Ontario's Species at Risk Protection: Implications for the Integration of the Endangered Species Act and the Crown Forest Sustainability Act

Abstract

This study sought to provide recommendations regarding how the ESA-CFSA Integration Project could be implemented to best protect species at risk without threatening the forest industry in Ontario. Taking a case study approach, the two main objectives of the study were to evaluate the implementation to date of the ESA in Ontario and assess the work accomplished by the MNRF with respect to the Integration Project. This was done through a review of the scientific literature and online documents, personal communication with stakeholder representatives, and direct observation. Overall, it was found that while there is significant disagreement between ENGOs and forest industry about the best way to protect species at risk in Crown forests, they both agree that the implementation of the ESA has not been completely successful, and these shared concerns can be used to create meaningful and effective progress on the ESA-CFSA Integration Project. Four recommendations are presented based on the findings: providing a roundtable discussion for all stakeholders, conducting further scientific research on AOC prescriptions and forest management plans, surveying forest managers to determine species at risk protection measures in place under forest management plans, and considering the possibility of requiring forest management plans to also be approved by the Species Conservation policy branch of the MNRF in order to ensure compliance with ESA protection.