Species at risk
Protecting and conserving species at risk and their habitat is a key part of conserving Ontario’s biodiversity. Find out what Ontario is doing and how you can help.
Learn about species at risk
The law in Ontario
The Species Conservation Act, 2025 (SCA) allows us to:
- identify species at risk based on the best available scientific information (including from community knowledge and Indigenous traditional knowledge)
- protect and conserve species while considering social and economic needs (including sustainable economic growth)
How species at risk are protected and conserved
Learn how we protect species in Ontario.
Protected species list
Learn about the protected species in Ontario.
Identifying species at risk
Learn how we classify a species as endangered, threatened, special concern or extirpated.
How you can help
Register your activity
How to register your activity using the Species Conservation Registry.
Get a grant for your project
Report rare species
How to report a sighting of rare animals and plants, natural and wildlife concentration areas.
Report impacts to a species at risk or its habitat
Online
Use the Report pollution online form to tell us about impacts to a species at risk or its habitat.
Telephone
Call the public reporting hotline toll-free at
Ministry district office
You can also contact your local ministry district office if you need additional help to report impacts to species at risk or its habitat.
What we're doing
Protection and recovery
Overview of our laws, regulations, groups and action to support species at risk and their habitat.
Projects we fund
An annual list of Ontario-wide projects we support.
Species at risk guidance and resources
Review of progress reports for Ontario’s species at risk
Progress reports on the protection and recovery of species at risk.
Natural Resources Activity Registry Guide
You can access the guide if you already registered activity under the ESA. New registrations must be done through the Species Conservation Registry under the SCA.