NWT 2011-2015 - NWT Species at Risk

1. Background – Why rank the general status of all wild species?
The Northwest Territories is home to at least 30,000
species. Some of these have a very important place
in our economy and our cultures. Some species are facing
threats due to human activities and other species are simply
very rare. During the past few decades, we have recognized
the need to broaden our monitoring efforts. The loss of a
single species may have negative consequences that ripple
through an ecosystem, resulting in threats to the survival of
both game and non-game species. Increasing our knowledge
of all species is essential to modern wildlife management
and ecologically sustainable development. We now can
provide baseline information on a greater number of animals
and plants, and can report on how each species is doing in
general. Species that are found to need special attention are
noted and prioritized for further assessment.
Our Commitments under the Accord
for the Protection of Species at Risk
in Canada
The Government of the Northwest Territories signed
the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.
An important first step in providing effective protection to
species is to prevent them from ever becoming at risk.
This is done by monitoring, assessing and reporting
regularly on the status of all wild species. Environment
and Natural Resources, working closely with the federal
government, co-management boards, universities, research
firms and knowledgeable people, has initiated the NWT
Species General Status Ranking Program to fulfill its
commitment to monitor the general status of wild species
in the Northwest Territories. This document is the 3rd
report of a continuing program.
Our Participation in the Assessment of
Species at Risk in Canada
The evaluation system described in this report uses
a standard process that is shared by all Canadian
jurisdictions. This system is similar to systems used
in other countries and by NatureServe, the largest
co-ordinated effort to rank the biological status of species
in the western hemisphere. Link to www.natureserve.ca.
As the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, do not have yet
a fully functioning NatureServe program, the results of the
General Status Ranking Program can be used as a surrogate.
The results of the NWT Species General Status Ranking
Program are combined with the results of similar programs
in each jurisdiction to develop an overall “Canada-wide
rank” for each species. Canada-wide ranks for species in
Canada can be found on the Wild Species – General Status
of Species in Canada web site. Link to www.wildspecies.ca.
Canada-wide ranks are used to prioritize species in Canada
for more detailed assessment by the Committee on the
Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Our New Species At Risk (NWT) Act
In 2010, the Government of the Northwest Territories
passed its first legislation designed to protect species at
risk in the NWT, as part of a larger commitment to maintain
the biodiversity of the NWT. The Species at Risk Committee
(SARC), established under the Species At Risk (NWT) Act,
assesses the biological status of species that may be at
risk in the NWT. SARC uses the results of the NWT General
Status Ranking Program as a starting point to investigate
which species may have higher priority for a more detailed
assessment. The detailed assessment is based on traditional,
community and scientific knowledge of the biological status
of the species.
Our Participation in Monitoring Biodiversity
Across the Arctic
This report helps The Arctic Council and its programs
such as the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
monitor circumpolar biodiversity and to share information
about Arctic species with other jurisdictions.
Link to www.arctic-council.org and www.caff.is.
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NWT Species 2011-2015