Native Plants As Habitat For Wildlife - Native Plant Society of ...

The Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk
Dean Nernberg
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
Stewardship and the Federal Strategy
Stewardship refers to the wide range of voluntary actions by Canadians to care for the
environment. Activities range from monitoring and conserving wildlife species and their
habitat, to protecting and improving the quality of soil, water, air and other natural
resources. These types of conservation actions, particularly those activities that provide
habitat, are essential to the recovery of species at risk and to the prevention of other
species from becoming at risk in the first place.
Examples of activities that Canadians, such as farmers, naturalist club members, fishing
interests and resource companies, are undertaking to care for the environment and to
protect species at risk and their habitats include:
• Protecting habitat for Burrowing Owls and reporting sightings of them;
• Installing nest boxes for species such as the Eastern Bluebird, Prothonotary
Warbler, and the Barn Owl;
• Improving habitat conditions for the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike by putting cattle
into pastures where controlled grazing is required to prevent encroachment of some
plants;
• Clearing habitat and protecting nesting areas for the Spiny Softshell Turtle;
• Restoring fish habitat and cleaning up streams;
• Developing selective fishing gear methods to reduce catch of species at risk;
• Assisting in the development of land use guidelines that further protect habitat for
species at risk.
A variety of players help make these stewardship actions possible and successful over the
long-term.
The federal government's three-part strategy to protect species at risk consists of building
on the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, the new legislation, the proposed
Species at Risk Act (SARA), and the introduction of stewardship programs. Stewardship
programs will help Canadians protect species at risk and their habitats.
Value of Partnerships
Governments, both federal and provincial, have for many years assisted Canadians in
protecting species at risk and their habitats. They have done so by providing scientific
information and technical assistance, as well as economic incentives such as direct
financial assistance and income tax reductions for donations of ecologically sensitive
lands.
Non-profit organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy
of Canada, are key in making these types of activities possible by helping landowners to
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