17 Species Added or Reclassified under SARA

Summary#

The Order Amending Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act (SOR/2023‑17) changes the legal listing for 17 wildlife species in Canada. It was registered on February 3, 2023 and the changes took effect when it was registered.

What it does#

• Adds 12 species to Schedule 1, including:
  • Nine‑spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella novemnotata)
  • Mottled Duskywing — two separate populations (Erynnis martialis)
  • Striped Whitelip (Webbhelix multilineata)
  • Nuttall’s Sheep Moth (Hemileuca nuttalli)
  • Three Yellow False Foxgloves (Aureolaria spp.)
  • Silky Beach Pea (Lathyrus littoralis)
  • Smoker’s Lung Lichen (Lobaria retigera)
  • and Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (listed as special concern)
• Reclassifies 4 species:
  • Down‑listed from “threatened” to “special concern”: Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) and Olive‑sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
  • Up‑listed from “special concern” to “threatened”: Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) and Western Yellow‑bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon)
• Removes 1 species from Schedule 1: the Peregrine Falcon (anatum/tundrius subspecies) (delisted to “not at risk”).
• These listing changes trigger the actions and protections that apply under the Species at Risk Act, such as required recovery strategies or management plans and, where relevant, prohibitions and permit rules (especially on federal lands).

Who's affected#

• Indigenous peoples and communities where listed species occur on reserve lands. The Order notes some species occur on multiple reserves and in areas covered by modern treaties.
• Federal land managers and agencies, including Parks Canada Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada, because protections apply on federal lands and in protected areas.
• Researchers, conservation groups and park staff who work with these species; some activities may need SARA permits.
• Landowners, developers, farmers or others carrying out activities on or near federal lands where newly listed threatened or endangered species occur (several plants, insects and the snail are found in Ontario and British Columbia).
• People who follow or value these species—birdwatchers, gardeners, photographers and local communities—may notice conservation actions or access changes in some places.
• If it’s unclear who will be affected for a specific species or site, the Order and upcoming recovery/management plans will clarify that locally.

Why it matters#

• Listing or reclassifying species under the Species at Risk Act brings conservation tools into play: recovery strategies for endangered/threatened species, management plans for species of special concern, and possible prohibitions on harming listed animals or destroying their residences on federal lands.
• In practical terms, some activities on federal lands (including some reserves and national parks) may need new permits or changes to how projects are carried out. The government expects minimal costs for most stakeholders, but permit paperwork and compliance work will be needed in some cases.
• The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement estimates the federal cost of implementing these changes at about $904,500 to $1,055,000 over 10 years, and a one‑time cost to permit applicants of about $16,000 (undiscounted). These figures cover planning, permits, outreach and enforcement work described in the Order.
• For the public, the Order aims to protect species and the ecosystems they support—helping maintain insect control, pollination, cultural uses, and other services that matter locally and nationally. Conversely, the deliberate delisting of the Peregrine Falcon (anatum/tundrius subspecies) reflects a scientific judgment that it is no longer at risk.