Juniper Sedge government response statement

Protecting and recovering species at risk in Ontario

Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting Ontario 's biodiversity. Biodiversity – the variety of living organisms on Earth – provides us with clean air and water, food, fibre, medicine and other resources that we need to survive.

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is the Government of Ontario 's legislative commitment to protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats. As soon as a species is listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened under the ESA, it is automatically protected from harm or harassment. Also, immediately upon listing, the habitats of endangered and threatened species are protected from damage or destruction.

Under the ESA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (the Ministry) must ensure that a recovery strategy is prepared for each species that is listed as endangered or threatened. A recovery strategy provides science-based advice to government on what is required to achieve recovery of a species.

Government response statements

Within nine months after a recovery strategy is prepared, the ESA requires the Ministry to publish a statement summarizing the government 's intended actions and priorities in response to the recovery strategy. The recovery strategy for the Juniper Sedge (Carex juniperorum) in Ontario was completed on June 25, 2015.

The response statement is the government 's policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. All recommendations provided in the recovery strategy were considered and this response statement identifies those that are considered to be appropriate and necessary for the protection and recovery of the species. In addition to the strategy, the response statement is based on input from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. It reflects the best available traditional, local and scientific knowledge at this time and may be adapted if new information becomes available. In implementing the actions in the response statement, the ESA allows the Ministry to determine what is feasible, taking into account social and economic factors.

Moving forward to protect and recover Juniper Sedge

The Juniper Sedge is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the plant and its habitat. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species and damage or destruction of its habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met.

Juniper Sedge is a globally rare plant in the Sedge family and only occurs in eastern North America. The species was first described in 1993 and is known from 35 sites globally. The species ' abundance across its range appears to be stable despite the existence of threats across all known sites. In Canada, Juniper Sedge only occurs in Ontario. Within Ontario, there are five occurrences of the species: four on private land within the Salmon River Alvar Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), located on the Napanee Plain in Hastings County, and one in Haldimand County in Selkirk Provincial Park.

The most recent estimate of the Ontario population of Juniper Sedge was 6,600 plants from surveys conducted in 2000. The surveys done in 2000 were of four of the five Ontario populations as the fifth population was only discovered in 2008. Determining the current population in Ontario is challenging because most populations are found on private land. Long term records for the species are lacking because Juniper Sedge has only recently been described. As well, Juniper Sedge grows in dense patches making the distinction of individuals during surveying difficult. Previous surveys have been inconsistent in their use of survey methodologies, as both "plants" and "stems" have been used to enumerate populations depending on the survey.

The majority of Juniper Sedge populations in Ontario occur in alvar woodland habitat. Alvar habitat types are rare ecosystems that develop on flat limestone or dolostone bedrock where soils are very shallow. These ecosystems are very sensitive to disturbance and alvars in the Great Lakes region face common threats such as quarrying, development, all-terrain vehicle use, grazing and browsing, dumping of garbage in habitat, and invasive species. In addition to these threats, Juniper Sedge in Ontario is also threatened by fire suppression and natural succession which may alter ecosystem dynamics within alvars. These changes may include succession of woody plants, increased competition for nutrients and moisture, and increased canopy cover resulting in less light available to lower lying plants such as Juniper Sedge.

In general, very little is known about the biology or ecology of Juniper Sedge. Juniper Sedge is thought to be a species dependent on alvar woodland habitat, but the recently discovered population in Selkirk Provincial Park occurs within a much more common upland deciduous forest community. This suggests that a lack of suitable habitat may not limit the species to the extent that was previously thought. Further research is needed to determine the habitat needs and limitations of the species, to establish current population estimates, and to better understand the threats impacting populations in Ontario. Reducing threats to the species at the site-level will support natural increases within the Ontario population. Approaches to recovery for the species will focus on collaboratively working with land managers and landowners to effectively manage habitat and reduce threats, fill knowledge gaps through research, and implement monitoring programs.

