description of Threats section.

4.1 Threat assessment

The threat classification below is based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature - Conservation Measures Partnership (IUCN-CMP) unified Threats and Actions Classification system (Version 2.0). The IUCN-CMP Threats Classification system is consistent with methods used by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and adopts an international standard. For a detailed description see the Open Standards website (Open Standards 2016). Threats may be observed, inferred, or projected to occur in the near-term. Threats are characterized here in terms of scope, severity, and timing. Threat “impact” is calculated from scope and severity. For information on how the values are assigned, see NatureServe Conservation Status Assessments: Factors for Evaluating Species and Ecosystem Risk, Master et al. (2012) and table footnotes for details. Threats for acuteleaf small limestone moss were assessed for the entire province (Table 3 of part 2).

Note: a description of the threats included in this table is found in Section 4.2.

^a Threat numbers are provided for Level 1 threats (that is, whole numbers) and Level 2 threats (that is, numbers with decimals).

^b Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each threat is based on severity and scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population. The median rate of population reduction for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very high (75%), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%). Unknown: used when impact cannot be determined (for example, if values for either scope or severity are unknown); Not Calculated: impact not calculated as threat is outside the assessment time (for example, timing is insignificant/negligible [past threat] or low [possible threat in long term]); Negligible: when scope or severity is negligible; Not a Threat: when severity is scored as neutral or potential benefit.

^c Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. Usually measured as a proportion of the species’ population in the area of interest. (Pervasive = 71 to 100%; Large = 31 to 70%; Restricted = 11 to 30%; Small = 1 to 10%; Negligible = < 1%).

^d Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within a 10-year or 3-generation timeframe. For this species a generation time of 5–8years was used resulting in severity being scored over a 15 to 24 year timeframe. Severity is usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species’ population. (Extreme = 71 to 100%; Serious = 31 to 70%; Moderate = 11 to 30%; Slight = 1 to 10%; Negligible < 1%; Neutral or Potential Benefit > 0%).

^e Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or 3 generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

^f Refer to Table 1 of part 2 for a description of the populations; Figure 2 shows the distribution of these populations.

4.2 Description of threats

Threats to acuteleaf small limestone moss in Canada were assessed by COSEWIC (2018), and are described below. The overall Threat impact, which considers the cumulative impacts of multiple threats, is Very high.^{Footnote 12}   The greatest threat to the species is quarrying (Table 3 of part 2). Details are discussed below under the ‘Threat Level 1’ headings.

Threat 3. Energy production and mining

3.2 Mining and quarrying (impact high)

The most serious threat to acuteleaf small limestone moss is quarrying. The species grows exclusively on limestone bedrock, which is extremely vulnerable to physical damage and other forms of degradation (Harding and Ford 1993; Holt 2007; Stokes et al. 2010). If its substrate is destroyed or damaged, the subpopulations will be eliminated; Seligeria is not known to colonize mechanically-disturbed substrates, and transplanting as a means of mitigation is unknown.

The Kashutl Inlet subpopulation is situated amongst “high-calcium limestone beds” (Kikauka 2012) which are encompassed by two contiguous, active mineral claims (#504873 and #501945). Quarrying would destroy the subpopulation, and altering the surrounding ecosystem would impact the microclimate and water movement through the site. Survey flags and signs were observed during fieldwork in support of the COSEWIC status Assessment in 2016, and there have been significant expenditures on the site by the proponent ($25K in 2018, R. Pope, pers. comm. 2018). The mineral claims were transferred to W.E. Pfaffenberger of Fundamental Resource Corporation in November 2011, and will expire on June 18, 2024 (R. Pope, pers. comm. 2018).

There are no known mineral claims on the limestone deposit at Kennedy Lake.

Threat 4. Transportation and service corridors

4.1 Roads and railroads (impact high–medium)

The Kennedy Lake subpopulation of acuteleaf small limestone moss is located within 30 metres of West Road, a busy gravel logging road. Road maintenance activities such as grading or road widening would negatively impact the subpopulation if the rock outcrop was blasted, trees were removed, or the quantity of dust produced by road traffic was increased. The latter is discussed in more detail in the section 9.5 (airborne pollution), below.

