Executive summary – Recovery strategy for the White Prairie Gentian (Gentiana alba) in Ontario

Prepared by Jane M. Bowles. Adoption of the Recovery strategy for the White Prairie Gentian (Gentiana alba) in Canada (Environment Canada 2012).

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of Natural Resources to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species.

The White Prairie Gentian (Gentiana alba) is listed as endangered on the SARO List. The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment Canada prepared the Recovery strategy for the White Prairie Gentian in Canada in 2012 to meet its requirements under the SARA. This recovery strategy is hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA.

The habitat for White Prairie Gentian at the extant sites on Walpole Island First Nation is on deltaic deposits under partially shaded oak savannah. Periodic spring fire is required to maintain the habitat type. The minimum habitat for a viable population of White Prairie Gentian likely includes the area occupied by all extant stands and stands known to have existed within the last 15 years (about three generations), together with the full extent of contiguous surrounding habitat with similar canopy cover, species assemblage and moisture regime.

Walpole Island First Nation’s position is that it has never ceded or surrendered lands on the deltaic deposits at the mouth of the St. Clair River. In the opinion of the author, it is recommended that the government of Ontario not apply a habitat regulation for White Prairie Gentian on Walpole Island First Nation lands.

Executive summary – Recovery strategy for the White Prairie Gentian (Gentiana alba) in Canada

Prepared by Environment Canada (2012).

White Prairie Gentian (Gentiana alba) is a sprawling herbaceous perennial with a range centred in the plains of the American mid-west with scattered populations from southern Ontario, Pennsylvania and North Carolina west to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska and Kansas and south to Arkansas. In Canada, one extant population of White Prairie Gentian currently exists on the Walpole Island First Nation in the St. Clair River delta, southwestern Ontario. There are historic records from two other areas in Ontario, one in Essex County and the other in Northumberland County, both of which are considered extirpated (Waldron, 2001). White Prairie Gentian is listed as endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Threats identified to the Canadian population of the White Prairie Gentian include, but are not limited to: habitat loss or degradation, changes in ecological dynamics and natural processes, disturbance or harm and invasive species. White Prairie Gentian is also limited by its small population size and geographically-isolated population. Given that the species is found at the northern extent of its range and has a naturally limited distribution in Canada, it will likely always be vulnerable to anthropogenic and natural stressors.

Although there are unknowns regarding the feasibility of recovery, in keeping with the precautionary principle, a full recovery strategy has been prepared as would be done when recovery is determined to be feasible. The population and distribution objective for White Prairie Gentian in Canada is to maintain the one extant population at its current abundance and distribution.

The broad strategies to recovery include, but are not limited to: protection, conservation and management of White Prairie Gentian habitat, monitoring and assessment of extant population(s), outreach and education and addressing biological knowledge gaps.

Critical habitat for this species is not identified at this time. Once adequate information is obtained, critical habitat will be identified and may be described within an area-based, multispecies at risk action plan developed in collaboration with the Walpole Island First Nation. One or more such action plans will be completed for White Prairie Gentian by December 2017.