Species at risk population trends
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Healthy wildlife populations are an important part of biodiversity. In Canada, some species that have experienced population declines or are naturally rare are now in danger of disappearing. Recovery or management actions are put in place to protect wildlife species that are identified as being at risk and are in danger of disappearing. Ensuring the successful recovery or management of a species at risk can be a long-term process involving various measures to stop or reverse the decline in the species and improve the likelihood that it will persist in the wild. This indicator provides a preliminary assessment of whether the population (how many) and distribution (how they are spread out) trends of species at risk listed under the Species at Risk Act are consistent with what is listed in their recovery or management objectives.
All species
Species at risk population trends
All species at risk assessed
By species groups
Summary of species at risk population trends
Key results
Of the 167 species at risk that include population and distribution objectives and for which trends could be determined, as of May 2024:
- 66 species (40%) show progress towards their objectives
- 24 species (14%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
- 77 species (46%) do not show progress towards their objectives
Progress of species at risk towards their population and distribution objectives, Canada, May 2024
Data table for the long description
| Progress | Number of species | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Show progress | 66 | Vertebrate (41) American marten (Newfoundland population); banded killifish (Newfoundland population); beluga whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population); black-tailed prairie dog; bowhead whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population); Canada warbler; carmine shiner; common nighthawk; eastern sand darter (Quebec populations); fin whale (Atlantic population); fin whale (Pacific population); harlequin duck (Eastern population); hooded warbler; killer whale (Northeast Pacific northern resident population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific transient population); longspine thornyhead; mountain beaver; North Atlantic right whale; northern bottlenose whale (Scotian Shelf population); northern wolffish; Paxton Lake benthic threespine stickleback; Paxton Lake limnetic threespine stickleback; peregrine falcon, anatum/tundrius; rainbow smelt (Lake Utopia small-bodied population); red knot, islandica subspecies; Rocky Mountain sculpin (eastslope populations); rougheye rockfish type I; rougheye rockfish type II; rusty blackbird; savannah sparrow, princeps subspecies; sea otter; short-tailed albatross; spotted wolffish; Sprague's pipit; Steller sea lion; swift fox; Vananda Creek benthic threespine stickleback; Vananda Creek limnetic threespine stickleback; western silvery minnow; white sturgeon (Upper Fraser River population); whooping crane Vascular plant (13) Anticosti aster; Bolander’s quillwort; coastal wood fern; cucumber tree; eastern prickly pear cactus; pink coreopsis; prairie lupine; soapweed; spotted wintergreen; sweet pepperbush; water pennywort; western prairie fringed-orchid; wood-poppy Insect (2) Sonora skipper; yucca moth Mollusc (5) Banff Springs snail; hotwater physa; Olympia oyster; wavy-rayed lampmussel; yellow lampmussel Moss (4) Haller’s apple moss; poor pocket moss; pygmy pocket moss; spoon-leaved moss Lichen (1) Frosted glass-whiskers (Nova Scotia population) |
| Mixed evidence | 24 | Vertebrate (7) Blanding’s turtle (Nova Scotia population); burrowing owl; caribou (northern mountain population); eastern whip-poor-will; Louisiana waterthrush; olive-sided flycatcher; Upper Great Lakes kiyi Vascular plant (11) Common hoptree; deerberry; eastern mountain avens; Macoun’s meadowfoam; Plymouth gentian; seaside birds-foot lotus; slender mouse-ear-cress; slender popcornflower; Victorin's gentian; Victorin's water-hemlock; water-plantain buttercup Insect (1) Poweshiek skipperling Mollusc (2) Round pigtoe; snuffbox Moss (1) Rusty cord-moss Lichen (2) Boreal felt lichen (Boreal population); vole ears lichen |
