Species at Risk Act: assessment of wildlife species mentioned in the schedules

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Assessment of status

130. (1) COSEWIC must assess the status of each wildlife species set out in Schedule 2 or 3, 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.

Time for assessment - Schedule 2

(2) In the case of a species set out in Schedule 2 , the assessment must be completed within 30 days after section 14 comes into force.

Deemed classification

(3) If an assessment of a wildlife species set out in Schedule 2 is not completed within the required time or, if there has been an extension, within the extended time, COSEWIC is deemed to have classified the species as indicated in Schedule 2 .

Time for assessment - Schedule 3

(4) In the case of a species set out in Schedule 3 , the assessment must be completed within one year after the competent minister requests the assessment. If there is more than one competent minister with respect to the species, they must make the request jointly.

Extension

(5) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister after consultation with the competent minister or ministers, by order, extend the time provided for the assessment of any species set out in Schedule 2 or 3 . The Minister must include a statement in the public registry setting out the reasons for the extension.

Provisions apply

(6) Subsections 15(2) and (3) and 21(1) and section 25 apply with respect to assessments under subsection (1) .

Recent reports

(7) In making its assessment of a wildlife species, COSEWIC may take into account and rely on any report on the species that was prepared in the two-year period before this Act receives royal assent.

Section 27 applies

131. Section 27 applies in respect of a wildlife species referred to in section 130 that COSEWIC classifies as extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern or that is deemed to have been so classified.

Time for recovery
strategy

132. If a wildlife species is added to the List by the Governor in Council as the result of an assessment under section 130 , the recovery strategy for the species must be prepared within three years after the listing in the case of an endangered species, and within four years in the case of a threatened species.

Time for management plan

133. If a wildlife species is added to the List by the Governor in Council as a species of special concern as the result of an assessment under section 130 , the management plan for the species must be prepared within five years after the listing.