COSEWIC annual report 2023 to 2024

Cover letter

October 20, 2024

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
200 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3

Dear Minister Guilbeault,

Please find enclosed the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which I respectfully submit to you and to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC). The submission of this report fulfills COSEWIC’s obligations under Section 26 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), which requires that COSEWIC submit a report on its activities to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and members of CESCC annually. This Annual Report will also be available online through the SARA Public Registry.

As you know, COSEWIC’s role is to assess the conservation status of wildlife species in Canada. Under Item III, Wildlife Species Status Assessments, of the Annual Report, you will find information on how to obtain a copy of the status assignments for the wildlife species assessed in 2023-2024, the applicable criteria and the reasons for the status designation. The Status Reports containing the information used in the assessments are provided in the accompanying email. The reports will also be provided to CESCC members and will be available on the Public Registry.

Over the past year COSEWIC assessed a total of 42 wildlife species. Of these 42, COSEWIC re-examined the status of 28 wildlife species; of these, the majority (79%) were reassessed at the same or lower level of risk. To date and with the submission of this report, COSEWIC’s assessments now include 855 wildlife species in various risk categories including 374 Endangered, 200 Threatened, 259 Special Concern, and 22 Extirpated (that is no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition, 25 wildlife species have been assessed as Extinct, 61 wildlife species have been designated as Data Deficient, and 202 have been assessed as Not at Risk.

The submission of this information fulfills COSEWIC’s obligations under Section 25 of SARA, which requires that COSEWIC provide the Minister of the Environment and the CESCC with a copy of the status assessments and the reasons for the assessments. It also fulfills our obligations under Section 24, which requires that COSEWIC review the classification of wildlife species at risk at least once every 10 years.

On behalf of the committee, I would again like to thank you for your continuing support for our work and the commitment of your ministry to the conservation and protection of Canada’s biodiversity.

Yours sincerely,

David Lee, Chair, COSEWIC

c.c. – Aura Pantieras, Director General, Wildlife Assessment and Information, Canadian Wildlife Service

COSEWIC Annual Report presented to The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and The Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) from The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 2023-2024.

Item I – COSEWIC activities

1. Wildlife species assessment meetings

Section 15(1) of the Species at Risk Act

Section 15(1) of the Species at Risk Act states: “The functions of COSEWIC are to (a) assess the status of each wildlife species considered by COSEWIC to be at risk and, as part of the assessment, identify existing and potential threats to the species and:

classify the species as extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern
indicate that COSEWIC does not have sufficient information to classify the species, or
indicate that the species is not currently at risk

Under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA), the foremost function of COSEWIC is to “assess the status of each wildlife species considered by COSEWIC to be at risk and, as part of the assessment, identify existing and potential threats to the wildlife species”.

As usual, COSEWIC held two Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings in this reporting year (October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024). One meeting was from November 26 to December 1, 2023 and the other one was from May 6 to 9, 2024. During this reporting period, COSEWIC assessed the status or reviewed the classification of 42 wildlife species.

The wildlife species assessment results for the 2023-2024 reporting period include the following:.

Extinct: 2.

Extirpated: 1.

Endangered: 15.

Threatened: 12.

Special Concern: 11.

Data Deficient: 0.

Not at Risk: 1.

Total: 42.

Of the 42 wildlife species examined, COSEWIC reviewed the classification of 28 wildlife species that had been assessed previously. The review of classification for 17 of those wildlife species resulted in a confirmation of the same risk status as the previous assessment (see Table 1a).

Table 1a. Confirmation of status for wildlife species previously assessed
Extirpated.	Endangered.	Threatened.	Special concern.
Empty	Ivory Gull. Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Southern Resident population. Kirtland's Warbler. Misty Lake Lentic Threespine Stickleback. Misty Lake Lotic Threespine Stickleback. Paxton Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback. Paxton Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback. Vananda Creek Benthic Threespine Stickleback. Vananda Creek Limnetic Threespine Stickleback.	Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Northern Resident population. Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Offshore population. Killer Whale, Northeast Pacific Transient population. Little Quarry Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback. Little Quarry Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback.	Giant Threespine Stickleback. Killer Whale, Northwest Atlantic / Eastern Arctic population. Yellow Rail.

