Species at risk population trends

Species at risk population trends

All species at risk assessed
By species groups

Summary of species at risk population trends

Key results

Of the 158 species at risk that include population and distribution objectives and for which trends could be determined, as of May 2023:

• 70 species (44%) show progress towards their objectives
• 19 species (12%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
• 69 species (44%) do not show progress towards their objectives

Progress of species at risk towards their population and distribution objectives, Canada, May 2023

How this indicator was calculated

Note: In addition to the 158 species considered in the Figure, there are 92 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 (2023).

In order to assess whether species at risk show progress towards their population and distribution objectives, 2 conditions must be met:

1. A recovery strategy or management plan has been posted on the Species at risk public registry
2. 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

279 species meet both of these conditions. For 12 of the 279 species, recovery is considered not feasible; for 17 species, there are no population and distribution objectives in their recovery strategy or management plan; and for 92 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 158 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 (17 species; or 61%)
• Reptiles and amphibians have no species that show progress
• Birds have the most species that do not show progress (19 species; or 56%)

Progress of species at risk by species group towards their population and distribution objectives, Canada, May 2023

How this indicator was calculated

Note: In addition to the 158 species considered in the Figure, there are 92 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 (2023).

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 121 extirpated, endangered and threatened species for which trends could be determined, as of May 2023:

• 44 species (36%) show progress towards their population and distribution recovery objectives
• 15 species (12%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
• 62 species (51%) 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 2023

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding. In addition to the 121 species considered in the Figure, there are also 58 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 (2023).

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 33 species of special concern that include population and distribution management objectives and for which trends could be determined, as of May 2023:

• 22 species (67%) show progress towards their population and distribution management objectives
• 4 species (12%) show mixed evidence, meaning that some information suggests improving trends, but there is also some evidence of decline
• 7 species (21%) 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 2023

How this indicator was calculated

Note: In addition to the 33 species considered in the Figure, there are also 34 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 (2023).

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 time frame 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 the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is linked to 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.

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

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.

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.

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: 17 vertebrate species [Bicknell's Thrush, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Great Plains Toad, Longspine Thornyhead, Mountain Beaver, Northern Bobwhite, Pacific Pond Turtle, Pacific Gophersnake, Rougheye Rockfish type I, Rougheye Rockfish type II, Salish Sucker, Tope Shark, White-headed Woodpecker, White Sturgeon (Nechako River population), White Sturgeon (Upper Columbia River population), White Sturgeon (Upper Fraser River population), and White Sturgeon (Upper Kootenay River population)]; 5 vascular plant species [Foothill Sedge, Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, Slender Mouse-ear-cress, Small-flowered Sand-verbena, and Water Pennywort]; 3 insect species [Bert's Predaceous Diving Beetle, Half-moon Hairstreak, and Riverine Clubtail (Great Lakes Plains population)], and 1 mollusc species [Brook Floater].

In addition, a total of 35 species that were previously included in the indicator were reassessed. This includes: 28 vertebrate species [American Marten (Newfoundland population), Atlantic Whitefish, Banded Killifish (Newfoundland population), Banff Springs Snail, Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population), Black-footed Ferret, Blanding's Turtle (Nova Scotia population), Carmine Shiner, Coastrange Sculpin (Cultus population), Columbia Sculpin, Eastern Ribbonsnake (Atlantic population), Leatherback Sea Turtle (Atlantic population), Leatherback Sea Turtle (Pacific population), Nooksack Dace, North Pacific Right Whale, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Paxton Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback, Paxton Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback, Peregrine Falcon anatum/tundrius, Roseate Tern, Savannah Sparrow princeps subspecies, Sea Otter, Timber Rattlesnake, Vananda Creek Benthic Threespine Stickleback, Vananda Creek Limnetic Threespine Stickleback, Vancouver Lamprey, Warmouth, Western Brook Lamprey (Morrison Creek population), and Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Pacific populations)]; 2 insect species [Island Blue and Island Marble]; 2 vascular plant species [Bolander's Quillwort and Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus]; 2 mollusc species [Banff Springs Snail and Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel]; and 1 moss species [Poor Pocket Moss].

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 with regard to 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 will change slightly from year to year due to the availability of new data. As such, comparison between years should be made with caution. 

Resources

References

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) (2023) Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Government of Canada (2015) Species at Risk Act. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Government of Canada (2019) Species at risk: the act, the accord and the funding programs. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Government of Canada (2023) Canada Gazette. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Government of Canada (2023) List of wildlife species at risk: Schedule 1. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Government of Canada (2023) Species at risk public registry, A to Z species index. Retrieved on November 4, 2023.

Related information

Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk

Aquatic species at risk

Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk

Species at risk