Response to the Species at Risk Act ministerial roundtable 2019 recommendations
Roundtable on the Species at Risk Act
On April 11, 2019, the ministerial roundtable on the Species at Risk Act was convened by the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO), and Parliamentary Secretary Sean Fraser, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC).
Participants included representatives from the Species at Risk Advisory Committee (SARAC), the National Advisory Council on Species at Risk (NACOSAR), and the First Nations Advisory Committee on Species at Risk (FNACSAR). Following the roundtable, participants submitted written recommendations to Minister Catherine McKenna and Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.
Species at Risk Act context:
The broad purposes of SARA are to prevent wildlife species in Canada from becoming extinct or extirpated, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are at risk, and to manage species of special concern from becoming endangered or threatened. ECCC is committed to working in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples and key stakeholders (including industry and non-governmental organizations) in achieving these objectives.
The ministerial roundtable was held pursuant to section 127 (1) of SARA which requires the Minister of the Environment to convene a roundtable of participants with an interest in the protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada at least once every two years.
Section 127 (2) of SARA requires that any written recommendations from the roundtable be included in the public registry. As such, the recommendations received by ECCC and DFO from SARAC, NACOSAR, and FNACSAR can be found on the Species at Risk Public Registry.
This Ministerial response to the recommendations must also be posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry pursuant to Section 127 (3) of the SARA. This section requires the Minister to respond to any written recommendations from the roundtable within 180 days after receiving the recommendations and providing the response on the public registry.
Overview of the SARA ministerial roundtable and resulting recommendations
Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Parliamentary Secretary Sean Fraser, on behalf of Minister Catherine McKenna, are pleased to have convened the SARAC, NACOSAR and FNACSAR for a comprehensive discussion on the future of conserving species at risk in Canada. The joint participation of all three advisory bodies in the discussion demonstrated the importance of collaboration and partnership in advancing the shared goals of managing, recovering, and protecting species at risk.
Minister Catherine McKenna and Minister Jonathan Wilkinson recognize that many of the recommendations proposed by the SARAC, NACOSAR and FNACSAR address similar interests and objectives that, in the spirit of the joint and collaborative nature of the roundtable, can be responded to on the basis of five shared outcomes. Under each of the shared outcomes below, the relevant recommendations received from each advisory body have been summarized.
Roundtable recommendations
The recommendations of the roundtable participants fall under five key outcomes:
- improve national coordination through accountable mechanisms
- advance the conservation leadership of First Nations, Métis and Inuit
- increase integration of federal departments and agencies
- support the participation of partners in the management of species at risk; and
- ensure effective and accountable approaches to reverse species declines
Outcome 1: Improve national coordination through accountable mechanisms
Relevant advisory body recommendations
All advisory bodies agree that federal, provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous-governing bodies must enhance coordination and cooperation to address the jurisdictional challenges and complexities associated with the management, recovery and protection of species at risk. The Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) has been identified as an important forum, originally intended to ensure multi-jurisdictional cooperation in order to coordinate national activities. In addition, the advisory bodies are calling for recognizing their relationships with appropriate and future federal, provincial and territorial bodies to enhance deliberations on areas of shared interests.
Ministerial response
The conservation of species at risk is a shared responsibility between provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and it also requires cooperation with many stakeholders. ECCC, DFO and Parks Canada Agency (PCA) agree that greater coordination and cooperation between provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and other stakeholders will be essential in protecting and recovering species at risk. This is particularly important as we implement the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada. This approach will require cooperation at the national, regional and local levels to develop and implement conservation actions.
ECCC will continue to work closely with provincial and territorial governments on stewardship, recovery and protection initiatives, as well as through intergovernmental fora (such as the Ministers’ Responsible for Conservation, Wildlife and Biodiversity). We will also work with individual provinces and territories as appropriate for conservation actions focused on priority species, places and threats.
