Progress Towards the Implementation of the Recovery Strategy for the Slender Popcornflower

Species at Risk Act

Recovery Document Report Series

2026

On this page

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Progress Towards Meeting Objectives
• Implementation of the Recovery Document
• Critical Habitat Studies
• Conclusion
• References

Preface

The Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA) requires the competent minister(s) to report on the implementation of recovery documents (recovery strategies, action plans, and management plans) for species at risk and progress towards meeting their objectives (s.46, 55, and 72).

The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, responsible for Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, is the competent minister for Slender Popcornflower. Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have therefore prepared this progress report.

Reporting on the progress towards the implementation of recovery documents includes reporting on the collective efforts of the competent minister(s), Indigenous partners, provincial and territorial governments, and all other parties involved in carrying out activities that contribute to the species' conservation and recovery.

As stated in the preamble to SARA, success in the conservation and recovery of species at risk depends on the commitment and cooperation of many contributors and will not be achieved by Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All members of the public are invited to join in supporting implementation of this recovery document for the benefit of the species and of society.

Acknowledgements

The extant and historical distribution of Slender Popcornflower lies within the homelands of the Esquimalt First Nation; Malahat First Nation and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, being Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, Tseycum First Nation, and Pauquachin First Nation; Semiahmoo First Nation; Snuneymuxw First Nation; Songhees First Nation; Quw'utsun Nation, being Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, and Stz'uminus First Nation; Tsawwassen First Nation; and Ts'uubaa-asatx First Nation.

The progress described in this report would not have been achieved without the contributions of Andrew Simon of the University of Alberta; Jenifer Penny and Ryan Batten of the B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Province of British Columbia; and the private landowners who generously provided access to their lands for Slender Popcornflower surveys.

Introduction

Slender Popcornflower was listed as Threatened in Schedule 1 of SARA in 2011. In Canada, the species occurs in southwestern British Columbia, along the southeast coast of Vancouver Island and on the adjacent Gulf Islands. Parks Canada published the final Recovery Strategy for the Slender Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys tenellus) in Canada in 2014. This report addresses progress made in implementing the strategy between 2021 and 2025.

This progress report is part of a series of documents for this species that should be taken into consideration together, including the Recovery Strategy for the Slender Popcornflower (2014), the previous progress report published in 2021, and the Multi-species Action Plan for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada (2018) along with its 2023 progress report. Refer to the Slender Popcornflower on the Species at Risk Public Registry for more information and related documents.

Progress Towards Meeting Objectives

The recovery strategy identified three objectives for the recovery of the species. Updates on the progress made towards meeting each objective are provided below.

Progress towards meeting recovery document objectives is categorized (Table 1) based on methods used to report on species at risk population trends for the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program. CESI species at risk population trend indicators show whether the population and distribution trends of species at risk are consistent with the objectives set out in recovery strategies or management plans. Results should be interpreted with caution because it can take many years for species to show progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

A category is not assigned to objectives that are not measurable or that do not target either the population or distribution of the species, for example, objectives focusing on survival, long-term viability, maintaining or protecting habitat, confirming presence, etc.

Maintain the Saturna Island population of Slender Popcornflower

Status: Shows progress

The performance indicators for this objective, as outlined in the recovery strategy, are 'best management practices are developed and implemented by 2019; ongoing monitoring continues to indicate that the population remains extant; and the population shows a stable or increasing trend in population size by 2024'.

The Saturna Island population at Mount Warburton Pike is the only known extant population of Slender Popcornflower in Canada. This population occurs on private lands and on federal lands within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Between 2017 and 2022, seeds were sown annually, totaling approximately 194,000 seeds over six years at both a natural site and a newly established Slender Popcornflower subpopulation within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on Saturna Island (further detail is provided below). Monitoring of the Saturna Island population (both private and federal lands) has occurred annually since 2016, except in 2020 when fieldwork was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, resource constraints have limited monitoring to park reserve lands (Figure 1), where a five-year running average (2021–2025) indicates a slight upward trend in population size.

Maintain the habitat at the Galiano Island population 1, Galiano Island population 2, Lone Tree Hill, Mayne Island, South Pender Island, and North Pender Island locations while the feasibility of population restoration is assessed for Slender Popcornflower

Status: No category assigned

The performance indicator for this objective, as outlined in the recovery strategy, is that 'habitat suitable for Slender Popcornflower or its seed bank remains extant at all six locations'.