| Do not show progress | 77 | Vertebrate (46) Atlantic salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population); Atlantic whitefish; Atlantic wolffish; band-tailed pigeon; Bicknell's thrush; black-footed ferret; caribou (Atlantic-Gaspésie population); caribou (Boreal population); chestnut-collared longspur; eastern yellow-bellied racer; ermine, haidarum subspecies; five-lined skink (Carolinian population); greater sage grouse, urophasianus subspecies; greater short-horned lizard; horned grebe (Magdalen Islands population); horned grebe (Western population); ivory gull; killer whale (Northeast Pacific offshore population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific southern resident population); lake chubsucker; leatherback sea turtle (Atlantic population); long-billed curlew; McCown's longspur; northern madtom; northern saw-whet owl, brooksi subspecies; Ord's kangaroo rat; piping plover, circumcinctus subspecies; piping plover, melodus subspecies; prothonotary warbler; red crossbill, percna subspecies; red knot, rufa subspecies; roseate tern; Ross's Gull; Salish sucker; short-eared owl; silver chub (Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations); spotted owl, caurina subspecies; streaked horned lark; striped bass (St. Lawrence River population); vesper sparrow, affinis subspecies; westslope cutthroat trout (Alberta population); white sturgeon (Nechako River population); white sturgeon (Upper Columbia River population); white sturgeon (Upper Kootenay River population); white-headed woodpecker; yellow-breasted chat, virens subspecies Vascular plant (17) American water-willow; Baikal sedge; bear's-foot sanicle; deltoid balsamroot; Fernald's braya; foothill sedge; Furbish's lousewort; golden paintbrush; goldencrest; Gulf of St. Lawrence aster; pink sand-verbena; red mulberry; small whorled pogonia; tall woolly-heads; white-top aster; willowleaf aster; yellow montane violet, praemorsa subspecies Insect (4) Dakota skipper; island marble; Taylor's checkerspot; white flower moth Mollusc (6) Kidneyshell; northern abalone; northern riffleshell; rayed bean; round hickorynut; salamander mussel Moss (1) Porsild's bryum Lichen (3) Boreal felt lichen (Atlantic population); cryptic paw lichen; flooded jellyskin |
Download detailed data file (Excel/CSV; 220.1 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: In addition to the 167 species considered in the Figure, there are 98 species with population and distribution objectives that had reassessments that did not contain enough information to determine trends. Information on these species can be found in the detailed data table. For more information on the classifications, refer to the Methods section.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2024).
In order to assess whether species at risk show progress towards their population and distribution objectives, 2 conditions must be met:
- A recovery strategy or management plan has been posted on the Species at risk public registry
- The species has been reassessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada or there is a report on the progress on recovery
299 species meet both of these conditions. For 14 of the 299 species, recovery is considered not feasible; for 20 species, there are no population and distribution objectives in their recovery strategy or management plan; and for 98 species, there is insufficient information in their reassessment or report on the progress on recovery to determine population and distribution trends. Therefore, the results are based on the remaining 167 species.
The Species at Risk Act (SARA) is Canada's key legislation for the assessment, listing and recovery of species at risk. The purposes of SARA are to:
- prevent wildlife species from being extirpated (meaning they will no longer exist in Canada) or becoming extinct
- provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened
- manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened
The recovery or management of species is affected by many factors, including the species' life span, reproductive cycle, the state of their habitat, and threats such as habitat loss and pollution. In addition, it can be difficult to evaluate the recovery or results of management measures of rare species, particularly if the species is hard to find and identify. It is important to note that it may take many years to observe the response of a species' population or distribution to recovery or management efforts.