Data deficient, not at risk, extinct:

In December 2023, COSEWIC did not assess any wildlife species as Data Deficient or Not at Risk.

In December 2023, COSEWIC assessed two species as Extinct: Enos Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback, and Enos Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback. These species are currently listed on Schedule 1 of SARA as Endangered.

Special Note: Horned Grebe was previously assessed as 2 populations; Magdalen Islands population (Endangered), and Western population (Special Concern). In December 2023, these 2 populations of Horned Grebe were assessed as one unit across Canada as Special Concern (Table 1b), and the 2 previous populations were de-activated. Both the Magdalen Islands population and the Western population are currently listed as Endangered on Schedule 1 of SARA.

In May 2024, Narwhal was assessed as Not at Risk (previous status Special Concern) There was one Not at Risk designation in May 2024.

With the transmission of this report, COSEWIC provides assessments (see Table 1b) of 22 wildlife species newly classified as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, and of Special Concern to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to consider whether to recommend to the Governor in Council (GIC) that they be added to Schedule 1 of SARA.

Table 1b. Newly classified wildlife species eligible for an amendment to Schedule 1 of SARA
Extirpated.	Endangered.	Threatened.	Special concern.
Blanchard's Cricket Frog.	Cleland’s Evening-primrose. Domed Disc. Gray-headed Chickadee. Pine Broomrape. Salish Sucker. Unarmoured Threespine Stickleback.	Forked Bluecurls. Gray-cheeked Thrush minimus subspecies. Hibberson’s Trillium. Long-billed Curlew. Mudpuppy, Manitoba population. Rigid Apple Moss. Rough-leaved Aster.	Finlayson’s Oakworm Moth. Horned Grebe. Macoun's Meadowfoam. Mudpuppy, Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population. Pacific Sandpirate. Prairie-dock. White Wood Aster. Willowleaf Aster.

Information pertaining to the wildlife species assessed since the last annual report can be found on the SARA Public Registry website at the following address:.

Species at risk public registry.

A copy of the assessment details for these wildlife species, including status assigned, reasons for designation (including uncertainties if applicable), and COSEWIC criteria with alphanumeric codes can be found on the COSEWIC website at the following address:.

COSEWIC wildlife species assessment.

Status reports containing information on COSEWIC’s status assessments will be available on the SARA Public Registry at the following address:.

Document search - Species at risk registry .

As of May 2024, COSEWIC’s assessments include 855 wildlife species in various risk categories, including 374 Endangered, 200 Threatened, 259 Special Concern, and 22 Extirpated (that is no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition, 25 wildlife species have been assessed as Extinct.

As of May 2024, 61 wildlife species have been designated as Data Deficient and 202 have been assessed and assigned Not at Risk status.

2. Important notes regarding status assessments

Section 27 of the Species at Risk Act

Section 27 of SARA states that the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, by order amend the List in accordance with subsections (1.1) and (1.2) by adding a wildlife species, by reclassifying a listed wildlife species or by removing a listed wildlife species, and the Minister may, by order, amend the List in a similar fashion in accordance with subsection (3).

During the period covered in the report, COSEWIC did not inform the Minister about any details related to status assessments.

3. Other wildlife species assessment activities

Emergency assessments

Section 29 of the Species at Risk Act

Section 29 of SARA provides for the listing of a wildlife species based on an imminent threat to the survival of the wildlife species under an emergency basis. Section 30(1) of SARA states that COSEWIC is to prepare a status report on the wildlife species and, within one year after the making of the order, COSEWIC must, in a report in writing to the Minister, (a) confirm the classification of the species; (b) recommend to the Minister that the species be reclassified; or (c) recommend to the Minister that the species be removed from the List.

No emergency assessments were conducted during the 2023-2024 reporting period.

4. Wildlife species assessments returned by the Governor in Council (GIC) to COSEWIC for further information or consideration

Section 27(1.1)(c) of the Species at Risk Act

Section 27(1.1) (c) of SARA provides for the Governor in Council to, on the recommendation of the Minister, refer an assessment of the status of a species back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration.

No wildlife species were referred back to COSEWIC for further consideration during this reporting period.

5. Wildlife species selected for status report preparation

Section 15.1(b) of the Species at Risk Act

Section 15.1(b) of SARA states that one of the functions of COSEWIC is to “determine when wildlife species are to be assessed, with priority given to those more likely to become extinct”.

