Subjects: EXE, ENI, ENP, ANW
Government of Canada collaborates with provinces and territories to assess nearly 30 000 Canadian species
OTTAWA, June 16, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to the conservation of biodiversity and the protection and conservation of species at risk and their habitats, in Canada.
Following on this commitment, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced today the release of the Wild Species 2015 report. The report?which assesses 29 848 species across Canada?is a collaborative effort with all provinces and territories. The results indicate that 80 percent of the species assessed are secure and 20 percent are at some level of risk of extinction.
The report was authored by the National General Status Working Group, which is composed of representatives from each of the Canadian provinces and territories and of the three federal departments/agencies whose mandate includes wildlife (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Parks Canada).
Quotes
"The release of the Wild Species 2015 report continues to enhance our knowledge of species in Canada. This builds upon recent meetings with provincial and territorial counterparts and the newly formed Species at Risk Advisory Committee, who are all key to protecting and recovering species at risk in Canada. We must maintain our collective work to ensure the conservation of all species."
? Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
"The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador was pleased to co-chair the Wild Species 2015 report. Working with our federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts has been important to ensure we are protecting and conserving species so that future generations can enjoy our great biodiversity."
? Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
Quick facts
- The species identified by the National General Status Working Group as being at risk are species that could be potential candidates for more detailed assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This committee of experts assesses species that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation.
- Section 128 of the Species at Risk Act stipulates that "five years after this section comes into force and at the end of each subsequent period of five years, the Minister must prepare a general report on the status of wildlife species." Reports were also produced in 2005 and 2010.
- The Wild Species 2015 report builds upon the 2010 report, which assessed 12 000 species. The conservation status of species that were included in the 2010 report was updated.
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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
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