The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada |
| Several plant and animal species have been granted a special status in Canada. They are classified as either endangered, threatened, of special concern, or not at risk. An independent advisory organization, known as the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), evaluates the country’s wild species. Private sector as well as provincial, territorial and federal government scientists and conservation representatives sit on the Committee.
COSEWIC’s members meet twice a year to evaluate the situation of certain species and to grant them a certain status. Their evaluation is based on a situation report, which is prepared by a designated scientist. This report gives an overview of the species’ biological situation and includes the best scientific, community and traditional aboriginal knowledge available. The status granted by COSEWIC has no legal authority. However, with the adoption of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003, Canadian government decisions on whether or not to add species to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk are based on COSEWIC evaluations. Since its creation in 1977, COSEWIC has evaluated nearly 600 species, sub-species or populations in Canada. More than 400 of these have been designated at risk. The thirteen St. Lawrence cetacean species have already undergone COSEWIC evaluation and each has been granted a specific status. I want to know moreCommittee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada site |
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