Following COSEWIC's process for prioritizing new wildlife species for assessment, 25 (including putative designatable units) wildlife species from COSEWIC's Species Specialist Subcommittees’ candidate lists were chosen by the Committee for status report commissioning in 2026. The following is a list of those prioritized candidate wildlife species:
Taxonomic group.	Common name / Population name.	Scientific name.
Amphibians.	Rough-skinned Newt.	Taricha granulosa.
Arthropods.	Fitch's Elephant Hopper.	Fitchiella robertsoni.
Arthropods.	Northern Beebandit.	Megaphorus willistoni.
Arthropods.	Northern Desert Fly.	Apiocera barri.
Arthropods.	Tiger Mydas Fly.	Nemomydas pantherinus.
Birds.	Greater Yellowlegs.	Tringa melanoleuca.
Birds.	Solitary Sandpiper.	Tringa solitaria.
Birds.	Yellow-billed Loon.	Gavia adamsii.
Lichen.	Giant Candlewax Lichen.	Ricasolia amplissima.
Marine Fishes.	Yellowtail Flounder.	Limanda ferruginea.
Marine Mammals.	Harp seal (Northwest Atlantic Population).	Pagophilus groenlandicus.
Marine Mammals.	Hooded Seal (North Atlantic Population).	Cystophora cristata.
Mollusc.	Flat Dome.	Ventridens suppressus.
Mollusc.	Velvet Wedge.	Xolotrema denotatum.
Mollusc.	Yellow Globelet.	Mesodon clausus.
Vascular Plants.	Black-edged Sedge.	Carex nigromarginata.
Vascular Plants.	Cranefly Orchid.	Tipularia discolor.
Vascular Plants.	Klaza Draba.	Draba bruce-bennettii.
Vascular Plants.	Plains Rough Fescue.	Festuca hallii.
Vascular Plants.	Ravenfoot Sedge.	Carex crus-corvi.
Vascular Plants.	Short-stemmed Iris.	Iris brevicaulis.
Vascular Plants.	Smooth Clustered Sedge.	Carex aggregata.
Vascular Plants.	Square-stemmed Spikerush.	Eleocharis quadrangulata.
Vascular Plants.	Tall Green Milkweed.	Asclepias hirtella.
Vascular Plants.	Tinted Woodland Spurge.	Euphorbia commutata.

6. COSEWIC subcommittees

Section 18(1) of the Species at Risk Act

Section 18(1) of SARA requires COSEWIC to establish subcommittees of specialists to assist in the preparation and review of status reports on wildlife species considered to be at risk, including subcommittees specializing in groups of wildlife species and a subcommittee specializing in Aboriginal traditional knowledge.

Aboriginal traditional knowledge subcommittee

COSEWIC’s Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee is responsible for ensuring that Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) is used appropriately in COSEWIC’s assessment process. The Subcommittee consists of members appointed by the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The Co-chairs of the ATK Subcommittee are members of COSEWIC and provide COSEWIC with their expertise on ATK.

The following is a summary of activities over this past year:.

Decision matrix tool was completed ranking candidate species, reassessment species, and species of concern for Indigenous people, enabling the ATK Subcommittee to prioritize species it may consider for ATK reports and/or gathering for fiscal 2024-2025 and 2025-2026
ATK Source Reports were prepared for Snowy Owl, Pacific Herring, and American Badger (3 designatable units)
ATK Special Report on Atlantic Salmon Designatable Unit was completed for inner Mawipoqtapei (Chaleur Bay)
ATK was integrated into the COSEWIC status Report on the Grizzly Bear scheduled for assessment in 2025

COSEWIC extends its sincere gratitude to the members of the ATK Subcommittee for their ongoing commitment to ensuring that COSEWIC assessments are informed by the best available information.

