Perhaps I can start with the conversation on the ecosystem-based approach. Within our agency we have had some experience with implementation of SARA using this approach. There are a couple of examples I'd like to highlight for the committee.
There is the work we're doing in coastal British Columbia, in particular within the Garry oak ecosystem. Within this ecosystem there are numerous species at risk, and as COSEWIC continues to evaluate new species there are more added into the hopper, if you will, within this Garry oak ecosystem.
We have been working within Parks Canada land, as well as with other federal departments and the Province of British Columbia and landowners, in helping the recovery of these species. Rather than look at it in a single, species by species approach, we're looking at it from the standpoint of the recovery of this overall Garry oak ecosystem, which will include plants and shrubs as well as insects and other species. So it's quite a large variety of species that we're dealing with within the overall conservation plan.
The real key and the efficiencies within the ecosystem approach lie in the development of partnerships, whether with the province or with landowners outside the federal lands. It's really a case whereby we are having these discussions, coming up with common recovery goals, and working together to implement these recovery goals. A good example is that within the Garry oak ecosystem we have activities whereby we're engaging the local community and provincial agencies in removing one of the biggest threats to the Garry oak species, which is invasive species such as the Scotch broom out in British Columbia. In fact, we are engaging large numbers of volunteers to help us restore that habitat so that it becomes able to help this variety of species to recover.
Right now, within the Garry oak ecosystem we are looking at the recovery of 43 species. So we are moving away from the species-by-species approach and are looking at greater efficiencies and greater engagement of similar partners and stakeholders.
Another example is within Grasslands National Park, where we're looking at the recovery of the sage grouse, the swift fox, the short horn lizard—all at the same time—within that national park ecosystem.