Species at risk population trends by species groups
Key results
- Fishes have the most species that show progress towards their population and distribution objectives (16 species; or 55%)
- Reptiles and amphibians have no species that show progress
- Birds have the most species that do not show progress (23 species; or 61%)
Progress of species at risk by species group towards their population and distribution objectives, Canada, May 2024
Data table for the long description
| Species group | Progress and species |
|---|---|
| Vertebrate: Bird | Show progress (11) Canada warbler; common nighthawk; harlequin duck (eastern population); hooded warbler; peregrine falcon, anatum/tundrius; red knot, islandica subspecies; rusty blackbird; savannah sparrow, princeps subspecies; short-tailed albatross; Sprague's pipit; whooping crane Mixed evidence (4) Burrowing owl; eastern whip-poor-will; Louisiana waterthrush; olive-sided flycatcher Do not show progress (23) Band-tailed pigeon; Bicknell's thrush; chestnut-collared longspur; greater sage grouse, urophasianus subspecies; horned grebe (Magdalen Islands population); horned grebe (western population); ivory gull; long-billed curlew; McCown's longspur; northern saw-whet owl, brooksi subspecies; piping plover, circumcinctus subspecies; piping plover, melodus subspecies; prothonotary warbler; red crossbill, percna subspecies; red knot, rufa subspecies; roseate tern; Ross's gull; short-eared owl; spotted owl, caurina subspecies; streaked horned lark; vesper sparrow, affinis subspecies; white-headed woodpecker; yellow-breasted chat, virens subspecies |
| Vertebrate: Fish | Show progress (16) Banded killifish (Newfoundland population); carmine shiner; eastern sand darter (Quebec populations); longspine thornyhead; rougheye rockfish type I; rougheye rockfish type II; northern wolffish; Paxton Lake benthic threespine stickleback; Paxton Lake limnetic threespine stickleback; rainbow smelt (Lake Utopia small-bodied population); Rocky Mountain sculpin (eastslope populations); spotted wolffish; Vananda Creek benthic threespine stickleback; Vananda Creek limnetic threespine stickleback; western silvery minnow; white sturgeon (Upper Fraser River population) Mixed evidence (1) Upper Great Lakes kiyi Do not show progress (12) Atlantic salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population); Atlantic whitefish; Atlantic wolffish; lake chubsucker; northern madtom; Salish sucker; silver chub (Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations); striped bass (St. Lawrence River population); westslope cutthroat trout (Alberta population); white sturgeon (Nechako River population); white sturgeon (Upper Columbia River population); white sturgeon (Upper Kootenay River population) |
| Vertebrate: Mammal | Show progress (14) American marten (Newfoundland population); beluga whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population); black-tailed prairie dog; bowhead whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population); fin whale (Atlantic population); fin whale (Pacific population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific northern resident population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific transient population); mountain beaver; North Atlantic right whale; northern bottlenose whale (Scotian Shelf population); sea otter; Steller sea lion; swift fox Mixed evidence (1) Caribou (northern mountain population) Do not show progress (7) Black-footed ferret; caribou (Atlantic-Gaspésie population); caribou (Boreal population); ermine, haidarum subspecies; killer whale (Northeast Pacific offshore population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific southern resident population); Ord's kangaroo rat |
| Vertebrate: Reptile and amphibian | Mixed evidence (1) Blanding's turtle (Nova Scotia population) Do not show progress (4) Eastern yellow-bellied racer; five-lined skink (Carolinian population); greater short-horned lizard; leatherback sea turtle (Atlantic population) |
| Vascular plant | Show progress (13) Anticosti aster; Bolander's quillwort; coastal wood fern; cucumber tree; eastern prickly pear cactus; pink coreopsis; prairie lupine; soapweed; spotted wintergreen; sweet pepperbush; water pennywort; western prairie fringed-orchid; wood-poppy Mixed evidence (11) Common hoptree; deerberry; eastern mountain avens; Macoun’s meadowfoam; Plymouth gentian; seaside birds-foot lotus; slender mouse-ear-cress; slender popcornflower; Victorin's gentian; Victorin's water-hemlock; water-plantain buttercup Do not show progress (17) American water-willow; Baikal sedge; bear's-foot sanicle; deltoid balsamroot; Fernald's braya; foothill sedge; Furbish's lousewort; golden paintbrush; goldencrest; Gulf of St. Lawrence aster; pink sand-verbena; red mulberry; small whorled pogonia; tall woolly-heads; white-top aster; willowleaf aster; yellow montane violet, praemorsa subspecies |
| Insect | Show progress (2) Sonora skipper; yucca moth Mixed evidence (1) Poweshiek skipperling Do not show progress (4) Dakota skipper; island marble; Taylor's checkerspot; white flower moth |
| Mollusc | Show progress (5) Banff Springs snail; hotwater physa; Olympia oyster; wavy-rayed lampmussel; yellow lampmussel Mixed evidence (2) Round pigtoe; snuffbox Do not show progress (6) Kidneyshell; northern abalone; northern riffleshell; rayed bean; round hickorynut; salamander mussel |
| Moss | Show progress (4) Haller's apple moss; poor pocket moss; pygmy pocket moss; spoon-leaved moss Mixed evidence (1) Rusty cord-moss Do not show progress (1) Porsild's bryum |
| Lichen | Show progress (1) Frosted glass-whiskers (Nova Scotia population) Mixed evidence (2) Boreal felt lichen (Boreal population); vole ears lichen Do not show progress (3) Boreal felt lichen (Atlantic population); cryptic paw lichen; flooded jellyskin |
Download detailed data file (Excel/CSV; 220.1 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: In addition to the 167 species considered in the Figure, there are 98 species with population and distribution objectives that had reassessments that did not contain enough information to determine trends. Information on these species can be found in the detailed data table. For more information on the classifications, refer to the Methods section.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2024).
