A photo of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus.

The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is a perennial, low-spreading cactus that has rounded and flat green stems measuring five to 12 cm in length with clusters of barbed bristles. It produces large yellow flowers that have red centres and which bloom in June.

Protecting and recovering species at risk in Ontario

Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting Ontario’s biodiversity. Biodiversity – the variety of living organisms on Earth – provides us with clean air and water, food, fibre, medicine and other resources that we need to survive.

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is the Government of Ontario’s legislative commitment to protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats. As soon as a species is listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened under the ESA, it is automatically protected from harm or harassment. Also, immediately upon listing, the habitats of endangered and threatened species are protected from damage or destruction.

Under the ESA, the Ministry of Natural Resources (the Ministry) must ensure that a recovery strategy is prepared for each species that is listed as endangered or threatened. A recovery strategy provides science-based advice to government on what is required to achieve recovery of a species.

Government response statements

Within nine months after a recovery strategy is prepared, the ESA requires the Ministry to publish a statement summarizing the government’s intended actions and priorities in response to the recovery strategy. The recovery strategy for Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) was completed on January 11, 2013.

The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. All recommendations provided in the recovery strategy were considered and this response statement identifies those that are considered to be appropriate and necessary for the protection and recovery of the species. In addition to the strategy, the response statement is based on input from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. It reflects the best available traditional, local and scientific knowledge at this time and may be adapted if new information becomes available. In implementing the actions in the response statement, the ESA allows the Ministry to determine what is feasible, taking into account social and economic factors.

Moving forward to protect and recover Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus

The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Pelee Island is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the plant and its habitat. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species and damage or destruction of their habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met.

The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus inhabits sandy areas and is most common in the United States. Its range extends from the Gulf Coast northeast to Massachusetts, and into southern Ontario where populations are separated from the main population. The Canadian population accounts for less than one percent of the species' global abundance and is known to naturally occur in two protected areas in southern Ontario: at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Pelee Island and at Point Pelee National Park. The recovery strategy for the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus in Canada was developed by the federal government and adopted under the Ontario ESA. Ontario’s responsibility is for the site at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Pelee Island, which contains 11 individuals of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. The federal government is responsible for the site at Point Pelee National Park, which contains approximately 2,000 individuals. There are an additional five known populations of planted Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus elsewhere in southwestern Ontario which are isolated from the two protected sites, and are not protected under federal or provincial species at risk legislation. A further six populations are believed to be extirpated from the province.

In Ontario, the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is limited to dry, sandy habitats that are in the early stages of succession known collectively as the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannas. Its survival is threatened by loss and degradation of this habitat largely due to vegetation succession. Horticultural collection, reduced genetic fitness, plant pathogens and invasive plant species are also considered threats. Ongoing management of the habitat for the 11 individuals at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Pelee Island is considered necessary to abate reductions in habitat suitability and population levels. Due to the low population level and apparent lack of recruitment, the viability of this population is questionable.

The government’s goal for the recovery of the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is to maintain, and where possible enable increases in the population size at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve in Ontario.

The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus populations located outside of Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve in Ontario are not included in the government’s goal since these populations are not listed under the ESA as being at risk. However, coordination of protection and recovery actions with the efforts underway for other Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus populations in Ontario will help to improve the effectiveness of recovery at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve.

Protecting and recovering species at risk is a shared responsibility. No single agency or organization has the knowledge, authority or financial resources to protect and recover all of Ontario’s species at risk. Successful recovery requires inter-governmental co-operation and the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities.

In developing the government response statement, the Ministry considered what actions are feasible for the government to lead directly and what actions are feasible for the government to support its conservation partners to undertake.

Government-led actions

To help protect and recover the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, the government will directly undertake the following actions:undertake the following actions:

  • Continue to develop and implement best management practices (BMPs) to restore the early successional stages of the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannas ecosystem and maintain suitability of the species' habitat at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve.
  • Co-operate with federal partners where appropriate to implement protection and recovery actions identified in the "Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) in Canada" by Environment Canada.
  • Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
  • Encourage the submission of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus data to the Ministry’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
  • Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
  • Protect the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus and its habitat through the ESA.
  • Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Aboriginal communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover the Eastern Prickly Pear Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services.
  • Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.

Government-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding or for authorizations under the ESA. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.

Focus Area:

Awareness

Objective:

Increase community awareness and involvement in ongoing recovery actions.

Actions:
  1. (High) Increase community awareness about the need to protect Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus by minimizing collection and other human disturbances, such as trampling.
  2. Develop and distribute educational materials to promote the protection and recovery of the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savanna ecosystems.

Focus Area:

Monitoring

Objective:

Improve knowledge of the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus' habitat and population levels.

Actions:
  1. Coordinate with federal partners to develop a standardized monitoring protocol to monitor Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus population size and dynamics, age and health demographics, habitat conditions and threats.

Implementing actions

Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, or the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program. Conservation partners are encouraged to discuss project proposals related to the actions in this response statement with the Ministry. The Ministry can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake the project.

Implementation of the actions may be subject to changing priorities across the multitude of species at risk, available resources and the capacity of partners to undertake recovery activities. Where appropriate, the implementation of actions for multiple species will be co-ordinated across government response statements.

Reviewing progress

The ESA requires the Ministry to conduct a review of progress towards protecting and recovering a species not later than five years from the publication of this response statement. The review will help identify if adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) in Canada" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.