Species at Risk in Ontario
In Canada, more than 500 wild animal and plant species are considered
“at risk” according to the Committee on the Status of
Endangered Species in Canada (COSEWIC). Nearly 40 percent of these
species are found in Ontario. Some urban and rural activities, including
expanding residential development, pose significant threats to Ontario’s
wildlife. Natural habitats that are under the most intense pressure
are forests, grasslands, wetlands, and the Great Lakes and their
watersheds. The Carolinian ecozone in south-western Ontario is perhaps
the most wildlife-rich area in the country; yet, it is also home
to about one-third of the nation’s Species at Risk.
What’s at risk here?
Currently, there are 516 Species at Risk in Canada according to
COSEWIC. Ontario is home to 181 of these species, the highest percentage
of Species at Risk among the regions. Ontario is followed closely
by British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.
|
11 |
Extirpated |
|
71 |
Endangered |
|
45 |
Threatened |
|
54 |
Special Concern |
|
181 |
Species
at Risk in Ontario |
(Source:
April 2006 COSEWIC Assessment of Species) |
They need habitat to live
Ontario has the most concentrated human population in Canada. In
southern Ontario, where most of the people live, there is significant
pressure on natural habitats. In some areas, this pressure has displaced
many wild plants and animals.
Like people, wildlife are subject to a variety of threats throughout
their life cycle. Today, most stressors for wildlife are directly
related to human activities – in urban, suburban and rural
areas. The most serious danger to wildlife may arise from the “snowballing”
impact of several threats, such as the loss of wild spaces, environmental
pollution and climate change. The good news is that southern Ontario’s
many people can play a significant role in the preservation and
rehabilitation of natural habitats. Everyone can make an effort
to learn how to better co-exist with wildlife – at home, work
or school – and help to reverse the tragic decline of wild
populations. It’s about preserving, connecting and revitalizing
wildlife habitat.
Ontario’s ecology
Ontario is ecologically diverse and provides an extensive range
of habitat for wild species, from the Carolinian forests in the
south to the vast fens and bogs scattered through the boreal forests
of the north.
Species richness in Ontario
|
