Joint Meeting of Ministers, Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council and Wildlife Ministers’ Council of Canada

  2. Newsroom

BACKGROUNDER – RECOVERY OF NATIONALLY ENDANGERED WILDLIFE

RENEW (REcovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife), 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.  

RENEW was endorsed by the Wildlife Ministers Council of Canada as a means of  reporting to the public on progress made under the Accord for the Protection of  Species at Risk. RENEW is now 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 Recovery Secretariat provided by the Canadian Wildlife Service  of Environment Canada.  

The 11th annual RENEW report, covering the 2000-2001 fiscal year,  provides a wide range of information about recovery planning in Canada. It  summarizes the resources invested in each species recovery plan during  2000-2001, and provides information such as the status of the recovery plan, an  estimate of the population and trends for individual species. It also outlines  the goals for each recovery plan, lists the chair and leading jurisdiction, and  provides an overview of recent progress.  

The printed report is complemented by the RENEW web site, which can be found  at: www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/species/sar/efforts/index.htm  (This site will soon migrate to www.renew-rescape.ca). The RENEW site  provides additional information including species photos, range maps, biological  information, updated recovery information, a list of recovery team members, the  recovery newsletter and other useful references.  

Highlights from the 11th RENEW annual report include:  

       
  • There are 64 recovery teams in place, 17 more than last year  
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  • 19 recovery plans have been approved, and six more are awaiting approval  
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  • 25 recovery plans or recovery strategies are in draft form  
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  • $26.6 million was expended on recovery in 1999-2000 (salary + expenses),  covering work on about 100 species. This is almost double the expenditures in  1999-2000.  
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  • Employment on recovery initiatives is equivalent to about 129 people working  full-time  
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  • Volunteer efforts are reported as equal to 25 people working full-time  
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  • 214 organizations made financial contributions to recovery programs in  2000-2001

More information can be found on Canadian Wildlife Service's Web site at http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/sara/main.htm