Environmental Trends 2007

Species Conservation

Overview - What is Happening?

The varied geography of British Columbia, ranging from coastal islands to rain forests, mountains and the grasslands of the interior, makes the province one of the most biologically diverse areas in Canada. Many species are unique to B.C. -- 24 mammals are found nowhere else in Canada and at least 162 species of birds breed only in the province.

Photo credit: B.C. Parks

Unfortunately, many B.C. species are also ‘at risk’. This means they have been designated as endangered, threatened, or of special concern because there is a risk they may become extinct, at least locally. (See: How conservation status is ranked in British Columbia).

• In 2007, the B.C. Conservation Data Centre listed 490 species on the provincial red list of species most at risk.

• Since 1992, the number of species of mammals and freshwater fish with deteriorating conservation status (meaning their status changed at least one category for the worse) outnumbered the species with ‘improving’ status. The number of breeding bird species with ‘improving’ status roughly equalled those deemed to be ‘deteriorating’.

• Since 1996, the number of plant species on the provincial red list rated as ‘deteriorating’ in status outnumbered those with ‘improving’ status.

• While there are more red-listed plants than animals, the groups with the greatest proportion of red-listed species are freshwater fish (37 per cent) and reptiles and turtles (41 per cent).

• Recovery strategies are now in place or in development for 95 per cent of species at risk in B.C. Strategies for 26 per cent of species or species groups have been approved and are published on Species at Risk Act registry.

• The greatest threat to most (86 per cent) species currently listed at risk is loss of habitat due to human activities. The second greatest threat is impact from non-native species.

• In 2007, 809 non-native species were recorded in B.C. These species have been accidentally or intentionally brought into the province in agricultural products, by landscape nurseries, or through other human activities.

• Plants comprise the largest group of known non-native species in B.C., with numbers increasing by 29 per cent since 1994.

• As of 2005, 860 water bodies in B.C. were known to be inhabited by at least one non-native species of freshwater fish.

How the number of species at risk in British Columbia compares with the rest of Canada.

Source: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, 2006.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth Report [pdf].