Copyright Kingstonist
Parks Canada is inviting Canadians to have their say on a new Multi-Species Action Plan aimed at protecting and recovering nearly 50 species that call Thousand Islands National Park home — one of the most biodiverse national parks in the country. Stretching across the St. Lawrence River, the Thousand Islands wildlife corridor supports some of the country’s richest diversity of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Among the species covered in the plan are the blanding’s turtle, gray ratsnake, deerberry, and monarch butterfly — all facing challenges due to habitat loss, climate change, and human disturbance. The draft of the 2025 Multi-Species Action Plan is now open for public consultation until late December. The plan outlines key measures to conserve or recover 49 species that are regularly found within the park, including 38 species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and 11 additional species of conservation concern or cultural importance to Indigenous partners. The plan was developed in partnership with the Mohawks of Akwesasne and 16 other organizations, including environmental groups, universities, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Province of Ontario. “The goal of this action plan is to ensure that species at risk and their habitats are protected and restored through collaboration, science, and community engagement,” Parks Canada said in a statement. The plan is available online via the Species at Risk Public Registry. The public can offer feedback on the plan by filling out the online comment card.
