Ontario has legislation and regulations that serve to protect threatened and endangered species.
How can anyone argue with that? The protection of species and preservation of biodiversity are important goals for our society so that future generations continue to enjoy a robust and diverse ecology.
Many species are already protected in Ontario, ranging from owls to salamanders. Generally, the habitat of those species is on and around farmland. That is not surprising as relatively few such species would thrive in, or migrate to urban areas.
As a result, the burden of providing and protecting habitat rests on the shoulders of a few – notably on the shoulders of farmers. However, farmers own land to produce food and energy, provide economic stimulus to Ontario, and contribute to an improved environment. Those functions are compatible. The incompatible duty imposed by legislation and regulation is the protection of habitat for endangered species. Nonetheless, Ontario farmers are cooperating in finding innovative ways to contribute to our biodiversity.
We are doing so without compensation and society is benefitting from our efforts.
Now we face yet another challenge as the province of Ontario moves the Bobolink to the list of threatened species, bringing the full force of habitat protection regulations onto landowners. The complication is that the bobolink enjoys tall grass for nesting. Tall grass is in short supply in Ontario so hay is the next best thing.
That affects an estimated 30,000 farms across the province. We will work with the Ministry of Natural Resources to ensure the economic impact and disruption of normal farm practices is minimized. We will work with affected farmers to ensure their farming businesses remain viable while ensuring habitat is preserved.
However, the province needs to take a very serious look at two important issues around its endangered species process.
First, a small group of experts has declared the bobolink as “threatened.” The MNR has no recourse but to invoke the habitat protection regulations. But the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that bobolinks are native to 46 jurisdictions spanning North, Central, and South America. They are occasionally sighted in a further eight European counties. Furthermore, the IUCN classes bobolink as “least concern,” meaning that in the eyes of its global panel of scientists, the bobolink “does not qualify for critically endangered,, vulnerable or near threatened.
If the global community does not consider bobolink imperiled globally, if it is not an indigenous species in Ontario, and if it ranges across 46 jurisdictions spanning North, Central, and South America, then why does Ontario list it as a threatened species at the possible expense of Ontario farmers?
The OFA calls on the Ontario government to further investigate the situation leading to the bobolink being declared as “threatened.”
Secondly, the potential widespread impact of that declaration really emphasizes that it is just two per cent of our population paying the costs of habitat protection. If Ontario is serious about endangered species, then we must get everyone involved. Ontario needs to create new habitat. Let’s not rely on the farmers’ fields that are used to generate economic activity. Let’s grow tall grass in the urban green spaces that are now cut for cosmetic purposes only. We call on our urban cousins to insist our cities plant timothy and stop cutting grass.
That is a serious proposition. Not only will it provide habitat but it will save our cities millions of dollars in grass cutting and lawn maintenance costs. Perhaps we could see some bobolink on the south lawn at Queen’s Park next spring.
If Ontario is serious about protecting species, then it is time to actually get serious and stop sloughing the issues onto the backs of farmers. We need to ensure the species needs protecting and we need to provide habitat on public land. Get serious Ontario.
Bette Jean Crews is the President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
