Spotted Wintergreen government response statement

Photo: Allen Woodliffe

Spotted Wintergreen is an evergreen perennial herb or sub-shrub. In Canada, it is currently restricted to a few locations in Ontario that support an estimated 2,700 stems. Historically, it was more widely distributed throughout southwestern and southcentral Ontario. Threats to this species include forestry and land use activities, competition from other plant species, trampling and soil compaction, waste disposal, collection and animal foraging.

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 Spotted Wintergreen was completed on February 18, 2010. Spotted wintergreen.

The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. 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 spotted wintergreen

The Spotted Wintergreen is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the plant and its habitat. The Act prohibits any damage or destruction of that habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry of Natural Resources be met.

The government’s goal for the recovery of Spotted Wintergreen is to protect and enhance all existing populations to sustainable levels and to determine the feasibility of restoring historical populations where the habitat is appropriate.

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 Spotted Wintergreen, the government will directly undertake the following actions:

• Educate other agencies and planning authorities on the requirement to consider the protection of Spotted Wintergreen and its habitat in planning activities and environmental assessment processes.
• Encourage the submission of Spotted Wintergreen data to the Ministry of Natural Resources' central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
• Protect Spotted Wintergreen and its habitat through the ESA.
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners to undertake activities to protect and recover Spotted Wintergreen. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and 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 Spotted Wintergreen. Actions which are noted 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: Develop, implement and assess approaches to mitigate threats at each population occurrence.

Actions

1. (High) Conduct research to identify threats, evaluate their impacts and develop potential approaches to mitigate them.
2. (High) Implement site-specific management approaches to mitigate threats.
3. As opportunities arise, support the securement of habitat of Spotted Wintergreen through existing land securement and stewardship programs.

Focus area: Research

Objective: Address knowledge gaps and determine the minimum viable population size for the species.

Actions

4. Conduct research to determine the species' reproductive biology, habitat and disturbance requirements, and the minimum viable population level.

Focus area: Monitoring

Objective: Monitor populations to determine trends and habitat conditions.

Actions

5. Monitor the number of individuals and the general habitat conditions of existing populations.

Focus area: Awareness

Objective: Increase the awareness of landowners and land managers of Spotted Wintergreen and increase their level of engagement in stewardship programs.

Actions

6. Develop and provide information and materials to private landowners, property managers and other stakeholders to increase their awareness of the species and promote recovery efforts.

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 of Natural Resources. The Ministry can also advise whether any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required for undertaking 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 whether adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of Spotted Wintergreen.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Spotted Wintergreen in Ontario" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.