Outcome 2: Advance the conservation leadership of First Nations, Métis and Inuit
Relevant advisory body recommendations
All the advisory bodies agree that Indigenous peoples play an essential role in the responsible management and protection of species at risk in all aspects of the application, implementation and related decision-making of SARA. To advance the participation of Indigenous peoples in SARA related activities, the FNACSAR and NACOSAR call for increasing the use of stewardship tools, such as Conservation Agreements and other arrangements under Sections 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the act. This aligns with SARAC’s advice to improve the incentives for partners to enter into such arrangements. The NACOSAR also calls for improving the understanding of SARA and of the use of best practices and innovative conservation approaches amongst Indigenous peoples through activities such as workshops, webinar trainings, networking events and gatherings. In addition, the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas are identified as important opportunities to ensure Indigenous peoples occupy leadership roles in species and habitat protection, conservation, management and recovery.
Ministerial response
The Government of Canada is committed to building renewed, nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, and government-to-government relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. As part of this, ECCC, DFO and the Parks Canada Agency (PCA) recognize the importance of working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to support their leadership in the conservation of species at risk.
ECCC, DFO and PCA also recognize that advancing the "stewardship first" approach must involve the participation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Conservation Agreements and other stewardship tools are important mechanisms for ensuring Indigenous peoples have the resources to play a leading role in the responsible management and protection of species at risk.
The Canada Nature Fund has increased funding to support Indigenous communities who are interested in conservation actions. This increase in funding will provide resources for communities to lead on the development and implementation of species at risk recovery and protection measures based on their own priorities, knowledge, and the exercise of their Aboriginal and treaty rights. ECCC, DFO and PCA look forward to continuing to support Indigenous peoples interested in using tools to conserve species in a manner that respects their unique rights and interests. ECCC, DFO and PCA are interested in further exploring with relevant advisory bodies other approaches and opportunities that could advance the participation and understanding of Indigenous peoples in activities related to SARA.
ECCC is also supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in their stewardship roles through the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program. The Pilot Program recognizes the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous peoples to the land, waters and ice of their traditional territories and advances Indigenous-led initiatives including protecting sensitive areas and wildlife species, and environmental monitoring activities.
ECCC recognizes that Indigenous protected areas are important for renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples, while also protecting species at risk and enhancing biological diversity. Announced in budget 2018, the Government of Canada has advanced alternative governance models under the Nature Legacy to develop collaborative opportunities for ensuring the relationships between Indigenous peoples and the environment are maintained for present and future generations.
Outcome 3: Increase integration across the Government of Canada in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act
Relevant advisory body recommendations
The SARAC and FNACSAR have recommended that increased integration of activities across the federal government affecting species at risk and their habitats would support more effective policy decisions and reduce negative impacts on Canada’s biological diversity. In particular, the FNACSAR recommends that applying SARA as a tool in the policy development processes across government would support initiatives focused on preventative actions and proactive management rather than crisis management. This will require the inclusion of federal departments and agencies whose fields of work have direct and, or, indirect impacts on species at risk and their habitats. To support these cross-cutting discussions, the SARAC also calls on DFO to establish a working group targeting aquatic species at risk issues.
Ministerial response
The management, recovery and protection of species at risk requires close collaboration across the Government of Canada. Many federal departments and agencies participate directly in the development and implementation of conservation measures, while others work to ensure their activities are consistent with the purposes of SARA. ECCC is committed to advancing cooperation amongst the competent ministers under the SARA and improving the coordination of relevant government initiatives across departments and agencies to implement SARA.
ECCC, DFO and PCA continue to develop and implement policies and standard operating procedures to improve the coordination and the integration of governmental activities. This will support more clearly defined roles of participating departments and agencies, as well as transparent processes that can advance the implementation of preventative actions and proactive species at risk management. ECCC, DFO and PCA recognizes the important roles of the SARAC, NACOSAR, and FNACSAR to provide advice on the development of SARA policies and associated activities.
