Polar Bear Species At Risk Act Management Plan Update. September 2015

Transcription

1 Polar Bear Species At Risk Act Management Plan Update September 2015

2 Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) Listing of the Polar Bear Listed as a Species of Special Concern on November 9, 2011 Next step is to post a draft SARA Management Plan on the Registry Intent is for the Plan to incorporate part or all of the provincial and territorial government management plans Management plan is different from a recovery strategy No automatic prohibitions - no impact on Land Claims Agreement (LCA) associated Harvesting Rights LCA powers are limited to Recovery documents Consultation requirements are different Page 2 September 2, 2015

3 Canada s National Conservation Strategy was approved in 2011 Commitment (not legally binding) by all Canadian jurisdictions Objectives: 1. Promote actions that contribute to the long-term maintenance of polar bear subpopulations 2. Minimize threats to polar bears and their habitat resulting from human activities, and 3. Ensure that best practice standards for management and research are adopted and respected Defines roles and responsibilities Recognizes key threats and challenges to conservation Outlines guiding principles Includes a population inventory schedule for subpopulations Includes processes for inter-jurisdictional coordination Ensures effective and sustainable harvest management Available at: Page 3 September 2, 2015

4 The SARA Management Plan (under development) will be comprised of: Key components of the Conservation Strategy and, provincial/territorial (P/T) plans, or extracts of the plans, as appropriate for SARA purposes The Plan will thus include conservation measures for the entire range of polar bears in Canada a requirement for a SARA Management Plan for any species This approach differs from other SARA management plans in terms of structure, content and articulation of conservation measures and actions completed or underway Incorporation of P/T plans will reflect the reality of polar bear management, and result in an appropriate and effective delivery of conservation measures while allowing for a sustainable harvest Page 4 September 2, 2015

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6 Schedule for P/T management plans (revised August 4, 2015) Province - Territory Newfoundland - Labrador Management Plan Nunavut Fall-Winter 2015/16 (approved management plan) Manitoba Commitment 2012 DRAFT Legal requirement Draft with ADM (recovery strategy) Ontario 2015 (government response to 2013 recovery strategy ) NWT Fall-Winter 2015/16 (joint management plan) YK Management commitment Not clear if time limit Legal requirement (late) Legal requirement Management commitment Québec Spring 2016 (Management plan) Management commitment Page 6 September 2, 2015

7 Schedule for P/T management plans All provinces and territories with jurisdiction for polar bear management are expected to complete their P/T plans by the end of 2015 or during the course of 2016 EC will review and incorporate the jurisdictional plans, or applicable parts thereof, into the proposed SARA Management Plan for posting by mid-february, 2016 For P/T plans not available at that time, EC will post a Progress Report This Progress Report could be replaced on the Public Registry by Management Plans as they become available and are reviewed Page 7 September 2, 2015

8 P/T and EC will continue to work together P/T will: Develop their own plans (including consultation as necessary) and, Identify and implement conservation measures EC will: Support development of P/T plans Prepare and post a SARA Management Plan Conduct targeted consultation (WMBs, P/T governments and in some cases Inuit and Cree organizations) Review and incorporate part or all of the P/T plans Page 8 September 2, 2015

9 Conclusion Goals: Meet SARA requirement for a Management Plan that recognizes and respects P/T roles and responsibilities P/T organizations are engaged and supportive EC acknowledges and is supportive of P/T management plans Way Forward: EC prepares a revised SARA Management Plan and incorporates P/T plans EC will seek support for the proposed SARA Management Plan from the relevant Wildlife Management Boards A Progress Report, or complete draft Management Plan, will be posted by February 2016 Page 9 September 2, 2015

10 Comments & Questions Page 10 September 2, 2015