Species specialist subcommittees

COSEWIC’s Species Specialists Subcommittees provide taxonomic expertise to the Committee. Each Species Specialist Subcommittee is led by two Co-chairs. The SSC is comprised of typically 10-12 members who are recognized Canadian experts in the taxonomic group in question with qualifications based on education, experience, and expertise of biology and conservation. These volunteer members are drawn from universities, provincial wildlife agencies, museums, Conservation Data Centres, and other organizations with specialization in biodiversity and conservation. They support the Co-chairs in developing candidate lists of wildlife species to be considered for assessment, commissioning status reports for priority wildlife species, reviewing reports for scientific accuracy and completeness, and proposing to COSEWIC a status for each wildlife species. Currently, COSEWIC has 10 Species Specialist Subcommittees: Amphibians and Reptiles, Arthropods, Birds, Freshwater Fishes, Marine Fishes, Marine Mammals, Molluscs, Mosses and Lichens, Terrestrial Mammals, and Vascular Plants.

For more information please see:.

Species Specialist Subcommittees.

Species Specialist Subcommittee meetings take place annually in different locations in Canada. Observers are often invited to attend meetings to learn about the species at risk assessment process.

In addition to their continued work to help COSEWIC prioritize species assessments, Species Specialist Subcommittees ensure that high quality status reports are brought to each COSEWIC Wildlife Species Assessment Meeting. Species Specialist Subcommittees also periodically undertake special projects aimed at assisting their work.

COSEWIC is extremely grateful for the work of the Species Specialist Subcommittee members who provide their time and expertise on a volunteer basis.

7. COSEWIC operations and procedures

Section 19 of the Species at Risk Act

Section 19 of SARA states that COSEWIC “may make rules respecting the holding of meetings and the general conduct of its activities.”.

COSEWIC is guided in its activities by an Operations and Procedures Manual that is reviewed annually by COSEWIC’s Operations and Procedures Subcommittee, which recommends any changes to the Committee for its approval. During this reporting period, the COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual was updated to reflect changes in COSEWIC’s procedures. The most notable changes are as follows:.

COSEWIC’s mission was updated to acknowledge the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of diverse First Nations, Metis Nation and Inuit, to recognize importance of improving relationships with Indigenous Peoples of Canada, and to reaffirm the commitment to reconciliation and collaboration
Further minor improvements were made to Appendices F1 (Instructions for the Preparation of COSEWIC status Reports) and F3 (Template for the Preparation of COSEWIC status Reports), and F14 (Template for the Preparation of a COSEWIC status Report Addendum), with the goal of reducing status report length, to standardize presentation of information, and to improve the compatibility and usefulness of status reports for downstream users
Revisions and clarifications were made to the recently rewritten Guidelines for Recognizing Designatable units (Appendix F5)
COSEWIC’s Guidelines for Naming Wildlife Species was updated to ensure that current official species naming authorities are being consulted by the Species Specialist Subcommittees
A few definitions specific to COSEWIC and their assessments were updated
Equity Diversity and Inclusion statement was added to 4.2.2 Composition of membership: COSEWIC is committed to having a skilled and diversified membership representative of Canadians and recognizes many benefits of a safe, inclusive environment where people with diverse perspectives can collaborate in support of Wildlife Species assessments. COSEWIC will continue to revise practices and processes as needed to achieve this commitment. Work continues to improve COSEWIC's goal of increasing diversity in its membership

8. Procedural working groups

Section 18(1) of the Species at Risk Act

Section 18(1) of SARA also allows COSEWIC to establish subcommittees to advise it or to exercise or perform any of its functions.

Procedural working groups are essential to ensuring COSEWIC’s operations and procedures are efficient, effective and followed clearly, thus maintaining the quality and consistency of COSEWIC status assessments and processes.

a. Press release

This Working Group was active before and during each Wildlife Species Assessment Meeting on the production of each press release.

b. Species prioritization

The prioritization process was resumed in 2024. In the Fall of 2023, the Species Specialist Subcommittees (SSCs) were asked to select high priority Candidate species from their respective candidate lists for COSEWIC’s consideration. For each Candidate species, the SSCs were asked to generate their Candidate rationales and provide a RAMAS Red List file. The compiled list of high priority Candidate species and their supporting files were then circulated to COSEWIC’s federal/provincial/territorial jurisdictions, ATK Subcommittee, Non-government Scientist members, SSC Co-chairs, and Wildlife Management Boards for review. This preliminary review provided an opportunity for reviewers to provide SSC Co-chairs with relevant new information or missing information on Candidate species before the COSEWIC priority setting process. The Priority Setting Working Group (PSWG) met in March of 2024 to undertake the preliminary ranking process of the candidate species. The PSWG then held two meetings in March 2024 with the SSCs Co-chairs to resolve problems, ensure accuracy, and finalize priorities. The twenty-five species that the PSWG submitted to COSEWIC were adopted as Candidate “wildlife” species at the May 2024 WSAM. These species are eligible for inclusion in the 2025 Call for Bids or later (CFB).

