About
The small but mighty Cobblestone Tiger Beetle is an endangered species in Canada, where it can only be found in the province of New Brunswick along two major river systems. As its name suggests, this beetle prefers cobble shorelines and beaches with sparse vegetation, both to lay its eggs, as well as to hunt down its insect prey, which it does at incredible speeds! Having only been discovered in Canada in 2003, there is still much to learn about this unique species. What we do know, however, is that the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle is an important part of Canada’s natural heritage and that conserving this feisty riparian beetle will also benefit the health of the streams and rivers where it lives.
Challenge
Because of its limited distribution and specialized habitat, even seemingly minor impacts from human activities could threaten the survival of the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle in Canada. Ten different pressures have been identified, including shoreline cottage development, compaction from vehicles driving on their beach habitat, and nutrient and pesticide runoff from agriculture. As with most endangered species, there is no silver bullet to secure the future of the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle, and it will take a team effort using a diversity of tools and approaches.
Solutions
With support from the Nature Trust of New Brunswick and the Government of New Brunswick, Global Conservation Solutions is leading the development of a collaborative conservation plan for the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle in Canada. Through a series of facilitated workshops, the team of 8 NGOs, provincial and federal government agencies, and both US and Canadian academic partners are designing strategies to effectively reduce pressures on the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle. By applying the Conservation Standards framework, the plan also captures key knowledge gaps that will help us better understand its ecology and life history, which will allow the team to both evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of our actions.
Results
The team continues to design effective solutions to conserve and restore Cobblestone Tiger Beetle and its habitat, but this hasn’t stopped us from taking action in the meantime! Landowner engagement and population surveys are the first steps toward operationalizing the conservation plan, and as the team continues developing the plan over the coming months, additional strategies will be collaboratively implemented to ensure that the Cobblestone Tiger Beetle remains an important part of Canada’s natural heritage.