Threat 5. Biological resource use

5.3 Logging and wood harvesting (impact not calculated - outside assessment timeframe)

As early as the mid-1990s, the vulnerability of acuteleaf small limestone moss at Kennedy Lake to the effects of logging was highlighted by Ryan (1996). Logging in the vicinity of the subpopulations would cause damage to the limestone substrates, which is known to cause subsurface features to collapse, and alter patterns of subsurface water flow. Disturbance and erosion of fine-textured soils has led to sedimentation and blockages of water systems (Holt 2007), and in areas with similar climate on northern Vancouver Island, logging of karst^{Footnote 13}   ecosystems, especially on steep slopes or when debris was burned, has caused severe losses of soil, moss, and litter (Harding and Ford 1993). It has been estimated that forests disturbed by logging will take centuries to become re-established (Harding and Ford 1993).

In addition to physical damage and impacts to water flow patterns, logging can be expected to alter the microclimate of the habitat. Both subpopulations of acuteleaf small limestone moss are situated beneath an intact canopy of mature coniferous trees, which moderates light, moisture, and temperature. Within less than 100 m of the Kennedy Lake subpopulation, exposed rock outcrops damaged by roadbuilding support a robust community of large mosses and liverworts which would easily outcompete the diminutive acuteleaf small limestone moss.

A 2012 forest cut block near the Kennedy Lake subpopulation may already have caused negative impacts, considering that edge effects^{Footnote 14}   on bryophyte communities caused by logging have been documented to occur in intact forests within 45 metres of harvested forests elsewhere on Vancouver Island (Baldwin and Bradfield 2005). Trees with flagging tape marked “cutline boundary” were observed at the base of rock outcrops a few hundred metres from the Kennedy Lake subpopulation of acuteleaf small limestone moss, although there were apparently no immediate plans by industry to remove trees in 2016 (Dave Fraser, pers. comm., 2016).

In 1999, the coniferous forest surrounding the ‘marble beds’ at Wood Cove was logged by helicopter (Kikauka 2012; Leo Jack, pers. comm., 2015). The effects on the subpopulation of acuteleaf small limestone moss are unknown.

Threat 6. Human intrusions and disturbance

6.3 Work and other activities (impact negligible)

If carefully planned and executed, future research and monitoring activities are expected to have minimal impacts on the Canadian population of acuteleaf small limestone moss.

Threat 9. Pollution

9.5 Airborne pollutants (impact unknown)

Vascular plants are negatively impacted by dust, which decreases photosynthetic activity, reduces growth, increases leaf necrosis, and promotes leaf senescence (Farmer 1993). The effects of dust on acuteleaf small limestone moss are unknown, but would likely lead to a similar photosynthetic activity decrease, nutrient availability increase, and warmer surface temperatures of the limestone substrates in winter as a result of dust-induced alterations to surface albedo. The Kennedy Lake subpopulation of acuteleaf small limestone moss is located within 30 metres of an active logging road, and the heavy vehicle traffic likely produces dust that would not otherwise be present.

Threat 11. Climate change and severe weather

11.2 Droughts (impact unknown)

Acuteleaf small limestone moss is known only from areas with a hypermaritime climate in North America, and all of the subpopulations are located near the ocean or a large lake. Changes to current precipitation regimes in Southern Very Wet Hypermaritime variant of the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone (CWHvh1) are forecast by ClimateBC (Wang et al. 2012), including an overall increase in annual precipitation, but with less rainfall occurring during summer months, and less precipitation falling as snow. These changes could subject the moss to climatic conditions outside its tolerance levels. In particular, increased rainfall during spring and autumn may subject the species to too much water flow, or cause the limestone outcrops to be wet for too long, whereas reduced rainfall in summer could cause it to be dry for too long. Either scenario could impact sporophyte production and spore viability.