The presence of suitable habitat at five of the six historic locations was inferred while surveying for the species. Several surveys were conducted between 2015 and 2021 with varying levels of search effort. Several sites contain marginally suitable habitat, some had associated species present, and others were challenging to access due to steep terrain (Penny et al., 2022). In addition, ecosystem restoration efforts on Mount Sutil, led by the Galiano Conservancy Association, contribute to maintaining suitable habitat.

The sixth historic location at Lone Tree Hill has not been surveyed in recent years (last known survey in 2010-11; Parks Canada Agency 2014) therefore the suitability of habitat is unknown.

Establish and/or augment populations to increase abundance and distribution^{Footnote 1} if determined to be feasible and biologically appropriate for Slender Popcornflower

Status: Shows progress

The performance indicators for this objective, as outlined in the recovery strategy, are that 'additional habitat has been identified on Vancouver Island and in the vicinity the Gulf Islands locations, for establishment or restoration of Slender Popcornflower population(s); propagation techniques have been developed by 2019; and one or more (re)introduction or augmentation experiments are underway at suitable locations by 2024'.

Between 2017 and 2022, Parks Canada created and augmented Slender Popcornflower subpopulations in suitable habitats within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on Saturna Island, using seeds produced in an increase garden at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site of Canada (Figure 2). These subpopulations form part of a larger population that includes park reserve and adjacent private lands.

Implementation of the Recovery Document

The recovery strategy identified six broad strategies for the recovery of the species. Updates on the status of each strategy and activities undertaken during the reporting period are outlined below. Overall status of the implementation of strategies are: two completed and four in progress.

Habitat and species protection: Protect existing populations and their habitat from destruction (e.g., from land conversion) by developing mechanisms / instruments for protection

Status: In progress

Many historical Slender Popcornflower locations, as well as a portion of the extant population, occur within regional, provincial or federal parks, where the species and its habitat benefit from protection. Other locations situated outside protected areas do not receive the same level of protection. At Mount Warburton Pike, where the extant population occurs on both federal and private land, Parks Canada has installed signage encouraging people to stay on established trails, and trail realignment is under consideration to further protect the species and its habitat.

Stewardship: Engage and involve landowners and land managers in recovery activities and decisions for Slender Popcornflower

Status: In progress

Parks Canada collaborates with adjacent private landowners on Saturna Island by obtaining permission to access their properties and conduct surveys of the Slender Popcornflower population, with the goal of re-surveying existing subpopulations and identifying new ones.

Periodic surveys at historic Slender Popcornflower locations are conducted as resources allow. Habitat restoration efforts on Mount Sutil, led by the Galiano Conservancy Association (A. Huggins, personal communication, November 27, 2025) have been ongoing for several decades and present opportunities for future species recovery efforts.

Public Education and Outreach: Increase public awareness of the species, value of natural habitat and connectivity, threats and harm reduction measures, and conservation value

Status: Complete

In November 2022, an interpretive sign was installed at Mount Warburton Pike in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve to inform visitors about the Slender Popcornflower and encourage behaviours that help protect the species and its sensitive habitat. In summer 2025, Parks Canada also delivered interpretive messaging on Saturna Island to raise awareness of Slender Popcornflower, its habitat, and key protective actions, including staying on trails and keeping pets leashed.

Research: Address knowledge gaps concerning genetic connectivity, threats, and habitat requirements

Status: In progress

Ongoing population monitoring on Saturna Island continues to provide information on habitat requirements and threats to the species. In Canada, Slender Popcornflower appears to grow successfully in disturbed soils (Parks Canada Agency, 2014). To better understand the conditions that support its growth, further demographic studies could examine how this tolerance to disturbance interacts with two major threats identified in the COSEWIC status report (COSEWIC, 2008) and the recovery strategy (Parks Canada Agency, 2014) that persist: competition with introduced plant species for light and moisture and grazing by livestock.

Population research and monitoring: Monitor population trends, habitat attributes, and threats, and conduct population demographic research

Status: In progress

Since 2018, annual monitoring of the Saturna Island Slender Popcornflower population within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and adjacent private lands has provided important data on population trends. Recent surveys of historic locations have failed to detect the species.

Population restoration: Develop and test population (re)introduction / augmentation techniques to recover the Canadian population of the species

Status: Complete

An increase garden, established in 2017, provided seeds that were sown in situ between 2017 and 2022 to create a new subpopulation and augment existing ones on Saturna Island within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

Critical Habitat Studies

The recovery strategy included two studies to complete the identification of critical habitat for the species. Updates on the status of each study and activities undertaken during the reporting period are outlined below.

