1. Overview of National and Regional Priorities National Priorities

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1 Atlantic Canada Regional Priority Statement Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk (HSP) Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) 1. Overview of National and Regional Priorities 1.1 National Priorities The national priorities for all Species at Risk (SAR) funding programs are: Endangered and Threatened species as listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA); Protection of critical habitat; Implementation of high priority activities described in recovery strategies, action plans or management plans; Implementation of large-scale, multi-species recovery initiatives, involving a collaboration among multiple stakeholders/partners; and Projects that take place on agricultural lands and associated waters, and on Aboriginal lands and associated waters. 1.2 Regional Priority Areas These are specific areas such as ecodistricts, physiographic regions, watersheds, ecosystems, priority areas identified in large scale habitat conservation plans, areas identified in multispecies strategic planning exercises, etc. These areas have been selected because of a high density of SAR species, high number of human-induced threats, lack of other conservation resources available, stewardship capacity, stewardship opportunities, etc. 1.3 Regional Priority Species Regional priority species are priorities for funding from a SARA perspective due to the multitude and magnitude of major threats. The same species can be on both HSP and AFSAR lists. These may or may not fall within the priority geographic areas determined above Regional Priority Threats Regional priority human-induced threats to SAR individuals and populations can be related to both the decline in the natural SAR populations or deterioration of the natural habitat affecting SAR. Further, the threats should be identified or addressed in recovery strategies, action plans or management plans. Examples of key human-induced threats include, but are not limited to, entanglement of marine mammals in fishing gear, removal of wildlife from urban areas, by-catch mortality, road kills, or interference in safe movement of SAR due to roadways or dam construction

2 2. HSP Atlantic Canada Priorities a HSP Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas Due to the density of SAR species, high number of human-induced threats, lack of other conservation resources available, stewardship capacity, and/or stewardship opportunities there are geographic locations or ecotypes that are identified as being a priority for work (Figure 1 - Maritime Provinces; Figure 2 - Newfoundland). These areas are: 1) Coastal Beaches and Dunes - Atlantic Canada 2) High Elevation Forest - Maritime Provinces 3) Riverine and Riparian - Saint John River, New Brunswick 4) Atlantic Coastal Plain - Nova Scotia 5) Limestone Barrens - Newfoundland 2.1.b HSP Terrestrial Priority Species Conservation actions for these species are complementary to actions associated with the priority areas listed in Section 2.1.a 1) Piping Plover 2) Boreal Felt Lichen (Atlantic population) 3) Eastern Mountain Avens 4) Woodland Caribou (Boreal population) 5) Wood Turtle 2.2.a HSP Aquatic Priority Threats 1) Barriers to Migration 2) Fishery Interactions: Bycatch 3) Fishery Interactions: Entanglement 4) Habitat Alteration 5) Invasive and Introduced Species 2.2.b HSP Aquatic Priority Species 1) North Atlantic Right Whale 2) Leatherback Turtle 3) Atlantic Salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population) 4) Wolffish (Northern and/or Spotted) 5) Atlantic Whitefish - 2 -

3 Figure 1 HSP Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas: Maritime Provinces - 3 -

4 Figure 2 HSP Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas: Newfoundland - 4 -

5 3. AFSAR Atlantic Canada Priorities National priorities for AFSAR also include: Activities that support the consideration of Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) in SARA processes. 3.1.a AFSAR Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas Due to the density of SAR species, high number of human-induced threats, lack of other conservation resources available, stewardship capacity, and/or stewardship opportunities there are geographic locations or ecotypes that are identified as being a priority for work (Figure 3 - Maritime Provinces; Figure 4 Newfoundland; Figure 5 Labrador). These areas are: 1) Coastal Beaches and Dunes - Atlantic Canada 2) Riverine and Riparian - Saint John River, New Brunswick 3) Limestone Barrens - Newfoundland 4) Boreal Forest - Labrador 5) Coastal Barrens and Arctic Alpine Tundra - Labrador 3.1.b AFSAR Terrestrial Priority Species The following species at risk are identified as priorities for AFSAR due to their SARA status and their cultural and/or economic significance to Aboriginal peoples: 1) Woodland Caribou (Boreal population) 2) Piping Plover 3) Ivory Gull 4) Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora 5) Butternut 3.2.a AFSAR Aquatic Priority Threats 1) Barriers to Migration 2) Fishery Interactions: Bycatch 3) Fishery Interactions: Entanglement 4) Habitat Alteration 5) Invasive and Introduced Species 3.2.b AFSAR Aquatic Priority Species 1) American Eel 2) Striped Bass 3) Atlantic Cod 4) Atlantic Salmon 5) Atlantic Sturgeon - 5 -

6 Figure 3 AFSAR Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas: Maritime Provinces - 6 -

7 Figure 4 AFSAR Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas: Newfoundland - 7 -

8 Figure 5 AFSAR Terrestrial Geographic Priority Areas: Labrador - 8 -