5. Recovery goal and objectives

5.1 Recovery (population and distribution) goal

The recovery (population and distribution) goal for acuteleaf small limestone moss is to improve the resiliency of the extant subpopulations, as well as any additional subpopulations that are found, through management of human-caused threats.

5.2 Rationale for the recovery (population and distribution) goal

Acuteleaf small limestone moss was designated as Endangered on the basis of its small population size (two subpopulations in Canada; COSEWIC 2018), compromising the population's resiliency. Although there is no historic population or distribution information for acuteleaf small limestone moss, it is not believed that this species was significantly more abundant/widespread prior to the results of human activity, and so would remain assessed as Endangered even in a recovered state. However, it is possible to mitigate human-caused threats to its persistence, and thereby increase the size/resiliency of the two known extant subpopulations (as well as any others that may be discovered). The primary human-caused threat to this species is the risk of mining/quarrying of the high-quality limestone on which the species grows, and maintenance/expansion of an adjacent road.

5.3 Recovery objectives

The recovery objectives for acuteleaf small limestone moss are as follows:

1. to recover acuteleaf small limestone moss in Canada by improving the resiliency of the extant subpopulations, as well as any additional subpopulations that are found, through management of human-caused threats
2. to conduct inventories of suitable habitat to discover additional subpopulations
3. to conduct scientific research to address gaps in knowledge of the biological requirements and habitat attributes of the species
4. to initiate a formal monitoring program to reliably document population trends
5. to raise awareness of acuteleaf small limestone moss; and
6. to increase capacity to conserve this species and other endangered bryophytes in B.C.

6. Approaches to meet objectives

The following actions have been categorized according to the IUCN-CMP Actions Classification (2.0) System (CMP 2016). Status of the action for acuteleaf small limestone moss is given in parentheses.

6.1 Actions already completed or underway

The recovery process for acuteleaf small limestone moss is still in the preliminary stages. So far, the COSEWIC status report on acuteleaf small limestone moss has been completed and the species was designated as Endangered by COSEWIC in 2018.

6.2 Recovery action table

Actions are characterized in Table 6 of part 2 in terms of the objective, what actions have been identified to meet the objective, how actions can be measured, what threat or concern the action addresses, and the priority of the action [Essential = urgent and important, needs to start immediately; Necessary = important but not urgent, action can start in 2 to 5 years; or Beneficial = action is beneficial and could start at any time feasible].

Table 4 of part 2. Recovery actions for acuteleaf small limestone moss

B. Behavioural change/ threat reduction actions

C. Enabling condition actions

^a Action numbers according to the IUCN-CMP Actions Classifications 2.0.

^b Threat numbers according to the IUCN-CMP Threats Classifications 2.0.

^c Essential = urgent and important, needs to start immediately; Necessary = important but not urgent, action can start in 2 to5 years; or Beneficial = action is beneficial and could start at any time that was feasible.

^d Black rows denote “Level 0” hierarchical classifications of actions under the CMP Actions Classification. Under the classification system it is the highest level actions can be grouped into and creates a logical way of grouping related actions.

^e Note that including these actions in the standardized classification explicitly does not constitute an endorsement of these tactics.

6.3 Narrative to support recovery action table

Recommended actions have been categorized by the action groups of the IUCN-CMP Conservation Actions Classification.

6.3.1 Action 3: Awareness raising

Action 3.1: Outreach and communications

It will be beneficial to raise awareness of acuteleaf small limestone moss through public outreach. This can be accomplished by publishing blog posts, writing articles, giving public lectures, and similar efforts.

6.3.2 Action 6: Conservation Designation and Planning

Action 6.1: Protected area designation &/or acquisition

Both of the known subpopulations of acuteleaf small limestone moss are on provincial Crown land. It is essential to protect this species from “resource extraction” activities, including limestone quarrying, logging, and associated transportation infrastructure by formally designating the areas where it occurs as protected areas.

Action 6.4: Conservation planning

Developing a stewardship agreement to conserve this species from potential impacts of road maintenance activities in collaboration with the relevant land managers is essential to its conservation.