Conduct annual monitoring for at least 5 years to ascertain suitability of habitat and presence of Slender Popcornflower in the vicinity of recorded populations on Galiano Island, Lone Tree Hill, Mayne Island, North Pender Island, and South Pender Island

Status: In progress^{Footnote 2}

Historic sites on Galiano Island were surveyed multiple times between 2016 and 2021. Mayne Island and North Pender Island were surveyed in 2021, and South Pender Island was surveyed in both 2015 and 2021. Slender Popcornflower was not detected at any of these locations (Penny et al., 2022). Although surveys were targeted and, in some cases, extensive (e.g., Galiano Island), certain areas with steep terrain—such as Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island and Heck Hill on Mayne Island—were inaccessible. Additionally, many historical occurrence records remain vague or inaccurate, making it difficult to confirm extirpation with certainty. Current estimates suggest a 70% probability of extirpation at Bodega Ridge and 60% at Mount Sutil on Galiano Island (Simon et al., 2025).

Suitable habitat for Slender Popcornflower appears to persist at some historic sites, such as Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island, whereas only limited or marginal habitat is present on South and North Pender Islands. The historic population at Lone Tree Hill has not been surveyed in recent years; therefore, habitat suitability is unknown, and no restoration efforts are currently underway (M. Davies, personal communication, December 11, 2025). Consequently, up-to-date information on this site is lacking.

Future surveys will be conducted as resources and opportunities arise, in collaboration with landowners and land managers. While all historic sites may be surveyed, priority will be given to locations where larger populations of Slender Popcornflower were historically recorded.

Survey the species' distribution to identify potentially suitable habitat, focusing on vicinity of historic populations

Status: Complete

Historic Slender Popcornflower locations on Galiano Island, Mayne Island, and South and North Pender Islands were surveyed between 2015 and 2021. Despite extensive efforts at some sites, the species was not detected. To complement ground-based surveys, a drone trial was conducted at Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island to capture aerial imagery and identify seepage areas that may provide suitable habitat for Slender Popcornflower (Penny et al., 2022).

Surveys at the only extant population on Saturna Island have been ongoing since 2016. Suitable habitat has been identified, and a new subpopulation has been successfully established through species augmentation efforts within designated critical habitat.

Conclusion

Implementation of this recovery strategy has established a strong foundation for the continued protection and management of Slender Popcornflower. Parks Canada, together with landowners and land managers of current and historical Slender Popcornflower locations and other collaborators, will continue to work with partners, stakeholders, and the public to advance the achievement of population and distribution objectives for the species.

Over the past five years, Parks Canada and others have completed and advanced several recovery measures outlined in the recovery strategy. These efforts have provided critical knowledge about the species, including propagation and population augmentation techniques, which will guide future conservation actions. If future surveys at historic locations reveal Slender Popcornflower plants, opportunities for reintroduction within suitable and accessible habitat will be considered, drawing on lessons learned from successful recovery efforts on Saturna Island.

References

COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Slender Popcornflower Plagiobothrys tenellus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 23 pp. https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/documents/UpKum2zEhCSvabMLYdSJn

Parks Canada Agency. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Slender Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys tenellus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. vi + 20 pp. https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/k4jhG1Na2sGCsRLGJJVdb

Parks Canada Agency. 2018. Multi-species Action Plan for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. v + 27 pp. https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/685upy7RYfz7YRW4I9Ydw

Parks Canada Agency. 2021. Report on the Implementation of the Recovery Strategy for the Slender Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys tenellus) in Canada (2014 – 2020). Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. v + 20 pp. https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/documents/KYbsIENGKXNIVDqVFFAjb

Parks Canada Agency. 2023. Implementation Report: Multi-species Action Plan for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada (2018-2023). Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. v + 20 pp. https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/documents/XOXnmZ3tEEsWc5gcpOMRx

Penny, J., Simon, A.D.F., and Batten, R. 2022. Slender popcornflower, Plagiobothrys tenellus in Bodega Ridge Provincial Park, Galiano Island and other Gulf Islands in South-west British Columbia. 12 pp. Unpublished

Simon, A. D. F., Basman, A., Martin, R. A., Robinson, C., and Cronk, Q. 2025. Detecting extirpation: A localized approach to a global problem. Plants, People, Planet,1–15.

Date modified :

2026-06-08