Meeting of Ministers responsible for Forests, Wildlife, Endangered Species and Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council

The 13th RENEW (REcovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife) annual report, covering the 2002-2003 fiscal year, provides a wealth of information about recovery planning and implementation in Canada. It summarizes the resources invested in each species, identifies funding sources, and lists the status of recovery plan development for each species. The report also provides an estimate of the population size and trends for individual species.

RENEW, the national recovery program for species at risk, was launched in 1988. The program now involves three federal departments (Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Canadian Heritage -- Parks Canada Agency), provincial and territorial government agencies, wildlife management boards authorized by a land claim agreement, Aboriginal organizations, other organizations and interested individuals.

The RENEW annual report provides information on progress made on recovery under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The RENEW program falls under the general direction of the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC), which is made up of federal and provincial ministers with responsibilities for protecting wildlife species. The Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee coordinates the program with the assistance of the National Recovery Working Group and the Recovery Secretariat, which is provided by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada. Recovery of species at risk is made possible through the work of many dedicated recovery teams members, including scientists, managers, stakeholders and volunteers.

Highlights from the 13th RENEW annual report

Of 141 endangered, 99 threatened and 21 extirpated species on COSEWIC list as of November 2002: (261)
• 158 have recovery plans or strategies in development
• 147 have recovery teams and are the direct focus of recovery efforts
• 43 others are included in ecosystem recovery, to the extent that their range overlaps with the geographic area covered by the ecosystem plan
• 60 show stable or increasing population trend
• $46.4 million was expended on recovery of species (salaries + expenses)
• Employment was equivalent to about 249 salaried and 92 volunteer people working full-time
• 282 organizations made financial contributions

The printed report is complemented by the RENEW web site, which can be found at http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/recovery/default_e.cfm. The RENEW site provides detailed information about each species at risk (with photos, range maps, biological information, updated recovery information, and a list of recovery team members), the recovery newsletter and other useful references.
More information on species at risk can be found at:
www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/

Try the “Species search” website at: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/default_e.cfm