The species listing process under SARA.

This figure explains the various steps of the listing process under the Species at Risk Act. It is a flowchart its content is the following:

  1. SARA separates the scientific assessment process from the listing decision. This approach ensures that scientists can provide fully independent recommendations, and that decisions affecting Canadians are made by elected officials who can be held accountable for those decisions.
  2. COSEWIC uses the best biological information on a species deemed to be in some danger of disappearing from Canada to assess the risk status of that species. It reviews research information on population and habitat status, trends and threats; uses community and Aboriginal traditional knowledge; and applies assessment criteria based on international standards.
  3. COSEWIC assesses the species as Extinct, Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, Data Deficient or Not at Risk.
  4. COSEWIC sends its assessment and supporting evidence (i.e. rationale and status reports) for species classified as at risk (Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern) to the Minister of the Environment and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council once per year. The COSEWIC assessment and the reasons for it are also posted on the SARA Public Registry.
  5. The Minister of the Environment has 90 days in which to publish Response Statements on the Public Registry. These statements indicate how the Minister intends to respond to each COSEWIC assessment and, to the extent possible, provide timelines for action. Certain species may require extended consultation.
  6. The Minister of the Environment forwards COSEWIC assessments to the Governor in Council.
  7. The Governor in Council, within nine months of receiving the assessment, may, on the recommendation of the Minister, by Order:
    1. accept the assessment and add the species to the SARA List, reclassify it or remove it accordingly;
    2. decide not to add the species to the SARA List; or
    3. refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration.
    If the Governor in Council does not make a decision within nine months of receiving the COSEWIC assessment, the Minister shall by order amend the List according to COSEWIC's assessment. 8. Once a species is added to Schedule 1, it benefits from all the legal protection afforded, and the mandatory recovery planning required, under SARA.