Risk level
Species at risk population trends by risk level
Extirpated, endangered and threatened species at risk
Species of special concern
Species at risk are wildlife species that are in danger of disappearing. Extirpated species are most at risk, followed by endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern.
An extirpated species is a wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere in the wild. For some of those classified as extirpated, there is hope for rediscovery or recovery. An endangered species is a species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. A threatened species is a wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its decline. A species of special concern is a wildlife species that is at risk of becoming endangered or threatened if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its decline.
Extirpated, endangered, and threatened species at risk
Under SARA, recovery strategies must be prepared for species listed as extirpated, endangered, or threatened. Recovery strategies identify, among other things, threats to the survival of the species and its habitat, critical habitat, and set population and distribution objectives for the species' recovery.
Key results
Of the 128 extirpated, endangered and threatened species for which trends could be determined, as of May 2024:
- 42 species (33%) show progress towards their population and distribution recovery objectives
- 19 species (15%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
- 67 species (52%) do not show progress towards their population and distribution recovery objectives
Progress of extirpated, endangered and threatened species towards their population and distribution recovery objectives, Canada, May 2024
Data table for the long description
| Progress | Number of species | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Show progress | 42 | Vertebrate (26) American marten (Newfoundland population); beluga whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population); black-tailed prairie dog; Canada warbler; carmine shiner; common nighthawk; eastern sand darter (Quebec populations); fin whale (Pacific population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific northern resident population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific transient population); North Atlantic right whale; northern bottlenose whale (Scotian Shelf population); northern wolffish; Paxton Lake benthic threespine stickleback; Paxton Lake limnetic threespine stickleback; rainbow smelt (Lake Utopia small-bodied population); Rocky Mountain sculpin (eastslope populations); short-tailed albatross; spotted wolffish; Sprague's pipit; swift fox; Vananda Creek benthic threespine stickleback; Vananda Creek limnetic threespine stickleback; western silvery minnow; white sturgeon (Upper Fraser River population); whooping crane Vascular plant (10) Bolander's quillwort; cucumber tree; eastern prickly pear cactus; pink coreopsis; prairie lupine; soapweed; spotted wintergreen; sweet pepperbush; western prairie fringed-orchid; wood-poppy Insect (1) Yucca moth Mollusc (2) Banff Springs snail; hotwater physa Moss (3) Haller's apple moss; spoon-leaved moss; poor pocket moss |
| Mixed evidence | 19 | Vertebrate (5) Blanding's turtle (Nova Scotia population); burrowing owl; eastern whip-poor-will; Louisiana waterthrush; olive-sided flycatcher Vascular plant (9) Deerberry; eastern mountain avens; Macoun's meadowfoam; Plymouth gentian; seaside birds-foot lotus; slender mouse-ear-cress; slender popcornflower; Victorin's gentian; water-plantain buttercup Insect (1) Poweshiek skipperling Mollusc (2) Round Pigtoe; snuffbox Moss (1) Rusty cord-moss Lichen (1) Vole ears lichen |
| Do not show progress | 67 | Vertebrate (41) Atlantic salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population); Atlantic whitefish; Bicknell's thrush; black-footed ferret; caribou (Atlantic-Gaspésie population); caribou (Boreal population); chestnut-collared longspur; eastern yellow-bellied racer; ermine, haidarum subspecies; five-lined skink (Carolinian population); greater sage grouse, urophasianus subspecies; greater short-horned lizard; horned grebe (Magdalen Islands population); ivory gull; killer whale (Northeast Pacific offshore population); killer whale (Northeast Pacific southern resident population); lake chubsucker; leatherback sea turtle (Atlantic population); McCown's longspur; northern madtom; northern saw-whet owl, brooksi subspecies; Ord's kangaroo rat; piping plover, circumcinctus subspecies; piping plover, melodus subspecies; prothonotary warbler; red crossbill, percna