Federal critical habitat protection now applies to Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) on federal lands

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

A new federal order activates the Species at Risk Act's prohibition on destroying critical habitat for the endangered Piping Plover melodus subspecies (Charadrius melodus melodus). The protection applies to areas identified as critical habitat in the species' recovery strategy, but only where that habitat sits on federal land. Two categories are excluded: areas already covered by a separate federal protection mechanism under subsection 58(2) of the Act, and reserves or other lands set apart for the use and benefit of a band under the Indian Act. Anyone whose activities — such as construction, land maintenance, or resource extraction — take place on federal lands where this species' critical habitat has been mapped should check the Species at Risk Public Registry to determine whether the prohibition applies to their specific location.

Who this affects
federal land managers and operators · construction and development contractors on federal lands · resource extraction companies on federal lands · federal departments and agencies with land authority · environmental compliance officers