Tallgrass and Savanna in Ontario

Tallgrass & Savanna In Ontario

Species at Risk

The Ontario Tallgrass Prairie and Savanna Association - Tallgrass Ontario - was established in 1999 to implement the Recovery Plan for Tallgrass Communities of Southern Ontario. The Recovery plan lists literally hundreds of tallgrass and savanna species, many of which are identified as threatened, endangered or extirpated. The table below lists tallgrass related species from the Prospectus of the Federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk for Ontario (2004-5) and their COSEWIC/SARA status. As of January, 2004 fifty-one tallgrass species/taxa are on the COSEWIC candidate list, and an additional thirteen may be added. For more information about the SARA public registry - www.sararegistry.gc.ca

Ontario - Southern Ontario in particular - is in the unenviable position of being home to the majority of species at risk. Here, the impacts of urban, industrial and agricultural development as well as forestry and aggregate extraction have wrecked havoc on tallgrass and savanna communities. This is the most densely populated area of Canada, with one of the most active industrial and agricultural sectors. Many of existing tallgrass and prairie remnants are in private landowners’ hands. Tallgrass Ontario’s SOS (Save Ontario Savannas) program is squarely aimed at this issue.

Tallgrass Ontario is managing a “communities” based plan. Initially, most recovery approaches were species specific - addressing a single plant or animal - rather than a similar group or, in our case, an ecosystem. Now, there are at least twelve ecosystem recovery programs under way, including the Walpole Island Ecosystem and Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannas Ecosystem- all related to tallgrass and savanna in Ontario. For more information about these activities nation-wide, obtain a copy of the RENEW Annual Report (RENEW 2003, Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Annual Report No. 13, Ottawa) or check out www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/recovery/

Tallgrass and savanna in Ontario has benefited from a well thought out and implemented recovery plan. Many private and public groups have supported our efforts at landowner contact, policy development, education and research. We are now in the process, in fact, of planning an update for the next five years. In addition, Tallgrass Ontario, with the help of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources hopes to develop recovery strategies for a suite of vascular plants on the COSEWIC list and currently without strategies/plans in place.

The table below lists tallgrass related species from the Prospectus of the Federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk for Ontario (2004-5) and their COSEWIC/SARA status.

To download the Prospectus please go to www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih

Species from the Prospectus of the Federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk for Ontario (2004-5) include:

American Badger, Barn Owl, Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, Henslow’s Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Piping Plover, Pitcher’s Thistle, Bird’s Foot Violet, Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, Gattinger’s Agalinis, Goat’s Rue, Hoary Mountain Mint, Juniper Sedge, Pink Milkwort, Purple Twayblade, Showy Goldenrod, Skinner’s Agalinis, Slender Bush Clover.

Less than 3% of the pre-settlement extent of tallgrass prairie remains in Ontario. Please join us in saving these special places and supporting the work of Tallgrass Ontario. If you are interested in helping with our recovery plan update (Tallgrass Communities) or multi-species strategies, please contact us at info@tallgrassontario.org.

	Tallgrass & Savanna In Ontario
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