subspecies; red knot, rufa subspecies; roseate tern; Ross's gull; Salish sucker; silver chub (Great Lakes - Upper St. Lawrence populations); spotted owl, caurina subspecies; streaked horned lark; striped bass (St. Lawrence River population); vesper sparrow, affinis subspecies; westslope cutthroat trout (Alberta population); white sturgeon (Nechako River population); white sturgeon (Upper Columbia River population); white sturgeon (Upper Kootenay River population); white-headed woodpecker; yellow-breasted chat, virens subspecies Vascular plant (14) American water-willow; bear's-foot sanicle; deltoid balsamroot; Fernald's braya; foothill sedge; Furbish's lousewort; golden paintbrush; Gulf of St. Lawrence aster; pink sand-verbena; red mulberry; small whorled pogonia; tall woolly-heads; willowleaf aster; yellow montane violet, praemorsa subspecies Insect (4) Dakota skipper; island marble; Taylor's checkerspot; white flower moth Mollusc (6) Kidneyshell; northern abalone; northern riffleshell; rayed bean; round hickorynut; salamander mussel Moss (1) Porsild's bryum Lichen (1) Boreal felt lichen (Atlantic population) |
Download detailed data file (Excel/CSV; 220.1 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: In addition to the 128 species considered in the Figure, there are also 61 extirpated, endangered or threatened species with population and distribution recovery objectives for which the reassessments did not contain enough information to determine trends. Information on these species can be found in the detailed data table. For more information on the classifications, refer to the Methods section.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2024).
Species of special concern
Species of special concern are in the lowest category of risk under SARA. These species are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
Under SARA, management plans must be prepared for species listed as special concern. Management plans include measures for maintaining sustainable population levels of the species. They may include population and distribution objectives as part of their management objectives, but is not a requirement. Only species of special concern with population and distribution objectives in their management objectives are reported in the indicator.
Key results
Of the 35 species of special concern that include population and distribution management objectives and for which trends could be determined, as of May 2024:
- 20 species (57%) show progress towards their population and distribution management objectives
- 5 species (14%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
- 10 species (29%) do not show progress towards their population and distribution management objectives
Progress of species of special concern towards their population and distribution management objectives, Canada, May 2024
Data table for the long description
| Progress | Number of species | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Show progress | 20 | Vertebrate (13) Banded killifish (Newfoundland population); bowhead whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population); fin whale (Atlantic population); harlequin duck (eastern population); longspine thornyhead; mountain beaver; red knot, islandica subspecies; rougheye rockfish type I; rougheye rockfish type II; rusty blackbird; savannah sparrow, princeps subspecies; sea otter; Steller sea lion Vascular plant (3) Anticosti aster; coastal wood fern; water pennywort Lichen (1) Frosted glass-whiskers (Nova Scotia population) Mollusc (3) Olympia oyster; wavy-rayed lampmussel; yellow lampmussel |
| Mixed evidence | 5 | Vertebrate (2) Caribou (northern mountain population); Upper Great Lakes kiyi Vascular plant (2) Common hoptree; Victorin's water-hemlock Lichen (1) Boreal felt lichen (Boreal population) |
| Do not show progress | 10 | Vertebrate (5) Atlantic wolffish; band-tailed pigeon; horned grebe (Western population); long-billed curlew; short-eared owl Vascular plant (3) Baikal sedge; goldencrest; white-top aster Lichen (2) Cryptic paw lichen; flooded jellyskin |
Download detailed data file (Excel/CSV; 220.1 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: In addition to the 35 species considered in the Figure, there are also 37 species of special concern with population and distribution management objectives for which the reassessments did not contain enough information to determine trends. Information on these species can be found in the detailed data table. For more information on the classifications, refer to the Methods section.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2024).
