Progress Towards the Implementation of the Management Plan for the Nahanni Aster (2021-2025)

2026

Species at Risk Act
Management Plan Report

On this page

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Progress Towards Meeting Objectives
• Implementation of the Recovery Document
• Conclusion

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).

Under SARA, the minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency is the competent minister for individuals occurring in Parks Canada administered places and therefore has 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 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 progress described in this report would not have been achieved without the partnerships and collaborations with Nahʔą Dehé Dene Band, K'ehodi Guardians, and the Nahʔą Dehé Consensus Team.

Introduction

Nahanni Aster was listed as Special Concern in Schedule 1 of SARA in 2018. The species occurs in Nahʔą Dehé / Nahanni National Park Reserve (NNPR). Parks Canada published the final Management Plan for the Nahanni Aster in Canada in 2021. This report addresses progress made in implementing the document 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 management plan and any previous progress reports. Refer to the Nahanni Aster on the Species at Risk Public Registry for more information and related documents.

Progress Towards Meeting Objectives

The management plan identified one objective for the conservation of the species. An update on the progress made towards meeting the objective is provided below.

Progress towards meeting recovery document objectives is categorized 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 to show progress towards meeting population and distribution objectives, for example, due to the time needed for species to respond to conservation measures and for the collection and assessment of population and distribution information.

No category is 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.

Continue to protect and maintain the distribution and abundance of the Nahanni Aster population, while improving our understanding of the species ecological role and requirements, and promoting awareness of the species, possible threats, and research opportunities

Status: Shows progress

All components of the management objective show progress. Nahanni Aster distribution and abundance have been maintained since the publication of the management plan, as described below. Improvements in our understanding of the species and awareness promotion are detailed under the Implementation of the Recovery Document section.

Nahanni Aster is distributed across seven thermal springs within NNPR. The species continued presence at these locations was confirmed by surveys in August 2024, and no additional populations have been identified during incidental surveys of other springs within NNPR. The distribution has thus been protected and maintained.

Stem counts were also conducted during the 2024 surveys, at the plots established in 2019. However, these counts identified a fleabane, Erigeron hyssopifolius, mixed in with Nahanni Aster at five sites (86-30/Red, Gahnihthah, Sibbeston, Thirteen Steps, Wildmint), with their presence at the other two locations (Old Pots, Persistent) unconfirmed. We determined that the fleabane was mis-identified during the 2019 stem counts as Nahanni Aster; therefore, the abundance and area of extent calculations for both 2019 and 2024 are incorrect. Work is ongoing to review and correct these data to account for the confusion; however, since both surveys contain the same source of error, relative abundance and distribution over time is considered to have remained stable over the past five years.

Implementation of the Recovery Document

The management plan identified three broad strategies for the conservation of the species. An update on the status of each strategy (complete, in progress, not started or cancelled^{Footnote 1}) and activities undertaken during the reporting period is provided below.

Outreach and Communications

Status: In progress

Nahanni Aster-focused communications and outreach occurred in 2021 when the draft management plan was released for comment, and more detailed, updated information has since been shared on the NNPR website. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has also highlighted the Nahanni Aster in territorial species at risk publications and social media posts.

Basic Research and Status Monitoring

Status: In progress

Parks Canada has developed and continues to build a database of known springs in the NNPR area, using references from Parks Canada, the GNWT, published and unpublished literature, and NNPR staff incidental observations. When possible, NNPR is incidentally documenting site descriptions for these springs, as well as presence/absence of Nahanni and other aster species.

While no formal engagement has occurred to solicit or document Dene knowledge of Nahanni Aster, the Nahanni Aster monitoring program was included in broader engagements with the Nahanni Butte community in 2023. No concerns or Dene knowledge about Nahanni Aster were communicated, but the community identified some knowledge holders who have expertise on the Tu Naka Dé (Flat River), along which several of the Nahanni Aster springs are located. Additionally, the Nahʔą Dehé K'ehodi Guardians from Nahanni Butte participated in the 2024 surveys.

All seven populations were resurveyed in 2024, with distribution and abundance appearing to be stable since 2019. The 2024 surveys used an updated protocol to get more accurate stem counts for different phenological stages, better understand distribution (i.e., extent and density of patches), and to document growing condition variability within sites. Protocol updates continue to address the identification of the similar-appearing E. hyssopifolius at multiple Nahanni Aster sites during the 2024 surveys (a major source of error in the 2019 and 2024 results), as well as better document site conditions and species habitat longitudinally between surveys.

Additional priorities for future Nahanni Aster research will be established during the broader Nahʔą Dehé Consensus Team process to establish NNPR research priorities, as outlined in the Ndahecho Gondié Gháádé agreement.

Policies and Guidelines

Status: In progress

Although no external proponents have applied for work at any Nahanni Aster locations since 2021, conditions to protect Nahanni Aster populations and spring habitats throughout NNPR are included in best management practices for aircraft and outfitter operations, which apply to all business license holders and researchers. Visitor itineraries are also reviewed for interactions with Nahanni Aster sites, and conditions were implemented for the single permit where this issue was identified.

Conclusion

Since the publication of the management plan, the distribution and abundance of the Nahanni Aster population have been protected and maintained, we have gathered additional data to further our understanding of the species' ecological role and requirements and have continued to promote awareness of the species and possible threats.

Ongoing efforts have collated and organized much of the existing information on Nahanni Aster and spring habitat. This, along with more detailed habitat data gathered during 2024 surveys, lays a foundation for building a species distribution model to better understand habitat requirements; as well as identifying knowledge gaps and future priorities.

A key outstanding question is how the identification of E. hyssopifolius at most of the Nahanni Aster sites changed prior abundance and distribution estimates; and how this identification challenge will be addressed in future surveys. While the two species similarity presents a challenge for field staff, clarifying their different distributions and microhabitats across the sites will inform our understanding of site-level habitat needs for Nahanni Aster.

Parks Canada continues to work with co-management partners on all monitoring and research programs, including Nahanni Aster. Nahʔą Dehé K'ehodi Guardians are anticipated to participate in all future Nahanni Aster surveys and will be key to including and documenting Dene knowledge of the species and its spring habitats.

Date modified :

2026-07-02