Species at Risk Act: COSEWIC assessments

A species assessment is an evaluation and status designation of a species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Based on the information provided in a status report, they must classify the species as being extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern. They may also determine that they do not have sufficient information to classify the species or indicate that the species is not currently at risk.

COSEWIC's assessment of a wildlife species must be based on a status report that COSEWIC either has had prepared or received with an application. If the assessment results from an application, COSEWIC must notifty the applicant of the assessment and the reasons.

COSEWIC must assess the status of a wildlife species within one year of receiving a status report on the species, and provide reasons for its assessment. COSEWIC must also review the classification of each species at risk at least once every 10 years, or at any time if it has reason to believe that the status of the species has changed significantly.

Section 28 of SARA, allows any person who considers that there is an imminent threat to the survival of a wildlife species, to apply to COSEWIC for an assessment of that threat and to have the species listed as endangered on an emergency basis. COSEWIC must then provide the applicant, the Minister and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council with a copy of its species assessment.

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