About the indicator
About the indicator
What the indicator measures
The indicator shows whether the population and distribution trends of species at risk are consistent with the objectives set out in final recovery strategies or management plans. Results should be interpreted with caution as it can take many years for species to show progress towards their population and distribution objectives. Examples of challenges in this regard include the long timeframe involved as it can take several generations for species to respond to management and recovery actions and the need for enough time to collect and assess information.
Why this indicator is important
The indicator provides a preliminary assessment of whether recovery or management efforts are on track. Species at risk are important elements of healthy ecosystems, and protecting them helps support biodiversity. In general, the successful recovery or management of a species at risk should, over time, stop or reverse a significant decline due to human activity and should stabilize or improve the likelihood of the species' persistence in the wild.
Related initiatives
This indicator supports the measurement of progress towards the following 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy long-term goal: Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity. It is used to assess progress towards the target: By 2026, increase the percentage of species at risk listed under federal law that exhibit population trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans to 60%, from a baseline of 42% in 2019.
It also contributes to Target 4 of Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy: "Species recovery." This target is related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 4: "Ensure urgent management actions to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, to significantly reduce extinction risk, as well as to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable management practices, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimize human-wildlife conflict for coexistence."
In addition, the indicator contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is linked to the 2030 Agenda's Goal 15 (Life on Land) and Target 15.5: "Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species."
Related indicators
The Changes in the status of wildlife species at risk indicator tracks changes in status for species at risk assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
The General status of wild species indicator reports extinction risks across a broad set of species and can reveal early signs of trouble before species reach a critical condition.
The Canadian species index indicator tracks average population trends for vertebrate species in Canada.
Data sources and methods
Data sources and methods
Data sources
For species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA, the Act), population and distribution objectives are drawn from final recovery strategies (for extirpated, endangered and threatened species) or management plans (for species of special concern).
To evaluate progress towards the objectives, population and distribution data are obtained from the most recent assessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), from Reports on the Progress of Recovery Document Implementation and from other publicly available data.
All documents are made available through the Species at risk public registry or can be requested from COSEWIC.
More information
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada assessments
COSEWIC is an independent body of experts that determines the conservation status of Canadian wildlife species or other designatable units (subspecies, varieties, discrete and evolutionary significant populations) that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation. The status report compiles and analyzes the best available scientific information on a wildlife species' status in Canada and may include Indigenous and community knowledge. COSEWIC reassesses species every 10 years, or more often if warranted. It should be noted that COSEWIC reports, including status reassessments, are independent of the other work performed under SARA and do not take political, social, or economic factors into account.
Listing of species at risk in Canada
Canada has a 2-step process for listing species at risk in Canada:
- Scientific assessment: COSEWIC assesses the status of wildlife species.Species potentially at risk are assessed by COSEWIC. The Committee prepares a status report and assigns the species to 1 of 7 status categories: Extinct, Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, Not at Risk or Data Deficient. Each species at risk is reassessed by COSEWIC at least once every 10 years, or sooner if there is reason to believe that the status of the species has changed.
- Listing decision: COSEWIC provides advice to the Government of Canada, which makes a decision on whether to list.COSEWIC assessments are provided to the members of the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, who recommends to the Governor in Council which species to add to the List of wildlife species at risk (Schedule 1) under the Species at Risk Act. Inclusion of a species on Schedule 1 triggers the provisions of the Act to take effect.
Species at Risk Act recovery strategies and management plans
For species listed as endangered, threatened, or extirpated under Schedule 1 of SARA, a recovery strategy must be prepared by the competent minister(s) (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Parks Canada Agency or Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as appropriate). For species listed under SARA as special concern, a management plan must be prepared. The provisions of the Act come into force when species are added to SARA Schedule 1. See Table 1 for species at risk definitions.
| Species | Definitions |
|---|---|
| Extirpated species | A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere in the wild. |
| Endangered species | A wildlife species that is facing imminent extirpation or extinction (it no longer exists anywhere in the wild). |
| Threatened species | A wildlife species that is likely to become an endangered species if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction. |
| Species of special concern | A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. |
Source: Species at Risk Act (2002).
The Species at Risk Act allows the Government to adopt all or part of existing recovery strategies or management plans (SARA sections 44 and 69, respectively) for a Schedule 1 listed species, such as those developed by a province or territory, if the document meets the content requirements under the Act.
