State of Environment Reporting

Across Canada Comparison

Number of Species at Risk Across Canada in Each Province or Territory (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fish, orchids and ferns)

SOURCE: Canadian Endangered Species Council (CESC), 2001. Wild Species 2000: The General Status of Species in Canada. Ottawa. NOTES: Eight groups of species were analysed for this report – 7 were used in the analysis above. Butterflies were excluded from the comparative analysis because 5 provinces and territories were unable to assess their butterflies. The Canadian total is not the sum of provincial totals because species can be at risk in a province but not nationally.

The Canadian Endgangered Species Conservation Council uses an international ranking system for conservation risk. The categories used are: "at risk" for species that have been formally assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada or by an equivalent provincial or territorial body; and, "may be at risk" for endangered or threatened species that lack a formal assessment. Most species listed on British Columbia's Red list are in one or the other of these two categories. Blue list ( Special Concern ) species are not included.

How does British Columbia compare?

• British Columbia ranks third among provinces and territories for the number of species ranked nationally as “at risk” or “may be at risk".
  
  
• British Columbia has the highest number of species that are known to be "at risk" of any other jurisdiction in Canada.
  
  
• The high proportion of species known to be at risk in British Columbia is in part an indication that the province has made a concerted effort to assess the status of its species.British Columbia and Ontario are home to more species than other provinces or territories in Canada.
  
  
• About 72% (660) of all native species assessed in Canada are secure; 6% (52) are known to be at risk and another 6% (56) may be at risk but require a scientific assessment to confirm their status.
  
  
• The status of species shown in this indicator was determined as a component of the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The provinces, territories and the federal government have agreed to report on the status of wild species in Canada every 5 years; the first report was released by the Canadian Endangered Species Council in 2001.