(Chapter 3—Conservation of Migratory Birds—Fall 2013 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Ottawa, 5 November 2013—Environment Canada and its partners have had good results with their efforts to restore waterfowl populations, but the Department’s conservation planning is inadequate for other groups of birds, says Neil Maxwell, interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, in his Fall 2013 report tabled today in Parliament.
“In addition to playing a key role in our ecosystems, for example, as pollinators, birds are considered good indicators of the health of the environment”, said Mr. Maxwell. “I am concerned that some groups of birds, such as shorebirds, have declined by 40 to 60 percent since the 1970s.”
The audit found that Environment Canada has missed its 2010 deadline for completing regional bird conservation strategies. The strategies identify threats and potential causes for bird population decline and actions to address these threats. Less than half of the 25 planned strategies have been completed. Those that have been completed do not include information on who will undertake the proposed conservation actions and on the timelines. In contrast, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan highlights what can be achieved through good conservation planning and concerted efforts: it resulted in securing 8 million hectares of wetlands and habitat in Canada.
In addition, the Department has acknowledged that for 30 percent of all bird species in Canada, monitoring is insufficient to determine whether they are at risk. Incomplete information can undermine the ability to understand the causes of decline and make informed decisions about conservation actions for migratory birds.
“Improvements in waterfowl populations show that results can be achieved through partnerships, using good conservation planning and clear objectives,” said Mr. Maxwell. “Environment Canada needs to apply these types of approaches to help with the conservation of other bird groups.”
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