SARA info available on county website

By Jamie Rieger

The County of Forty Mile is encouraging people who live or work in the region to access their website for updated information on the Species at Risk Act and what species are currently on the SARA list.
Having the information readily available on the County website allows the public to stay up-to-date on the status of species in the area and if any new ones have been added to the endangered list.
Besides the Greater Grouse, which has received the most public attention because of the federal government’s emergency protection order that was put in place just over a year ago, there are two other species that have since been added to the list for within the County.
The Greater Short-horned Lizard has been listed with a SARA Status of Schedule 1, endangered since late last year with several critical habitats identified in County of Forty Mile and Cypress County.
Environment Canada is also asking for feedback from area residents and stakeholders on the Dusky Dune Moth, which is also on the endangered list, and a copy of the questionnaire is provided on the County website at 40mile.ca.
According to Environment Canada, the Orion area is one of only 25 localities for the moth in North America.
Completed questionnaires must be received by Environment Canada by March 22, 2015.
A Species at Risk fact sheet is also now available on the County website.
With little discussion, County of Forty Mile council received for information at their Feb. 11 meeting, the final amended Recovery Strategy from Environment Canada for the Greater Sage Grouse.
Reeve Bryne Lengyel said that while he was pleased with some of the amendments, including to the fencing stipulations, he found other parts too vague.
“The Government of Canada’s plan for successful recovery of this species includes the amended recovery strategy, which will guide recommended voluntary stewardship activities, a joint program with the Calgary Zoo to breed and rear Sage Grouse chicks in a safe environment to help increase the population in the wild, and the Emergency Protection Order, which focuses on the imminent threats to the species in the wild,” reads an excerpt from a letter written by Mark Wayland, head of species at risk recovery unit for Environment Canada and received by County council for information.
The document can be found on the Species at Risk Public Registry at: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=1458.