Species at risk public registry
On March 31, 2022, the Government of Canada introduced Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization. The Bill proposes amendments to 29 statutes, including targeted amendments to the Species at Risk Act (SARA) that would clarify certain requirements and remove those that are outdated. For more information, see: Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization.
In this registry you will find documents relating to the administration of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The act is part of Canada’s strategy to protect hundreds of wild plants and animal species from becoming extinct, and to help in their recovery. Please visit the species at risk sub-topic page to read more about species at risk and the act, the accord and the funding program, and visit our education centre. Help with navigating the Species at Risk Public Registry.
Species
Species
Search species list by range, taxonomy group, risk category or schedule.
Schedule 1 - List of wildlife species at Risk
Access the official lists of wildlife species at risk (schedules 1, 2 and 3).
Species listing process under the Species at Risk Act
Measures to Protect Listed Wildlife Species
Species at Risk Act (SARA) instruments
The following sections provide information relating to SARA instruments and the implementation of the Act.
- Regulations
- Orders
- Permits and agreements
- Policies and guidelines
- Round table reports and Minister's response
- Environmental Assessment Best Practice Guide for Wildlife at Risk in Canada
- Species at Risk Program: Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework and Risk-Based Audit Framework
Parliamentary review
Section 129 of the Species at Risk Act requires Parliament to review the Act five years after that section comes into force.
Status reports
Status reports
Recovery
Recovery strategies
A recovery strategy is a planning document that identifies what needs to be done to stop or reverse the decline of a species.
Action plans
Action plans identify the measures to take to implement the recovery strategy for threatened, endangered and extirpated species.
Management plans
Management plans include measures for the conservation of species of special concern and their habitat.
Residence descriptions / rationales
Residence descriptions and rationales describe the dwelling-place such as a den, nest or other similar area or place that is occupied by a species.
Critical habitat orders, reports and statements
Documents on the identification and protection of habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a species.
List of recovery team chairs
Recovery team chairs, alphabetically listed by species.
Recovery guidance handbook (ROMAN) [archived]
Current best practices for recovery.
Saving the wild; an opportunity to participate in species at risk recovery in Canada
This publication celebrates the tens of thousands of Canadians from all walks of life who are striving to save the wild in Canada.
Identification of critical habitat
Critical habitat identification toolbox
Under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), critical habitat (CH) is the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of listed extirpated, endangered, or threatened species, and that is identified as CH in a recovery strategy or action plan. This CH Identification Toolbox is intended to be used by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recovery practitioners and those who work with ECCC in the development of recovery documents where CH identification is required.
ECCC invites you to familiarize yourself with the process by which ECCC identifies critical habitat for endangered and threatened species.
Recovery document posting plans
Documents detailing multi-year plans for posting recovery documents by Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Permits
Permits
A permit may be required to conduct an activity that could affect a species listed under SARA, or its habitat.
Find a document
Find a document
A requirement of SARA is the establishment of this registry for the purpose of providing easy access to documents relating to matters under the act.
In addition to the documents listed in the previous tabs, this registry contains thousands of documents in 40 categories.
Latest publications and news
Publications
April 2024
- 2024-04-11 Survey to assess Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s aquatic species at risk public outreach activities
- 2024-04-05 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Rocky Mountain Sculpin, Eastslope populations, (Cottus sp.) in Canada for the Period 2012 to 2019
March 2024
- 2024-03-28 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Oregon Forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-03-15 Brassy Minnow (Missouri population): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-03-15 Brassy Minnow (Pacific population): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-03-15 Brassy Minnow (Western Arctic population): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-03-15 COSEWIC List of wildlife species assessed (including October 2023)
- 2024-03-14 Recovery Strategy for the Broad-banded Forestsnail (Allogona profunda) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-03-14 Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Banded Tigersnail (Anguispira kochi kochi) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-03-14 Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for the Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) in Canada for the Period 2017 to 2022
- 2024-03-07 Management Plan for the Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) in Canada [Final version]
February 2024
- 2024-02-29 Recovery Strategy for the Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-02-28 Critical Habitat of the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) Nechako River Population Order
- 2024-02-22 Action Plan for the White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in Canada
- 2024-02-21 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) in Canada (2018 to 2022)
- 2024-02-20 Recovery Strategy for White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in Atlantic Canadian Waters [Proposed]
- 2024-02-19 Recovery Strategy for the Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus) in Canada [Proposed]
- 2024-02-14 Eastern Sand Darter (Quebec population): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-02-08 Recovery Strategy and Action Plan for the Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) in Canada
- 2024-02-05 Six Pacific salmon designatable units (DUs): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act
- 2024-02-02 Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Northern Riffleshell, Snuffbox, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel, and Rayed Bean in Canada for the Period 2012 to 2019
News
2024
- 2024-03-12 Canada and Ontario commit to significant collaboration on shared nature conservation goals
- 2024-03-11 Governments of Canada and Ontario join together to announce funding and collaboration for conservation areas in Ontario
- 2024-03-04 Empowering key regional environmental groups to protect habitats and species at risk in Quebec and across Canada
- 2024-03-04 List of 56 Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk projects 2023–2024
- 2024-02-14 Government of Canada invests $3 million in citizen science and open data for birds and biodiversity
- 2024-01-31 Forty-two Indigenous-led conservation projects across Canada receive federal funding to protect more nature
2022
Consultations
Consultations
Note: A new online commenting feature is available for all stakeholders wishing to send comments on proposed regulations published in the Canada Gazette.
Search current and past public consultations.
Consulting with Canadians website.
E-mail newsletter
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