A recovery strategy includes a determination of whether recovery is feasible. If recovery is determined to be feasible, the recovery strategy must address threats to the survival of the species identified by COSEWIC, including any loss of habitat. It must also include other specific elements as outlined in SARA section 41 including population and distribution objectives. A multi-species or ecosystem approach may be used when preparing the recovery strategy if appropriate. A proposed recovery strategy must be posted on the Species at risk public registry within 1 year of the corresponding listing on SARA Schedule 1 for endangered species, and within 2 years for threatened or extirpated species. A report on the recovery strategy implementation and the progress towards meeting its objectives must be completed and posted on the public registry every 5 years. Action plans must be prepared to support implementation of the recovery strategy. In general, action plans will outline specific measures required to meet the objectives of the recovery strategy.
A management plan must be prepared within 3 years of listing for a species of special concern. It must include measures for the conservation of the species and may apply to more than one wildlife species. Implementation of management plans must be monitored, and a report assessing the implementation must be posted on the public registry every 5 years.
Recovery strategies and management plans are as varied as the biology of, and threats to, the species they address. These documents consider the current and past abundance and distribution of the species and recommend approaches for their recovery or conservation. For example, the objective of the recovery strategy for the poor pocket moss is to maintain existing populations through habitat protection and stewardship, including limiting recreational access to sites. The interim recovery goal for the North Atlantic right whale is to achieve an increasing trend in population abundance over 3 generations (about 60 years), by reducing mortality from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat degradation.
Species at Risk Act progress reports
Where more recent population and distribution information was available in a Report on the Progress of Recovery Document Implementation than in a COSEWIC report, this information was used in the indicator. These reports generally describe actions taken towards recovery or management; they may or may not contain information on biological trends.
Methods
The population and distribution trend information for each species is compared to the corresponding objectives to determine whether efforts are on track to meet those objectives. Each species is assigned to 1 of 4 categories based on whether it is making progress toward the objectives: show progress, do not show progress, mixed evidence, or insufficient information. The indicator is a count of the number of species in the first 3 categories.
More information
Species selection
All wildlife species for which final recovery strategies or management plans exist are included, namely species listed as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or special concern. A species is included in the indicator if it meets the following criteria:
- Species listed as extirpated, endangered, threatened or special concern under the Species at Risk Act Schedule 1 for which recovery is considered feasible
- The species' recovery strategy or management plan has objectives relating to population size, distribution or both
- Species have been reassessed (COSEWIC assessment or a Report on the Progress of Recovery Document Implementation) since the publication of the final recovery strategy or management plan, to compare the population and distribution trends to the objectives
- Sufficient information must be available to determine whether the species' population and distribution trends are consistent with the recovery or management objectives
In preparing a recovery strategy for a species at risk, a determination is made about whether recovery is technically and biologically feasible. For example, it may not be feasible to ensure the recovery of a species whose habitat is no longer present in the wild. The recovery of the following 14 species was deemed not feasible: Atlantic walrus (Northwest Atlantic population), dwarf wedgemussel, Enos Lake benthic threespine stickleback, Enos Lake limnetic threespine stickleback, Eskimo curlew, greater sage-grouse phaios subspecies, grey whale (Atlantic population), incurved grizzled moss, Pacific pond turtle, Pacific gophersnake, paddlefish, pygmy short-horned lizard, shortnose cisco, and timber rattlesnake. The species therefore have no population or distribution objectives and are not considered in this indicator.
The following 20 species are not considered in this indicator because their recovery strategies or management plans do not contain population and distribution objectives; instead, they set targets such as verification of the presence of the species in Canada: Blanchard's cricket frog, brook spike-primrose, butternut, coastrange sculpin (Cultus population), columbia sculpin, eastern hog-nosed snake, frosted elfin, gravel chub, island blue, Karner blue, Kirtland's warbler, margined streamside moss, Ottoe skipper, pink-footed shearwater, Puget Oregonian snail, rusty-patched bumble bee, seaside centipede lichen, silver hair moss, spring blue-eyed mary, and yellow rail.
For 98 species, the evidence contained in reassessment documents was insufficient to assess whether progress was being made towards objectives. Information on these species is contained in the detailed data table.
