Discussion/background information: “Critical habitat” is the habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of a species at risk.1 Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Minister is responsible for approving recovery strategies for species that identify critical habitat, to the extent that it is possible to do so, based on the best available information.
The importance of identifying critical habitat in recovery strategies is twofold: first, habitat protection is the key to species recovery for 84 per cent of species at risk in Canada,2 and habitat cannot be maintained unless it is first identified. Second, if critical habitat is not identified in the recovery-strategy stage, it is bumped to the action-planning stage, which has no timeline under the SARA and could therefore result in indefinite deferrals.
Yet to date, the federal government’s track record on identifying critical habitat has been abysmal. At present, only 21 of 99 species with final recovery strategies (as some recovery strategies cover multiple species) have identified critical habitat or partial critical habitat; a total of 21 per cent.
This is not due to lack of science, but to lack of political will to identify and then protect the habitat that species at risk depend upon for recovery.
Question for candidates:
Will you ensure that the identification and protection of recovery habitat for species at risk is prioritized?
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1Species At Risk Act (SARA), section 2
2Venter, O. Brodeur, N., Nemiroff, L., Belland, B., Dolinsek, I.J. & Grant, J.W. 2006. Threats to Endangered Species in Canada. Bioscience 56: 903-910 BACK TO ISSUE SHEETS |