Species at Risk Act (SARA)

Act: Species at Risk Act (2002, c. 29)

To Whom Does This Apply?

SARA Permits and Agreements may be issued or entered into for the following purposes:

• The activity is scientific research relating to the conservation of the species and conducted by qualified persons;
• The activity benefits the species or is required to enhance its chance of survival in the wild; or
• Affecting the species is incidental to the carrying out of the activity.

Eligible Activities

Permits are required by those persons conducting activities that may affect species on the list of species, Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), as extirpated, endangered, or threatened and which contravene the Act's general or critical habitat prohibitions. Depending on the species and its location, applications should be directed to the appropriate authorities.

Summary

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the international Convention on Biological Diversity. It is designed to prevent endangered or threatened wildlife from becoming extinct or lost from the wild, and to help in the recovery of these species. It is also intended to manage species of special concern and to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened.

The Species at Risk Public Registry (SARAregistry) Web site is a trustworthy source for news, information, and documents related to species at risk in Canada. It also provides information on funding and support and how to get involved in public consultations.

List of Species

The Species at Risk Act contains a list of species in what is called Schedule 1. This is the legal list of species to which the law applies as of the date it comes into force. The law protects plants and animals listed in Schedule 1.

Species are put on the list after assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) are considered by the federal government. Operating at arm's length from governments, the Committee has classified species in need of protection for over 25 years.

COSEWIC assessments are published in the SARA Registry.

Definitions of Listed Species

Extinct: No longer occurring anywhere.

Extirpated: A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere in the world.

Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to extirpation or extinction.

Special Concern: Those species that are particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events but are not endangered or threatened species.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Twin Atria 2
4999 - 98th Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6B 2X3
Telephone: 780-961-8700
Fax: 780-495-2615
Web site: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm
 

 

 

 

National Contact(s):
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-997-1095
Fax: 819-997-2756
E-mail: cws-scf@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)

 

Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
13th Floor, Station 13E228
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E6
Telephone: 613-993-0999
Fax: 613-990-1866
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
E-mail: info@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday to Friday.
Library: Please call for hours.

 

Inquiry Centre of Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Place Montcalm
70 Crémazie Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-997-2800
Fax: 819-994-1412
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-6767
TTY (hearing impaired): 819-994-0736
E-mail: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html
 

 

National Office
Parks Canada
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0M5
Toll-free (information): 1-888-773-8888
E-mail: information@pc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.pc.gc.ca/index_e.asp
 

 

 

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