Habitat Loss Most Common Threat to Canada’s Biodiversity

OTTAWA, Ont. Dec. 5, 2022  – Habitat loss is the most common threat to Canada’s biodiversity and must be addressed through strong government policies and personal actions, warns the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) as world leaders prepare to meet in Montreal for the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP15) conference.

“This is serious,” said James Pagé, Species at Risk and Biodiversity Specialist for CWF, following the release of the Wild Spaces 2020 report showing 20 percent of Canadian species are at risk of extinction.

“Once a species is lost, it’s gone, never to be seen again in Canada (and in some cases the world) without huge reintroduction efforts. And possibly more serious, seven of these species used to only be found in Canada so are now globally extinct.”

The report, released by the federal government and partners in conservation, represents the most complete inventory of Canada’s biodiversity to date, but in the past two years it took to analyze the data, things have certainly not improved, in fact, it’s likely the species at risk have increased, Pagé said.

“There’s also a common threat: aside from sponges, sea urchins and corals which are more water quality/temperature related, every single species group is threatened by habitat destruction, from birds to plants, to fungi and snails, insects and mammals.”

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is meeting right now to assess the status of over 30 species, which they do twice per year. At that rate, roughly 120 additional species have been assessed since the Wild Species report, Pagé said.

Another alarming trend: The report says that 135 species have likely disappeared from Canada altogether. 

The status of several species, including the Rusty Patched Bumblebee, Snapping Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle and Humpback Whale are currently being assessed by COSEWIC. Four humpbacks have been found dead on BC shorelines this fall. CWF is currently testing ropeless fishing gear in Atlantic and Pacific waters to reduce the risks to marine species.

Canada must take action now to halt and reverse #biodiversity loss. In addition to habitat loss, climate change is also devastating wildlife populations and their habitats.

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The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, carrying out research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information, visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.

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Contacts: 

Heather Robison, Media and Community Relations Officer, heatherr@cwf-fcf.org 613-599-9594 x 212

Pamela Logan, Communications Director, pamelal@cwf-fcf.org 613-599-9594 x 250