Species at Risk Require Greater Research and Recovery Efforts

OTTAWA, Dec. 1 /CNW/ - The Canadian Wildlife Federation attended the recent assessment meeting of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) where 52 species were assessed. The Committee added 14 newly assessed species to the growing tally of species at risk in Canada, including the skillet clubtail dragonfly, crumpled tarpaper lichen, and 9 populations of Atlantic salmon.

After five to 10 years since their previous assessment, COSEWIC reassessed 32 species and found only four to be less at risk. Two of the four were deemed to be less at risk simply because they found more individuals after surveying a larger area. "In many cases, these species had little to no new information available, indicating that greater effort must be put into research and monitoring" says David Browne, Director of Conservation at CWF.

To help fill this need, CWF has established the Endangered Species Fund to support research and monitoring of freshwater and marine species at risk.  In that last two years, the Fund has invested one million dollars in research on aquatic species at risk and will continue to support work aimed at improving our knowledge of species at risk. Some of the research currently being supported by CWF includes work on the now Endangered Inner Bay of Fundy Salmon.

The Committee also established the status of 16 populations of Atlantic salmon covering the entire Canadian range of the species. According to COSEWIC, Atlantic salmon have suffered significant declines at the southern end of their range in Canada resulting in populations in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and southern Nova Scotia and New Brunswick being assessed as at-risk. "COSEWIC produced an excellent assessment report that is sure to form the basis for future efforts to conserve this iconic species," said Browne.

However, they didn't do it on their own. DFO research formed a large part of the basis for the assessment and CWF hopes that this departmental support will translate into a legal listing of this fish species under the Species at Risk Act.  Listing the species would likely increase the resources available for recovery of Atlantic salmon, a species that is currently managed under the Fisheries Act.

The COSEWIC assessments also highlighted that invasive plant species continue to be a significant threat to biodiversity in Canada. Three plant species were reassessed as highly at-risk due to the threat posed by invasive plants such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). CWF is working to reduce the spread and introduction of invasive plants by the gardening industry through its Backyard Habitat Program which encourages Canadians to grow native plant gardens.

About the Canadian Wildlife Federation:

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending legislative changes and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. Visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca for more information.

For further information:

April Overall, CWF Communications,
[phone] ext. 227
[email protected]

Pam Logan, CWF Communications,
[phone] ext. 250
[email protected]