MNRF criticized for not following dragonfly recovery strategy

Rare dragonfly in Minesing wetlands declared at-risk species

By Sara Carson Barrie Advance November 30 2015

An endangered dragonfly could lose its only known Canadian habitat if development takes place atop the Snow Valley ski hill, said Ellen Schwartzel, acting Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO).
And she blames the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for not doing enough to protect the Hine’s emerald dragonfly and its habitat in the Minesing wetlands.

“That was a very good example of where the science says this is what’s needed and where the ministry stopped short of protecting that habitat,” Schwartzel said.

The ECO’s annual report, released Nov. 3 and titled Small Things Matter, used the Hine’s emerald as one example of the province not following a species’ recovery strategy, prepared under the Endangered Species Act.

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The Hine’s emerald recovery strategy, created in 2013, recommends its protected habitat include the Snow Valley Uplands because its groundwater feeds the entire wetland. Schwartzel is calling on the ministry to take recommendations in the recovery strategy seriously because the area is under development pressure.

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