Mission

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies, varieties or other designatable units that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation. COSEWIC uses a process based on science and Aboriginal or community knowledge to assess species at risk. All native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, molluscs, vascular plants, mosses and lichens are included in COSEWIC's current mandate.

In doing its work, COSEWIC develops prioritized candidate lists of species needing assessment, manages the production of species status reports, and holds meetings at which species are assessed and assigned to risk categories. In all of its actions, COSEWIC uses the best available information relevant to assessing a species' risk of extinction or extirpation, which it may obtain from any credible source of knowledge of the species and its habitat. The evaluation process is independent and transparent, and the results are reported to CESCC and the public.