Virginia Mallow Government Response Statement
This document outlines the actions the government intends to take or support to help recover the Virginia mallow.
Photo: Melinda Thompson-Black
Virginia Mallow is a perennial flowering herb that can reach 1-3 m in height. Flowers are made up of five white petals (about 8 mm long) that grow in a clustered formation.
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 (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 Virginia Mallow was completed on February 18, 2010.
The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. In addition to the strategy, the response statement is based on input 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 Virginia Mallow
Virginia Mallow 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 that habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met.
Virginia Mallow only occurs in Ontario within a Conservation Area in Haldimand County and at a quarry and adjacent hydro corridor in the Niagara Region. Dominant threats to Virginia Mallow in Ontario are habitat destruction, competition from non-native invasive species (e.g., European Common Reed) and site maintenance.
The government’s goal for the recovery of Virginia Mallow is to protect and maintain all existing populations of Virginia Mallow in southern Ontario and to ensure the species’ long-term persistence within its current range.
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.
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 Virginia Mallow, the government will directly undertake the following actions:
- Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
- Encourage the submission of Virginia Mallow 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 Virginia Mallow and its habitat through the ESA. Develop and enforce a regulation identifying the specific habitat of the species.
- Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners to undertake activities to protect and recover Virginia Mallow. 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 Virginia Mallow. 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: Protection and management
Objective: Protect and reduce threats to extant populations of Virginia Mallow and its habitat.
Actions:
- (High) Implement the Ministry’s best management practices for the control of European Common Reed within sensitive habitats.
- Develop and provide information to land owners and land managers to increase awareness on the protection of the species and potential stewardship opportunities.
- As opportunities arise, support the securement of lands that contain Virginia Mallow populations through existing land securement and stewardship programs.
Focus area: Inventory and Monitoring
Objective: Regularly assess all known sites and search suitable habitat for additional populations.
Actions:
- (High) Develop and implement a standard monitoring program to detect changes in the species’ distribution and abundance.
- Conduct surveys in areas of potentially suitable habitat to determine if there are any additional populations of this species.
Focus area: Research
Objective: Improve knowledge of Virginia Mallow ecology.
Actions:
- Undertake research related to species demographics, genetics, minimum viable population requirements, and factors that may be limiting the species’ recovery.
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 or Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement 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 Virginia Mallow.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the “Recovery Strategy for the Virginia Mallow 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