In preparation for COSEWIC’s 2024 CFB, the SSCs selected high priority reassessment species from their respective lists for consideration. The compiled list of reassessment species was circulated for jurisdictional review to provide SSC Co-chairs with relevant new information or missing information before the COSEWIC priority setting process. The Priority Setting Working Group (PSWG) met in March of 2024 to rank the high priority reassessment species.

The PSWG provided a workshop on priority setting at the May 2024 WSAM. Following an interruption related to COVID, the reassessment spreadsheets that were developed and used in 2020 and 2021 were re-initiated in 2024. The PSWG has begun to revise candidate forms to improve clarity and efficiencies.

c. Review of classification

Beginning in 2022, COSEWIC’s Review of Classification working group designed a complete, proposed process to streamline the review of classification for wildlife species due for reassessment. The working group oversaw a trial of the full multi-year process throughout 2023-24. The trial is planned to conclude in the fall of 2024, at which time COSEWIC will decide if it has succeeded and if it will adopt the new process. A potential result will be a different approach to review classification of wildlife species for which status is not expected to change.

d. Designatable units

This working group continues to assist Species Specialist Subcommittees with implementing the updated Guidelines for Determining Designatable units. In 2023-2024, the working group responded to a review opportunity, begun the previous year, for COSEWIC’s jurisdictional partners through the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee. The working group continues to assist SSCs in determining designatable units, and to monitor and revise, as needed, the guidelines originally revised in 2020.

e. Data

This working group is still reviewing the Operations and Procedures Manual, Appendix F8 (Updated Guidelines Concerning Sensitive Information) of the Operations and Procedures Manual. They are also discussing details related to COSEWIC-related data with the aim of improving its accessibility to others.

f. Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

This working group is advancing its work to achieve diversified membership that is representative of the population we serve. An EDI consultant has completed a report with recommendations. Although the committee has reached gender parity and many improvements have been made to procedural changes, it is continuing to push for improvements in other axes of diversity. In 2023-2024, the working group asked COSEWIC to prioritize Equity, Diversity and Inclusion actions and recommendations that could be implemented in order to propose an action plan.

g. Criteria

This Working Group was active before and during each Wildlife Species Assessment meeting. At the November 2023 COSEWIC Wildlife Species Assessment meeting the Co-Chairs of the working group, Bruce Bennett and Gina Schalk gave a Criteria training workshop to all COSEWIC members. The working group is currently working on revising text for the criterion A footnote. The revised text will be brought to COSEWIC in the future for a vote and incorporation into to the Operations and Procedures Manual and/or into the A-E guidance document.

h. Threats assessments

In 2023-24, the COSEWIC Threats Assessments working group continued internal discussions and with federal partners to have a consistent and efficient threats assessment process. In particular, there is a need to increase the number of available facilitators for threats assessments.

9. COSEWIC communications

COSEWIC and its Chairs over the years have made every effort to inform governments and the public about the work of the Committee. The COSEWIC Chair attended the regular face-to-face meetings during the 2023-2024 reporting period as well as several virtual meetings.

During the current reporting period, COSEWIC produced two press releases outlining the results of the fall 2023 and the spring 2024 Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings. The links to the COSEWIC press releases can be found on the COSEWIC website:.

COSEWIC news and events.

COSEWIC’s X account informs Canadians about news on Canadian species at risk. The account can be found at COSEWIC - X and now has nearly 2,000 followers.

The Chair of COSEWIC gave the following virtual and in-person presentations on the work of COSEWIC to:.

Atlantic Salmon Federation
Canadian Wildlife Directors
Ditidaht First Nations
Nunavik Marine Regional Wildlife Board

In addition, the Chair of COSEWIC had written correspondence or attended meetings regarding the following species.

