Pale-bellied Frost Lichen Government Response Statement
This document outlines the actions the government intends to take or support to help recover the pale-bellied frost lichen.
Photo: Chris Lewis
Pale-bellied Frost Lichen is a macrolichen that was named for its pale underside and its bright white crust-like growth, which resembles a dusting of frost, present on its upper surface. It is found growing on trees.
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 the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen was completed on February 18, 2011.
The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. In addition to the strategy, input on the response statement was requested from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. The statement 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 Pale-bellied Frost Lichen
The Pale-bellied Frost Lichen is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the species and its habitat. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species and damage or destruction of its habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met.
In Ontario, the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen is currently known in only four locations in Frontenac, Lanark and Renfrew counties and has never been overly abundant in the province. The primary threats to the species are loss and degradation of suitable interior forest habitat and sulphur dioxide deposition.
The government’s goal for the recovery of the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen is to ensure the persistence of the size and distribution of all existing populations of the species in Ontario and to allow for natural population growth through maintenance of suitable occupied and adjacent habitat.
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 Pale-bellied Frost Lichen, the government will directly undertake the following actions:
- Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
- Encourage the submission of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen observation 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 Pale-bellied Frost Lichen and its habitat through the ESA. Develop and enforce a regulation identifying the specific habitat of the species.
- Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and advisory services.
- Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support across multiple species 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 Pale-bellied Frost Lichen. 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: Protection and management
Objective: Protect individuals and habitat at all known locations of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen.
Actions:
- (High) Review management practices in or near areas occupied by Pale-bellied Frost Lichen populations and refine and implement approaches as necessary to ensure species and habitat protection.
Focus area: Inventory and monitoring
Objective: Determine the distribution, abundance, and population trends of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen.
Actions:
- (High) Conduct quantitative census of known populations of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen.
- Implement a long-term monitoring program to assess population trends.
- Conduct surveys to find Pale-bellied Frost Lichen at sites adjacent to the currently occupied forest stands, at historic locations and in suitable habitat within the species range.
Focus area: Research
Objective: Conduct research to address knowledge gaps for Pale-bellied Frost Lichen.
Actions:
- Determine forest stand characteristics at each site and the sensitivity of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen to these habitat features to assess which are the most important for survival.
- Identify the potential significance of threats including succession, competition from mosses and other lichens, and susceptibility to herbivores (e.g. snails and slugs).
Focus area: Awareness
Objective: Increase awareness of landowners, municipalities, and planners through communication and outreach.
Actions:
- Increase the awareness of landowners, municipalities, and planners of the protection of Pale-bellied Frost Lichen and its habitat.
Implementing actions
Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program or Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement 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 Pale-bellied Frost Lichen.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Pale-bellied Frost Lichen in Ontario" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.
For additional information:
Visit the species at risk website at ontario.ca/speciesatrisk
Contact your MNR district office
Contact the Natural Resources Information Centre
Email: NRISC@ontario.ca
Website: ontario.ca/mnr