Trends in the status of Species at Risk
The change in status of species at risk has been identified as an indicator for assessing progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target. Examples of species at risk in Ontario include woodland caribou, eastern wolves, loggerhead shrikes, spotted turtles, and the blue ash. Increases in the number of species at risk can be attributed to both a more thorough understanding of what already exists, as well as actual observable declines in population levels. The shift to an apolitical, science-based listing process under the new Endangered Species Act, 2007 will likely lead to an increase in the number of listed species at risk in Ontario.
There are 183 species currently designated as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern by MNR. This list has increased by 40 species in the last decade. However, in that same period, only two species have recovered to the point where their at-risk status has been down-listed. Ontario’s State of the Forest Report 2006 also notes that the number of species at risk that are associated with forests more than doubled from 42 to 89 species between 2000 and 2005; the at-risk status of eight species also increased and none had their at-risk status decrease.
This is an article from the 2007/08 Annual Report to the Legislature from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. Click here for more information on the official document and its release.
