TORONTO — Species such as the eastern wolf and even maple forests are at risk from urban sprawl, logging and the invasion of foreign species, while water sources are threatened by sewage, Ontario's environmental commissioner said Thursday.

In his fourth annual report, Gord Miller warned that certain plants and animals could vanish forever as the province's biodiversity is destroyed, but the government has no integrated strategy to deal with the problem.

"(The government) cannot keep up to the growing demand produced by species requiring protection," Miller said.

The report finds Ontario has a severe shortage of seeds from indigenous trees because of funding cuts to provincial nurseries that used to collect and store them.

The result, Miller said, is that large-scale reforestation projects with native trees would be impossible.

Jerry DeMarco, a lawyer with the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, said the report shows the Ministry of Natural Resources is not doing enough to protect indigenous species.

"We can't continue to play Russian roulette with our natural heritage," DeMarco said.

The report takes aim at the dangers posed by sewage discharge from municipal treatment plants to drinking-water sources.

The discharge can contain a variety of pollutants, including heavy metals and other toxic materials, as well as hormones and pharmaceuticals that can linger in the environment.

Despite the health risks, many treatment plants are decrepit or overloaded. In 15 municipalities, only the most rudimentary treatment of waste water is provided, the report says.

"Poor effluent quality from municipal sewage treatment plants is one of the root causes of water pollution in Ontario's lakes and rivers," the report states.

However, the last time the Ministry of the Environment took a comprehensive look at the performance of the plants was more than a decade ago.

Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky said the government was committed to providing "some significant dollars" to help municipalities upgrade their sewage treatment facilities.

"This report goes a long way to assist us in setting our priorities," said Dombrowsky, who gave no assurances the ministry would hire more staff.

Miller criticized the practice of spreading sewage sludge on farm fields because of the risk to water sources, but noted municipalities are not allowed to refuse the applications.

Over the past year, the previous Tory government brought in a Safe Drinking Water Act and the Nutrient Management Act.

Their effectiveness in protecting water sources depends heavily on the nuts-and-bolts regulations that give the law its muscle, but little progress has been made in putting those in place, said Miller.

New Democrat Marilyn Churley said the report shows the government is failing to protect the province's ecosystems.

"I would see this report today as a blueprint for the new government," said Churley.

"They should examine it carefully and pledge to deal with all of the really urgent, critical issues."