Species at Risk Act (SARA) Consultation, Cooperation and Accommodation Project
Project Overview
This multi-year project will facilitate Indigenous communities’ and organizations’ participation in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) listing and recovery planning processes for terrestrial species as part of implementing the federal Species at Risk Act. CIER’s role is to support a range of activities between Indigenous communities and organizations and ECCC on developing recovery documents, sharing knowledge and language, addressing threats to terrestrial species at risk survival and recovery, and land use planning for species at risk on reserve lands and within traditional territories.
2020-2021 Pilot project: Prior to the start of the multi-year project, the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) partnered with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to undertake a pilot project in British Columbia. This project facilitated Indigenous communities’ and organizations’ participation in federal recovery planning for seven terrestrial Species at Risk: Grizzly Bear, Southern Mountain Caribou, Bank Swallow, Western Screech-Owl, Oregon Forestsnail, American Badger, and Marbled Murrelet. The multi-year project is a continuation of this work.
Species at Risk List
ECCC is continuously listing and reassessing the status of species under the Species at Risk Act and developing recovery documents for those that are listed as special concern, threatened or endangered. The focus of the SARA Consultation, Cooperation and Accommodation Project is on those species that are actively undergoing the listing process or recovery document development. The list below is subject to change over time.
Upcoming Events
Funding Support and Information Session: Recovery Planning of Terrestrial Species at Risk
January 15, 2025: 9:30 – 11:00 PT / 11:30 – 1:00 CT / 12:30 – 2:00 ET
We are inviting applications for funding to support Indigenous Nations’ participation in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) listing and recovery planning processes for terrestrial species at risk. We are also holding an information session to provide an overview of this initiative and the funding available to support involvement in the different project components for the final year of the project. The information session will be held on January 15th from 9:30 – 11:00 PT/11:30 – 1:00 CT/12:30 – 2:00 ET. During this session, further explanation will be provided with opportunity for questions and discussion. To register for this session, please select the link below.
January Learning Circle with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation
January 31, 2025: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PT
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), with financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC-CWS) invite you to join our next online Learning Circle on Friday January 31st from 12 – 1 pm Pacific Time. CIER’s Learning Circles are an opportunity for Indigenous Nations/organizations and their close partners to share learnings from projects related to species at risk.
Our January Learning Circle will be a discussion on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) led by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation (IOF). IOF is an Indigenous-led educational non-profit focused on the protection and conservation of bio-cultural diversity. IOF’s projects, programs and collaborations support Indigenous leadership in the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, the development of abundant and resilient communities, reconciliation between Indigenous and new-comer societies, and innovative solutions for (re)connecting people with their environment. The ultimate purpose of IOF is to support the establishment and long-term capacity of IPCAs and to educate all sectors about their value and relevance.
We are lucky to have the discussion led by Eli Enns, IOF CEO and President and Founder of the Naa’Waya’Sum Gardens in Tofino, Clayoquot Sound. Please see Eli’s full bio >
You can register by clicking here or below through Zoom. This session is open to anyone in your community or organization interested in attending, so please feel free to share this invitation.
Register in advance for this meeting
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Eli Enns is the great grandson of Na’waas’um (historian and public speaker for Wickanninish) from Tla-o-qui-aht on his father’s side. On his mother’s side, Eli is a 2nd generation immigrant from the Netherlands, grandson of Peter Enns (Dutch Mennonite). He is a happy father and a grateful grandfather.
Eli is also an internationally recognized expert in bio-cultural heritage conservation and Indigenous economic development. He is a nation builder and Canadian political scientist focused in constitutional law, geopolitics and ecological governance. Co-founder of the Ha’uukmin Tribal Park in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island, Eli was Co-Chair for The Indigenous Circle of Experts for The Pathway to Canada Target 1 (Aichi Target 11). He is CEO and President of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and Founder of the Naa’Waya’Sum Gardens in Tofino, Clayoquot Sound.
Resources
On this webpage you will find the materials shared at the sessions included in this project (e.g., SARA overview sessions, species specific workshops, training sessions, information sharing sessions, funding application forms). You will also find helpful species at risk related tools and resources. Click on the topic headings to see a drop-down list of the associated resources.
