Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle Government Response Statement
This document outlines the actions the government intends to take or support to help recover the northern barrens tiger beetle.
Photo: Michael Runtz
The Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle is a metallic green beetle that lives in sandy openings in pine and pine-oak woodlands. Larvae live in burrows within these sandy openings. Adults forage in the same habitat and have a two-year life cycle.
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 life 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 (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 Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle was completed on February 18, 2011.
The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. In addition to the strategy, input on the response statement was requested from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. The statement 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 Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle
The Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle 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.
In Ontario, the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle has been found only in Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend on Lake Huron since 1990. The beetle is generally found in habitat with moderate natural disturbance levels which help to maintain open patches for sunning and foraging. It also requires access to shaded areas to cool down its body temperature. Threats to the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle include human disturbance, fire suppression which reduces the availability of habitat openings, pesticides and non-native plant and animal species.
The government’s goal for the recovery of the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle is to ensure its long-term survival in Ontario.
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-led actions
To help protect and recover the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle, the government will directly undertake the following actions:
- Provide information and training to Pinery Provincial Park staff on the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle and the protection of its habitat in the Park.
- Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
- Encourage the submission of Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle observation data to the Ministry’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
- Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
- Protect the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle and its habitat through the ESA.
- Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and advisory services.
- Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support across multiple species in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.
Government-supported actions
The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding or for authorizations under the ESA. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.
Focus Area: Management
Objective: Develop, implement and evaluate measures to manage Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle habitat.
Actions:
- (High) Identify and implement approaches to manage non-natural disturbances in Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle habitat.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of restoration activities, including prescribed burns, at locations of existing populations and where appropriate, continue the use of prescribed burning as a management tool to prevent succession and to maintain or restore habitat.
Focus Area: Research
Objective: Address knowledge gaps related to Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle biology, habitat needs and threats to inform future protection and recovery efforts.
Actions:
- (High) Complete Ecological Land Classification (ELC) mapping of the areas surrounding the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle and conduct research on the associated microhabitat conditions to determine why the species does not occur at other apparently suitable sites.
- Conduct research on the species' biology and life history (e.g. timing of adult emergence, adult and larval feeding habits).
- Undertake research on the threats to the species, such as predator effects and the impact of non-native invasive species on the persistence of Northern Barrens Tiger Beetles.
Focus Area: Inventory and monitoring
Objective: Determine the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle distribution, abundance and population trends in Ontario.
Actions:
- Develop a prioritized list of sites where apparently suitable habitat exists and complete standardized ground searches for the beetle. Engage experts, local naturalists and land stewards in these searches.
- Develop and implement a monitoring program to determine current population numbers and trends.
Implementing actions
Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program, Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program or Conservation Lands Tax 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 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 Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle in Ontario" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.
For additional information:
Visit the species at risk website at ontario.ca/speciesatrisk
Contact your MNR district office
Contact the Natural Resources Information Centre
Email: NRISC@ontario.ca
Website: ontario.ca/mnr