Protecting and recovering species at risk is a shared responsibility. No single agency or organization has the knowledge, authority or financial resources to protect and recover all of Ontario 's species at risk. Successful recovery requires inter-governmental co-operation and the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities.

In developing the government response statement, the Ministry considered what actions are feasible for the government to lead directly and what actions are feasible for the government to support its conservation partners to undertake.

Government-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of the Juniper Sedge. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding under the ESA. Where reasonable, the government will also consider the priority assigned to these actions when reviewing and issuing authorizations under the Endangered Species Act. Other organizations are encouraged to consider these priorities when developing projects or mitigation plans related to species at risk. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.

Focus area: Habitat protection and management

Habitat loss and degradation is a significant threat to many species found in alvar habitat, including Juniper Sedge. Because Juniper Sedge populations are found in both alvar Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) and in a provincial park, many organizations are already mobilized and have developed best management practices to assist local species. Prioritizing the implementation of these best management practices will enable municipalities, conservation organizations, protected land managers and private landowners alike to take actions to manage habitat, secure lands with habitat, and act as stewards for the species.

Actions:

1. (High) Manage existing habitat for Juniper Sedge using community and species expertise in the implementation of best management practices. This may include:
   • conducting mechanical or targeted chemical removal of native or invasive woody vegetation in Juniper Sedge habitat, including Common Buckthorn
   • protecting populations from all-terrain vehicles, overgrazing and dumping of garbage in habitat areas through the use of signage and fencing, as appropriate
   • evaluating the effectiveness of habitat management techniques such as grazing treatments, increasing canopy openness, prescribed burns and invasive species control
2. As opportunities arise, work with local land owners and community partners to support the securement of Juniper Sedge habitat through existing land securement and stewardship programs.

Focus area: Monitoring and research

The current population levels of Juniper Sedge in Ontario are unknown. The combination of inconsistent survey methods and the presence of populations on private land has resulted in a lack of up to date, reliable knowledge. Working in partnership with community organizations to create and implement a standardized monitoring protocol will greatly improve our ability to monitor the species and track its progress. Filling knowledge gaps related to the life history of Juniper Sedge, its habitat requirements, and its response to habitat management techniques will assist in informing protection and recovery actions for the species in the future.

Actions:

3. (High) Collaborate with local partners and land owners to develop and implement a standardized monitoring protocol to provide a quantitative baseline for future monitoring of all existing populations. This should include:
   • developing a standardized approach to determining presence/absence of the species;
   • developing a standardized approach to enumerating the number of plants present, and clear direction on how to implement that approach when surveying
   • determining an estimate of the population abundance
   • monitoring changes in site-specific threats to Juniper Sedge populations
   • identification of the vegetation community type at occupied sites
   • measurements of water and moisture levels at occupied sites
4. Identify additional areas with potential suitable habitat for Juniper Sedge and conduct presence/absence surveys in these areas.
5. Research the species ' life history characteristics and response to habitat management activities that will inform the implementation of recovery actions for the species. This may include:
   • studying mechanisms of pollination, seed dispersal and conditions for germination
   • conducting a population viability analysis
   • studying the species' response to changes in hydrology
6. Study the feasibility and necessity of preserving genetic material from the Ontario populations of Juniper Sedge through seed storage (germplasm) conservation.

Implementing actions

Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, or the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program. Conservation partners are encouraged to discuss project proposals related to the actions in this response statement with the Ministry. The Ministry can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake the project.

Implementation of the actions may be subject to changing priorities across the multitude of species at risk, available resources and the capacity of partners to undertake recovery activities. Where appropriate, the implementation of actions for multiple species will be co-ordinated across government response statements.

Reviewing progress

The ESA requires the Ministry to conduct a review of progress towards protecting and recovering a species not later than five years from the publication of this response statement. The review will help identify if adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the Juniper Sedge.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the Recovery Strategy for the Juniper Sedge (Carex juniperorum) in Ontario for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.

For additional information:

The government response statement for Juniper Sedge is available in PDF format upon request. Please email PDF requests to recovery.planning@ontario.ca.