The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, today announced the release of the Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Plan to guide recovery efforts for species at risk in some of the province’s most unique habitats.
The Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Plan includes measures to protect 10 endangered plant species found on limestone barrens on the Great Northern Peninsula and the Port au Port Peninsula. Three of the species are endemic, with the Great Northern Peninsula being the only place they are found in the world. Nine are listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and one is listed as Threatened. Four of the species in this plan are also listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
All species included in the plan are highly specialized and adapted to the limestone barrens, and have narrow distributions that make them susceptible to disturbance. The recovery plan identifies critical habitat for seven of the 10 species, and outlines recovery and management actions to protect and recover the species, as well as the main threats to their recovery. Additional information on each species is available in the backgrounder below. To view the full recovery plan, click here.
A newly released management plan for Water Pygmyweed, a small, herbaceous plant only known to occur on the southern Avalon and Burin Peninsulas, is also available here.
Quotes
“Limestone barrens are a unique habitat that support many highly specialized and rare plant species, and we all share a responsibility to protect them. The Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Plan maps out the road to recovery of these species through further research, monitoring, restoration, and community education and outreach. Thanks to the work of the Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Team members who have committed so much of their time and energy to this important work, and to the communities that have embraced stewardship efforts where these species are found. With their continued support, these special places will be with us for generations to come.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“The Limestone Barrens of the island of Newfoundland are truly unique. They are home to rare endemic plants that live nowhere else in the world! We call them the true Newfoundlanders. The goal of preserving both the barrens and the plants would never have been realised without the 20+ years of support of local citizens, towns and students – they have made working on the limestone barrens one of the best, most fulfilling and fun times of my career. Thanks to all the residents of the Great Northern Peninsula who have made our shared goal of conserving this very special place a success.”
Dr. Luise Hermanutz
Co-chair, Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Team
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Learn more
New Listings Added under Provincial Endangered Species Act
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
Species Status Advisory Committee
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Media contacts
Linda Skinner
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
Dr. Luise Hermanutz
Co-chair, Limestone Barrens Species at Risk Recovery Team
709-765-5657
lhermanu@mun.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Species conservation and recovery depends on the commitment and cooperation of residents and requires all responsible jurisdictions to work together to protect species at risk. Recovery team members include representatives from Indigenous Governments and Organizations, species experts, stewardship practitioners, and community members who work with resource industries, conservationists, land managers, and municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
The plan identifies 85 km2 of critical habitat for the seven species occurring on the Great Northern Peninsula and aims to identify critical habitat for the species found on the Port aux Port Peninsula and adjacent areas in the near future. Managers have use a patchwork approach to protecting identified critical habitat, with currently 68 per cent identified as a sensitive wildlife area being conserved through land use referral processes, 18 per cent protected and contained within a provincial Wilderness or Ecological Reserve, and eight per cent within federal lands. The department will begin working with land owners, municipalities and other stakeholders in the coming months to determine the appropriate mechanisms to protect all identified habitat, including adding to existing Wilderness and Ecological Reserves, or the addition of Wildlife Reserves, Crown Lands Reserves or Critical Habitat Orders.
Threats to plants living on limestone barrens include, but are not limited to:
- Habitat loss and degradation due to land development;
- Destruction of plants due to off-road vehicle use, or being crushed or trampled;
- Climate change; and
- Pests and pathogens.
Long’s Braya is a small, herbaceous, calcium-loving perennial that is endemic to the Great Northern Peninsula and restricted to a tiny portion of the limestone barrens. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act and federal Species at Risk Act.
Fernald’s Braya is a small, herbaceous, calcium-loving perennial endemic to the Great Northern Peninsula and restricted to coastal limestone barrens. It looks similar to Long’s Braya. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act and federal Species at Risk Act.
Barrens Willow is a dwarf, mat-forming shrub endemic to the Great Northern Peninsula and restricted to coastal limestone barrens. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act and federal Species at Risk Act.
Wooly Arnica is a low-growing, daisy-like perennial with dense white hairs covering the leaves, stalks, and bases of the flower heads. It is a calcium-loving plant with a limited distribution of five or fewer locations on the Great Northern Peninsula and Port au Port Peninsula. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Griscom’s Arnica is a low-growing, showy, daisy-like perennial with hairless leaves and stalks. This calcium-loving plant has a limited distribution of four locations on the Great Northern Peninsula, all within two kilometres of the coast. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Bodin’s Milkvetch is a calcium-loving, carpet-forming perennial. Its distribution is highly restricted to a 1.6-kilometre stretch of coastline on the Great Northern Peninsula. Threatened under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Oval-leaved Creeping Spearwort is an amphibious, trailing perennial with a limited distribution of only four occurrences on the Great Northern Peninsula, two of which are historical. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Lindley’s Asters is a medium-sized perennial that can form small clumps. This calcium-loving plant has an area of occupancy less than 50 km2 surrounding St. George’s Bay. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Mackenzie’s Sweetvetch is a low-growing perennial that forms circular clumps. This boreal-arctic disjunct species (widespread immediately following the last ice age but now limited in their range) is restricted to two occurrences on the Port au Port Peninsula. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Low Northern Rockcress is a small herbaceous perennial. This calcium-loving plant is also an alpine-arctic disjunct, known only to occur on Table Mountain near the Port au Port Peninsula. Endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, not listed under the federal Species at Risk Act.