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
Atlantic White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
Bert’s Predaceous Diving Beetle (Sanfilippodytes bertae)
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Dolphin and Union Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Eastern Wolf (Canis sp. cf. lycaon)
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster (Symphyotrichum laurentianum)
Irpicodon pendulus
Lilliput (Toxolasma parvum)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana)
Olympia Oyster (Ostrea lurida)
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The Chair also had the following meetings:.

Representatives from the Auditor General of Canada’s office regarding Assessment and the Species at Risk Act

Meetings with territorial and provincial officials regarding SARA:.

Drikus Gissing, Director, Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut
Heather Loomer, Natural Resources and Energy Development, Government of New Brunswick

The Chair of COSEWIC has had several meetings regarding an increased focus on working collaboratively with the federal government on the implementation of SARA including:.

Aura Pantieras, Director General, Wildlife, Assessment and Information, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Chris Evans, Director General, Wildlife Management Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Christie Whelan, Manager, National Species at Risk Recovery Planning, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Courtney A. Albert, Senior Negotiations Advisor, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Sarah Eisses, Policy Analyst, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Susi Porter-Bopp, Senior Policy Advisor, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Sophie Foster, Manager, Species at Risk and Aquatic Invasive Species, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Sybil Feinman, Species at Risk Listing, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Rachel Vallender, Senior Science Advisor, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Tara Shannon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Item II – COSEWIC membership

Section 16 of the Species at Risk Act

Section 16 of SARA states that (1) COSEWIC is to be composed of members appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council and with any experts and expert bodies, such as the Royal Society of Canada, that the Minister considers to have relevant expertise. (2) Each member must have expertise drawn from a discipline such as conservation biology, population dynamics, taxonomy, systematics or genetics or from community knowledge or aboriginal traditional knowledge of the conservation of wildlife species. (3) The members are to be appointed to hold office for renewable terms of not more than four years.

1. Membership changes

For a current list of members on COSEWIC, please see the COSEWIC website.

COSEWIC members.

Members from the Federal, Provincial or Territorial jurisdictions are recommended to the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change by the jurisdiction.

The Co-chairs of the ATK Subcommittee are elected by the ATK Subcommittee members and recommended to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for appointment to COSEWIC. The Co-chairs and all ATK Subcommittee members are nominated by National Aboriginal Organizations with the exception of two of its members who can be nominated by the ATK Subcommittee. Subcommittee members are appointed by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-chairs and Non-government Science Members are recommended to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change by COSEWIC following an in-depth review process.

A call for four Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-chairs, two Non-Government Scientist members and two Early Career Scientists, was posted on the COSEWIC website between January 24 and February 21, 2024. Selection Committees comprised of COSEWIC and Species Specialist Subcommittee members then evaluated the applications following procedures set out in COSEWIC’s Operations and Procedures Manual. The Chairs of each Selection Committee prepared reports summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of the applicants, which were discussed with COSEWIC during the species assessment meeting in early May 2024. Selected candidates were confirmed by COSEWIC, and their names and CVs were provided to the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on June 21, 2024 for consideration of appointment. Members of CESCC were copied on this correspondence.

As the incumbent’s term was ending in September 2024, a separate process to select a COSEWIC Chairperson was also carried out in the winter of 2024. This followed COSEWIC’s standard procedure in the COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual. The Chair selection committee presented the nominations to COSEWIC in May 2024.

Item III – Wildlife species assessments

Section 25(1) of the Species at Risk Act

In accordance with Section 25(1) of SARA when COSEWIC completes an assessment of the status of a wildlife species, it must provide the Minister and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council with a copy of the assessment and the reasons for it. A copy of the assessment must also be included on the public registry.

Information pertaining to the wildlife species assessed since the last annual report can be found on the SARA Public Registry website at the following address:.

Species at risk public registry.

The status reports will be available in English and French on the Public Registry at the following address:.

Document search - Species at risk registry .

Item IV – Wildife species assessed by COSEWIC since its inception

Section 25(2) of the Species at Risk Act

In accordance with Section 25(2) of SARA, COSEWIC must annually prepare a complete list of every wildlife species it has assessed since the coming into force of that section and a copy of that list must be included in the public registry.

The Canadian Species at Risk publication is available on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

COSEWIC List of wildlife species assessed (including October 2023).

It includes all wildlife species assessed by COSEWIC since its inception up to and including October 2023.

Page details

Date modified:: 2024-10-21