Categorization
A comparison was made between the objectives and the population and distribution trends in observed data, accounting as much as possible for the length of time elapsed between the publication of the recovery document and the reassessment and for the biology of the species. Using a weight-of-evidence approach, species were placed into 1 of 4 categories, and the rationale was recorded.
- Population and distribution trends consistent with objectives (Show progress)
- Population and distribution trends not consistent with objectives. This includes species that are stable below their objectives and species that are in decline. (Do not show progress)
- Some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline (Mixed evidence)
- Available data are insufficient to determine population and distribution trends (Insufficient data to determine trends)
The indicator is a count of the number of species assigned to the first 3 categories. Species in the fourth category are not included in the indicator because there is insufficient data to determine their population and distribution trends. Should a species no longer be at risk because its population and distribution objectives are achieved, it will be categorized as "Show progress" in the indicator and remain in this category in future indicator updates. Four (4) species, the hooded warbler, peregrine falcon anatum/tundrius, pygmy pocket moss and sonora skipper, were removed from SARA Schedule 1 in 2017, 2023, 2019 and 2021 respectively as they were no longer at risk; they are included in the "Show progress" category in the indicator.
Recent changes
New recovery documents allowed additional species to be included in the indicator. Documents are available through the Species at risk public registry or from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
The current update of the indicator added 8 species: 4 bird species (ivory gull, horned grebe [western population], horned grebe [Magdalen Islands population], and long-billed curlew); 2 aquatic vertebrate species (killer whale [Northeast Pacific offshore population] and Upper Great Lakes kiyi) and 2 vascular plant species (Macoun’s meadowfoam and willow leaf aster).
In addition, a total of 30 species that were previously included in the indicator were reassessed. This includes: 3 terrestrial vertebrate species (Blanchard’s cricket frog, caribou [Boreal population], and Kirtland’s warbler), 17 aquatic vertebrate species (Atlantic wolffish, northern wolffish, spotted wolffish, Enos Lake benthic threespine stickleback, Enos Lake limnetic threespine stickleback, grass pickerel, grey whale [Eastern North Pacific population], killer whale [Northeast Pacific northern resident population], killer whale [Northeast Pacific southern resident population], killer whale [Northeast Pacific transient population], lake chubsucker, northern madtom, Paxton Lake benthic threespine stickleback, Paxton Lake limnetic threespine stickleback, Salish sucker, Vananda Creek benthic threespine stickleback, and Vananda Creek limnetic threespine stickleback), 1 insect (sand-verbena moth); 6 mollusc species (northern abalone, northern riffleshell, rayed bean, round pigtoe, salamander mussel, and snuffbox), and 3 vascular plant species (foothill sedge, pink sand-verbena, and slender popcornflower).
Caveats and limitations
It takes time for a species' response to recovery management actions to become apparent. For example, while an insect population might begin to show signs of recovery in a few years, it can take decades to detect changes in tree or whale populations. Indicator results should not be interpreted as a measure of success regarding the recovery of species or maintaining species until sufficient time has passed to allow species to respond to actions taken and to collect enough information for assessment.
The species considered in the indicator change slightly from year to year due to the availability of new data. As such, comparison between years should be made with caution.
More information
Coverage of species in the indicator is narrow compared to the number of wildlife species assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as at risk or compared to the number of species at risk listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act.
While the indicator uses the best information available, it does not always precisely match what is contained in recovery strategies or management plans. The evaluation of species trends may include data from time periods prior to the finalization of recovery documents.
In selecting new species to assess, COSEWIC gives priority to species that are more likely to become extinct. COSEWIC is mandated to reassess species every 10 years, or more often if warranted. Under some circumstances, the reassessment may be delayed, resulting in uneven data availability across species.
With time, the number of final recovery documents and the number of species that are reassessed by COSEWIC will increase, and trends will become more meaningful as populations have sufficient time to respond.
Resources
Resources
References
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) (2024) Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Government of Canada (2002) Species at Risk Act. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Government of Canada (2019) Species at risk: the act, the accord and the funding programs. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Government of Canada (2024) Canada Gazette. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Government of Canada (2024) List of wildlife species at risk: Schedule 1. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Government of Canada (2024) Species at risk public registry, A to Z species index. Retrieved on November 23, 2024.
Related information
Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
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