Species at Risk Act: information note for landowners

Landowners have been stewards of the land for generations and are instrumental in preserving our natural heritage. The following information will help you, as a private landowner, to:

• understand your responsibilities under the Act
• determine if species at risk are found on your property
• take action to comply with the Act; and
• protect species at risk and their habitat

For additional information on SARA, please contact us directly.

How does SARA protect species at risk on private land

To ensure the protection of species at risk, SARA contains prohibitions that make it an offence to:

• kill, harm, harass, capture, or take an individual of a species listed in Schedule 1 of SARA as endangered, threatened or extirpated
• possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual of a species listed in Schedule 1 of SARA as endangered, threatened or extirpated
• damage or destroy the residence (e.g. nest or den) of one or more individuals of a species listed in Schedule 1 of SARA as endangered, threatened or extirpated, if a recovery strategy has recommended the reintroduction of that extirpated species

On private land, these prohibitions apply only to:

• aquatic species listed as endangered, threatened or extirpated in Schedule 1 of SARA; and
• migratory birds listed in the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and also listed as endangered, threatened or extirpated in Schedule 1 of SARA

In some circumstances the prohibitions could also be applied, through an order, to other species listed as endangered, threatened or extirpated in Schedule 1 of SARA when found on private land if provincial / territorial legislation or voluntary measures do not adequately protect the species and its residence. Public consultation would first be sought in accordance with normal federal government regulatory procedure.

Please note:

• while Schedule 1 lists endangered, threatened and extirpated species as well as species of special concern, the prohibitions do not apply to species of special concern
• species at risk in Canada may also be protected by provincial or territorial laws; consult the appropriate authorities for information on the requirements in your province or territory.

What is critical habitat and how is it protected on private land

Critical habitat is the habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed endangered, threatened or extirpated species (if a recovery strategy has recommended the reintroduction of that extirpated species). Critical habitat will be identified in the recovery strategy or action plan for each listed species and posted on the SARA Public Registry. The development of these strategies and plans is a collaborative process which, to the extent possible, will involve consultations with people who a SARA competent minister considers to be directly affected by the strategy or plan.

SARA recognizes that protecting the habitat of species at risk is key to their conservation. The intent of SARA is to protect critical habitat as much as possible through voluntary actions and stewardship measures. If these measures are unable to protect the critical habitat, prohibitions against the destruction of that particular critical habitat may come into play.

On private land, SARA requires that the critical habitat of aquatic species be protected within six months after it has been identified in a finalised SARA recovery strategy or action plan. SARA contains a prohibition against destroying any part of critical habitat, but also provides other options for protection. Critical habitat of these species must be protected by one of the following methods: the application of the SARA prohibition by ministerial order; other legal means under SARA such as a conservation agreement; or by other federal legislation.

For other, non-aquatic species found on private land, SARA sets out a variety of ways critical habitat is to be protected. In most situations, provincial laws will provide protection for critical habitat. Alternatively, the SARA prohibition can be applied by an order from the Governor in Council, or other provisions in, or measures under, federal legislation (including SARA) can be used. The Federal Government Regulatory Policy contains a commitment to consult the public on orders from the Governor in Council. SARA also sets out how critical habitat in a number of other specific cases, such as critical habitat found on private land which is located within a Migratory Bird Sanctuary, is to be protected.

Are there any exceptions to the prohibitions

SARA includes a number of exceptions in a variety of circumstances. For example, the prohibitions do not apply to persons who possess a species, or any part of a species, listed as endangered, threatened or extirpated if it was in their possession before the species was added to Schedule 1 of the SARA.

Can I apply for a permit under SARA

Yes. Under SARA, permits may be issued or agreements may be entered into to authorize certain activities that would otherwise contravene the general or critical habitat prohibitions, if certain conditions are met. These authorizations are sometimes called "Section 73 Permits", referring to the section of the Act that deals with authorizations.

The SARA Public Registry has information on how to apply for a permit.

How can I find out if there could be species at risk on my land

There are a number of resources that may be able to assist you in finding out whether species at risk, their residences or critical habitat might be the present on your land:

• The SARA Public Registry Advanced Search tool allows you to search for species listed under SARA
• The Species at Risk Public Registry offers general biological information about species at risk in Canada, including their distribution and habitat requirements
• Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) regional offices can access databanks on species at risk found on federal lands; if your land is near federal land, CWS may be able to assist you
• NatureServe Canada provides links to the Conservation Data Centers, which in some cases offer the possibility to search for the occurrence of species at risk in particular areas of the province / territory; and
• Parks Canada maintains a national database of species found in the areas it administers; if your land is near an area administered by Parks Canada, this park or other area may have information that could help you
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada maintains databanks on aquatic species at risk and can also assist you in correctly interpreting information from other databanks

Keep in mind that while a species may be found within a certain geographical range, the species may not be present on your particular property because the habitat may not be suitable.

If your land has potential habitat or previous occurrences of species at risk, it is recommended that you perform an inventory on the property. Taking stock of rare species is a complex task, however, and should be conducted by specialists. You may be able to work in partnership with a conservation organization in your area.

Please notify your Canadian Wildlife Service regional office of any new information regarding species at risk on your property. This information is highly valuable to recovery teams.

What steps can I take to comply with the Act

Once you have determined that species to which the prohibitions apply when found on private land may live on or pass through your land or if their residences or their critical habitat may exist on your property, you should:

• ensure that activities (including construction, renovations, and/or landscaping) carried out on your land do not contravene the prohibitions of SARA
• apply for a permit in advance if you would like to undertake an activity that could contravene a SARA prohibition; and
• keep up-to-date by consulting the Public Registry regularly for:
  • newly listed species and other changes to SARA Schedule 1
  • newly identified critical habitats in recovery strategies and action plans; and
  • new orders affecting species, residences and habitats

How else can I help conserve species at risk

All Canadians share the challenge of protecting and recovering species at risk. If you have a species at risk on your land, your current land use practices may already be compatible with the species' needs. There may be additional steps you can take:

• continue to protect all wildlife species, their residences and habitats on your land
• participate in habitat protection and management activities through the Habitat Stewardship Program
• pass along information about the Species at Risk Act and the Habitat Stewardship Program to your family, friends and neighbours; and
• participate in public consultations

How can I report crimes against federally protected species?

In June 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association signed an important memorandum of understanding that will lead to better detection and reporting of crimes against federally protected wildlife.

People who have information about wildlife and environmental crime will now be able to report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-222-8477.

This collaboration with Crime Stoppers will support the conservation of wild species and help ensure the law-abiding citizens who depend on wildlife for enjoyment, recreation, and their livelihoods will have the opportunity to do so for generations to come.

For additional information on SARA and how you can help protect species at risk, please contact us directly.