WWF-Canada urges priority federal actions to recover species at risk

“As with so many conservation issues, the longer you leave it, the more expensive and difficult it is to fix,” says Dr. Pete Ewins, Senior Species Conservation Specialist for WWF-Canada. “Canadians do not want to see a growing number of species listed as at risk, yet this failure to implement SARA efficiently and effectively is resulting in more wildlife at risk, and raising the costs for Canada to recover these species.”

WWF-Canada has more than 40 years of experience in wildlife conservation. Dr. Pete Ewins will be presenting WWF’s recommendations as follows:

WWF-Canada’s Recommendations:

– Protection of Critical Habitat: Degradation and loss of habitat has been and remains the main threat for about 84 per cent of species at risk and therefore, early protection of critical habitat is crucial to their survival and recovery.

– Multi species and ecosystem-based approach: The needs of all species – at risk or not – sharing the same habitat must be addressed. Proper linkage of individual species’ recovery strategies is essential so that management changes for one species will not impede the recovery of other species in the same areas.

– Conservation Management Agreements: The Government of Canada should use s.11 and s.12 Conservation Agreements under SARA with land owners and tenure holders across Canada, and sustain the needed funding to support multi species recovery. Stewardship and conservation agreements are very important tools for sustained species recovery by fairly and effectively engaging a variety of key stakeholders who make a living on the same lands needed by wild species.

– Conservation Financing: As the number of species at risk increases, so do the costs of recovering them. Canadian governments should take advantage of the innovative funding models available around the world to secure the necessary funding to support the goals of SARA.

The Federal Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is currently conducting the 5-year review of SARA, and will be making final recommendations to Parliament in May.

Dr. Ewins is available for comment from Ottawa, where he presents on April 27, 3.30-5.30 p.m.

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For more information:
Ashley Brasfield, WWF-Canada, [email protected], cell: 416-999-8966

Dr. Pete Ewins, WWF-Canada, [email protected], cell: 647-400-9576