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

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is an  arm's length committee of wildlife experts that provides independent advice to  government on the national designation of species at risk.  

COSEWIC met twice during 2000-2001 - in November 2000 in Montreal, and in May  2001 in Osoyoos, British Columbia. During these meetings, COSEWIC designated 29  new species (including subspecies and populations) and re-assessed 47 previously  listed species against new more objective criteria. Forty endangered and  threatened species remain to be re-assessed against the new criteria. For the  majority of these, significant new information is available and an updated  status report is required.  

The COSEWIC list of Canadian species at risk now contains 380 species in  various categories of risk, including 82 species in the threatened  category, and 115 species in the endangered category.  

The annual report provides details on all of COSEWIC's activities during  2000-2001, and includes information on all of the assessments and re-assessments  conducted during the year. It also chronicles changes to the membership of  COSEWIC and its Species Specialist Groups.  

At its last meeting, COSEWIC agreed to adopt revised assessment criteria  based on recent changes to criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red  List. The changes are intended to ensure that the criteria better reflect the  risk of extinction for various groups or organisms, such as marine fishes. The  Canadian Wildlife Directors approved the changes, which are technical in nature,  at its meeting in May 2001. Full details on the changes are included in the  COSEWIC Annual Report.  

COSEWIC will hold two full species assessment meetings in 2001-2002. The fall  meeting will be held in Ottawa in November, while a spring meeting will be held  in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in April 2002.  

Further information is available on the COSEWIC web site at www.cosewic.gc.ca. The site provides updates  on assessments, and information on COSEWIC's mandate, history, membership and  operating procedures.