6.3.3 Action 8: Research and monitoring

Action 8.1: Basic research and status monitoring

Basic research and status monitoring are critical to conserving acuteleaf small limestone moss in B.C. The following activities are of highest priority and are considered to be essential to the recovery of the species:

• an inventory of sites with similar habitat characteristics to the known subpopulations on northern and western Vancouver Island to determine whether additional subpopulations exist
• mapping of suitable habitat
• research to determine viability and dispersal biology, and to identify potential barriers to reproduction and persistence of the population
• research to determine physiological tolerances
• modeling the effects of climate change; and
• monitoring to quantify population dynamics

All of these activities should commence immediately.

6.3.4 Action 9: Education and training

Action 9.1: Formal education

Teaching university students about this species and other bryophytes-at-risk will be beneficial for building support and long-term conservation capacity in the province and country.

Action 9.2: Training and individual capacity development

Presentations to the public that focus on bryophyte conservation, fieldtrips for botanists and other interested individuals, and hands-on workshops to teach practitioners how to identify small bryophytes associated with limestone will all benefit acuteleaf small limestone moss by raising awareness and knowledge of the species.

6.3.5 Action 10: Institutional development

Action 10.3: Alliance and partnership development

Alliance and partnership development which focuses on generating knowledge and coordinating conservation efforts will benefit the recovery of acuteleaf small limestone moss. The moss’ biology will be better understood, and its global status raised, by collaborating with bryologists from countries outside Canada where the species occurs to gain information and write a joint IUCN Red List Assessment. Collaborating with bryologists throughout Canada who work to conserve other COSEWIC-listed bryophytes will also benefit acuteleaf small limestone moss.

7. Species survival and recovery habitat

Survival/recovery habitat is defined as the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of the species. This is the area that the species naturally occurs, or depends on directly or indirectly to carry out its life-cycle processes, or formerly occurred on with the potential to be reintroduced.

7.1 Biophysical description of the species’ survival/recovery habitat

A description of the known biophysical features and their attributes of the species’ habitat that are required to support these life-cycle processes (functions) are provided in Section 3.3.

7.2 Spatial description of the species’ survival/recovery habitat

The area of survival/recovery habitat required for a species is guided by the amount of habitat needed to meet the recovery goal. Although no maps are included with this document, it is recommended that locations of survival/recovery habitat be described on the landscape to mitigate habitat threats, and to facilitate the actions for meeting the recovery (population and distribution) goals.

8. Measuring progress

The following performance measures provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the recovery (population and distribution) goal and recovery objectives. Performance measures are listed below for each objective, with the target of achieving each stated measurable within the stated timeframes, and are integrated into the Recovery Action Table in Section 6.2.

Measurables for objective 1

• All known subpopulations of acuteleaf small limestone moss will be protected and have stewardship agreements in place by 2026.

Measurables for objective 2

• Suitable habitats will have been searched for additional subpopulations by 2026.

Measurables for objective 3

• By 2026, scientific research to address gaps in our understanding of the biological requirements and habitat attributes of acuteleaf small limestone moss will be well underway.

Measurables for objective 4

• A formal monitoring program will have been established to gather usable baseline population data by 2026, and population data will have been gathered every second year from 2026 to 2032 to identify longer-term population trends.

Measurables for objective 5

• To raise awareness of acuteleaf small limestone moss, at least one blog post or other form of public communication will have been written by 2026; at least one outreach activity will have been offered to amateur and professional bryologists; and a collaborative international Red List assessment will have been published.

Measurables for objective 6

• To increase capacity to conserve this species and other endangered bryophytes in Canada this species will be incorporated into at least one university-level course as an example of bryophyte conservation.

9. Effects on other species

No provincially or federally listed species or communities-at-risk were identified in the vicinity of the two subpopulations of acuteleaf small limestone moss by the BC CDC’s imap tool. Furthermore, planned recovery activities are not anticipated to negatively impact non-target species or communities, ecological processes, land, air, or water.

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Personal communications

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