Eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) recovery strategy: chapter 10

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10. Habitat Conservation

Native Canadian Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus populations are presently contained entirely within protected areas: Point Pelee National Park, managed by Parks Canada, and Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve, managed by Ontario Parks. The critical habitat of the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus in Point Pelee National Park will be protected by subsection 58(1) of SARA, 90 days after the description of critical habitat, as identified in the recovery strategy, is published in the Canada Gazette. The prohibition of this section provides additional protection to that already afforded and available under the Canada National Parks Act (S.C. 2000, c. 32) and its regulations. Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus and its habitat at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Pelee Island in the Township of Pelee receive protection from section 9 and 10 of Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007 as well as the Ontario Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (S.O. 2006, c. 12). Land managers of these protected areas will identify and use the tools available to protect the habitat of this species. For more information regarding protection measures, please see the Protection Statement on the Species at Risk Public Registry that will be posted.

The majority of potential habitat available for recovery is also located within these two protected areas. Rondeau Provincial Park, also managed by Ontario Parks, currently protects cactus transplanted from Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve. This site is afforded the same legal protection under the Ontario Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, not the Endangered Species Act, 2007 as this population is not listed.