DFO has initiated the creation of an Aquatic Species at Risk Working Group for which planning and priority setting will be required. The working group will take SARA into consideration, along with the intersections with other federal acts, and the work of existing SARAC working groups. Members from SARAC, NACOSAR and FNACSAR will participate in a preliminary discussion to scope out intended and tangible working group outcomes. Direct collaboration and policy coherence will be key in avoiding duplication of effort within and amongst Federal departments and our external partners.
Outcome 4: Support the participation of partners in the management of species at risk
Relevant advisory body recommendations
The meaningful and effective participation of partners in the management, recovery and protection of species at risk - including Indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations and industry - requires appropriate access to information and data sharing. This can increase process efficiencies and decrease costs for partners to participate in conservation initiatives. The SARAC recognizes the work of DFO for supporting information sharing on aquatic species and calls on ECCC to eliminate hurdles to accessing and uploading data on terrestrial species at risk. In addition, the NACOSAR calls for new mechanisms for improving communications, information sharing and meaningful engagement with and amongst Indigenous peoples. This is aligned with the recommendations from FNACSAR and SARAC to advance the respectful and critical application of Indigenous Knowledge in Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
Ministerial response
The meaningful and effective participation of partners in the management of species at risk - including Indigenous peoples, industry and non-governmental organizations - is important for managing, recovering and protecting species at risk in Canada. ECCC, DFO and PCA are committed to considering, and as appropriate, sharing the best available data to support partners who are participating in the conservation of species at risk. ECCC acknowledges the challenges with sharing data on terrestrial species at risk and would be interested in exploring with relevant advisory bodies how new mechanisms could be developed and implemented to support more effective partnerships. ECCC is encouraged by the work being undertaken by the SARAC Knowledge Plan Working Group with respect to online data and information sharing, and is interested in exploring appropriate opportunities for advancing the use of information and data, including Indigenous Traditional Knowledge. This could include establishing an online learning program, working with Indigenous organizations, governments and communities to exchange information related to species at risk and the implementation of SARA, and identifying other opportunities to build capacity of all partners in conservation.
Outcome 5: Ensure effective and accountable approaches to reverse species declines
Relevant advisory body recommendations
All the advisory bodies agree that there are important opportunities for transforming approaches to species at risk conservation in Canada and have been working to clarify their strategic goals and priorities. The NACOSAR seeks to focus on socio-economic analysis models that accurately assess and assign value to impacts on Indigenous peoples and exploring compensation issues under section 64.2 of SARA. The SARAC calls on the government to evaluate existing frameworks in other jurisdictions aimed at prioritizing and implementing recovery actions, to better integrate provincial and territorial regulatory approaches, and to support efforts that are most effective at recovering species at risk. SARAC also calls on the federal government to provide clarity on the approaches for using conservation and stewardship agreements. Finally, the SARAC calls on the government to undertake a public accounting of the $1.3 billion investment made in the 2018 budget with explicit descriptions of how much funding has been allocated to protect nature and species at risk.
Ministerial response
ECCC, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, has agreed to the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada. The new approach will shift conservation approaches to focus on multiple terrestrial species and ecosystems through a strengthened evidence-base for decision-making and aligned investments across governments. Critical to the success of the Pan-Canadian Approach is monitoring and reporting on the results of conservation initiatives. This will improve the effectiveness of future activities and ensure a return on our investments through increased co-benefits for biodiversity and ecosystems. As this approach is implemented, ECCC, DFO and PCA are interested in exploring with relevant advisory bodies how tools, such as those being utilized in other jurisdictions, could be adapted to the Canadian conservation framework.
The Government of Canada intends to report on the Nature Legacy Initiative, with ECCC leading the coordination of 2018-19 reporting information, which will be included as a horizontal initiative to their Departmental Results Report (DRR). The Nature Legacy Initiative reporting information will be shared publicly as a supplementary table to ECCC’s 2018-19 DRR and the table will include both financial and performance information from ECCC, DFO, PCA, and Natural Resources Canada.