Canadian Species Extinction Risk Looms

The nonprofit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation group has determined that species of global conservation concern have declined in Canada by 42 percent and that Canadian at-risk species fell by 59 percent, between 1970 and 2016. Their report cites human-related activities as the main cause. The Living Planet Index measures the ecological performance of 883 species around the world likely to face habitat loss, land and shoreline developments and pollution. To date, humans have pushed 500 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians to the brink of extinction worldwide.

“Conservation actions that target only a single threat are unlikely to successfully stop and reverse wildlife declines, as threats to species are often cumulative or synergistic and can have cascading effects,” the report states. It also found that indigenously managed lands had more species than other parts of Canada and better supported at-risk wildlife. The report suggests working with native Canadians to create more indigenous protected and conserved areas.