13 Species Added or Reclassified under SARA

Summary#

This is an order that amends Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. It adds or reclassifies a total of 13 species (including a scientific-name update) so they are covered by SARA’s protections and recovery planning as of February 3, 2023.

What it does#

• Adds new listings to Schedule 1: the Order adds 9 new species. These include several mosses and plants found mainly in British Columbia and Ontario, and two insects (the American bumble bee and the Yellow Scarab Hunter Wasp) found in parts of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
• Reclassifies species: the Order changes the status of 3 species:
  • Peary Caribou — moved from “endangered” to “threatened” (ranges: Northwest Territories, Nunavut).
  • Greater Short‑horned Lizard — moved from “endangered” to “special concern” (ranges: Alberta, Saskatchewan).
  • Goldenseal — moved from “threatened” to “special concern” (range: Ontario).
• Updates a scientific name: the Karner Blue butterfly’s name on the list is changed from Lycaeides melissa samuelis to Plebejus samuelis (no change in status).
• Comes into force on the day the order was registered (February 3, 2023), so the changes are now part of Schedule 1.

(Note: the formal technical list in the Order gives the precise species names and the Canadian regions where they are found.)

Who's affected#

• Indigenous Peoples and communities where these species occur (some listed species are culturally important, for example the Peary Caribou and Goldenseal).
• Researchers and conservation groups that study or work with these species. New listings can mean permit requirements for activities that would otherwise harm listed animals or their residences on federal land.
• The federal agencies involved in recovery work, especially Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Parks Canada Agency (one moss occurs in a national park).
• Landowners, developers, industries (forestry, mining, agriculture) and local governments where critical habitat might later be identified. The Order itself mainly triggers federal protections on federal lands; most of the newly listed occurrences are on provincial or private land, so direct new restrictions on non-federal land are limited based on current knowledge.
• People who value wildlife and local nature (e.g., pollinators like the American bumble bee) may notice conservation actions or stewardship projects.

If it’s unclear who will be affected in a particular place, that’s because some species’ exact locations or whether they occur on federal land are still uncertain.

Why it matters#

• Listing or reclassifying a species on Schedule 1 activates SARA tools: for endangered or threatened species this includes prohibitions against killing or harming individuals on federal land and the requirement to prepare recovery strategies and action plans. For species of “special concern” it triggers management plans.
• Recovery planning and protection can lead to local conservation actions such as habitat protection, research, and stewardship projects. That can matter for food, culture, and livelihoods, especially in Indigenous and northern communities (for example, caribou are important for subsistence and culture).
• The government estimates the overall net cost of these listings to be modest: about $290,000 to $380,000 over ten years for federal recovery and planning work, plus small potential permit-related costs. Most stakeholders are not expected to face major new costs because many affected sites are not on federal lands.
• The Order is part of Canada’s ongoing work to slow biodiversity loss and to bring federal protection and planning in line with scientific assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).