- Information Sharing and Expression of Interest Session PPT (Nov 9 and 18, 2021)
- Information Sharing and Expression of Interest Session Summary Report (Nov 9 and 18, 2021)
- Information Sharing and Expression of Interest Session PDF (Nov 9, 2021)
- Information Sharing and Expression of Interest Session Summary Report (Feb 9, 2022)
- Information Sharing and Expression of Interest Session PDF (May 26, 2022)
ECCC’s Regional and Sector Based Field Guides for Terrestrial Species at Risk:
- SARA Process Map
- Field Guide: Species At Risk Southwest BC
- Field Guide: Species At Risk South Interior
- Field Guide: Central & Northern BC
- Field Guide: Each Species found in BC
- Field Guide: Forestry Sector
- Field Guide: Agricultural Sector
- Field Guide: Residential & Urban Sectors
- Grizzly Bear Indigenous Knowledge Workshop Presentation (PDF)
- Grizzly Bear Indigenous Knowledge – Additional Information for Participants (PDF)
- Grizzly Bear – Camera Trapping (mp4)
More Information About Grizzly Bear
Graphic Recordings
In-Person Workshop Materials – January-March 2024 (3 regional, two-day workshops)
- Agenda and Background for Southern Mountain Caribou – Recovery Strategy Amendment Technical Review In-Person Workshops (PDF)
- Share Your Voice Infographic (PDF)
- Q&A Sessions Participant Guide (PDF)
- Presentation slides – How did we get here? Key concepts moving forward (PDF)
- Presentation slides – A closer look at the draft critical habitat: categories and concepts (PDF)
- Presentation slides – A closer look at other draft components (PDF)
In-Person Workshop Graphic Recordings – Kelowna, BC: January 31 – February 1, 2024
In-Person Workshop Graphic Recordings – Edmonton, AB: February 14 – 15, 2024
In-Person Workshop Graphic Recordings – Prince George, BC: March 5 – 6, 2024
Workshop Materials – February/March 2023
- Agenda and Background for Southern Mountain Caribou – Critical Habitat workshops (PDF)
- Presentation slides on Southern Mountain Caribou Recovery Strategy Amendment by Jean Polfus and Robin Steenweg, ECCC-CWS (PDF)
- 2023 Summary Report-Series 3 (PDF)
Workshop Graphic Recordings – February/March 2023
Workshop Materials – November 2022
- Agenda and Background for Southern Mountain Caribou workshops (PDF)
- Updated Speaker Bios -Jean Polfus and Robin Steenweg, ECCC-CWS (PDF)
- Presentation slides on Southern Mountain Caribou Recovery Strategy Amendment by Jean Polfus and Robin Steenweg, ECCC-CWS (PDF)
- Southern Mountain Caribou Federal Recovery Strategy Amendment Timeline (PNG image)
- 2022 Summary Report-Series 2 (PDF)
Workshop Graphic Recordings – November 2022
Workshop Materials – February/March 2021
- Agenda 2021
- Presentation Slides on Southern Mountain Caribou Recovery Strategy Amendment 2021 by Jean Polfus and Robin Steenweg
- 2021 Summary Report – Series 1 (PDF)
- Infographic
Workshop Graphic Recordings – February/March 2021
- Consultations Workshop Presentation (August 31, 2022)
- Status of Plains Bison in Canada Presentation (September 6, 2022)
Graphic Recordings
- Listing Consultation Workshop PPT (February 9th, 2022)
- Listing Consultation Workshop Report
- Project Overview Session PPT (January 26th, 27th and February 2nd, 2021)
- Project Overview Session Summary Report (January 26th, 27th and February 2nd, 2021)
- Species Overview Session Grizzly Bear PPT (January 26th, 27th and February 2nd, 2021)
- Species Overview Session Multi-Species PPT (January 26th, 27th and February 2nd, 2021)
- Species Overview Session Southern Mountain Caribou PPT (January 26th, 27th and February 2nd, 2021)
- Species Overview Session PPT (Nov 9th and 18th 2021) (PDF)
Graphic Recordings: Images by Sessions Date
Graphic Recordings: Images by Specific Sessions
SARA Legislation in B.C. (March 2, 2021 and May 6, 2021)
Legislation Session PPT Final
Legislation Session #2 Participant Report
Tools and Resources (March 3, 2021)
Speaker Presentations
- National Aboriginal Land Managers Association (NALMA) presentation by Keisha Moffat
- Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) presentation by Shianne McKay
- Government of British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (CDC) presentation by Katrina Stipec
- Additional CDC Resource
- Environment and Climate Change Canada presentation by Danielle Prevost
*To view a recording of the speaker presentations please visit CIER’s Youtube Channel.
Panel Events (May 11, 2021)
- Kate Hewitt, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (Bio, PPT, and Audio Clip)
- Morgan Jumbo, Scw’exmx Tribal Council (Bio, Overview of SARA Projects, and Audio Clip)
- Judah Melton and Ellen Torng, Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (PPT and Audio Clip)
- Tina Donald, Simpcw First Nation (Audio Clip)
How to Obtain Critical Habitat Shapefiles
Thank you for your interest in accessing Species at Risk Critical Habitat data. Critical Habitat data for species whose recovery strategies are posted as proposed or final on the SARA Registry is publically available via the Government of Canada’ Open Data Portal.
For access to candidate Critical Habitat spatial data that has yet to be publically posted in a recovery document, Environment and Climate Change Canada require requesters to sign a data sharing agreement. Please contact the Canadian Wildlife Service Regulatory Affairs unit at: [email protected] and a Data Sharing Agreement will be made available so that shapefiles of Critical Habitat may be shared.
Specific Species Information at the Species At Risk Public Registry
- Bank Swallow
- Western Screech Owl
- Oregon Forestsnail
- Marbled Murrelet
- American Badger
- Grizzly Bear
- Wildlife Camera Guide
Camera-Trapping
Working Together: Protecting Species at Risk and their Habitat under the Species at Risk Act
Contact
Kat Hewitt, Project Manager, CIER ([email protected])
Kate Cave, Senior Project Manager, CIER ([email protected])
Jean Polfus, Southern Mountain Caribou Project Lead, ([email protected])
Undiné Thompson, Senior Consultation Biologist, ECCC-CWS for questions related to any other species ([email protected])
