For threatened and endangered species listed under Canada’s federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), governments and stakeholders are required by law to develop and implement feasible, scientifically-based plans for identifying and managing critical habitats, and to recommend recovery goals for the population. Because the legislation relies primarily on voluntary habitat protection, a critical part of successful recovery planning involves working with landowners and stakeholders to develop activities that will result in changes in behaviour, policies, and practices with respect to managing habitat. Planning processes are generally multi-stakeholder in nature, and planning outcomes must meet biological goals while also changing behaviours and practices of the people directly involved.

Cortex involvement with species at risk recovery planning includes:

• assisting with recovery planning and planning effective extension activities
   
• providing comprehensive ecological analyses to support decisions regarding designating and protecting critical habitat for species at risk.