Tuesday, March 3 is World Wildlife Day. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is highlighting the plight of endangered species, a challenge that rivals global warming. Scientists estimate that up to one million species may be at risk of extinction in the next few decades.

Dan Kraus, senior conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, states that there is reason to be optimistic. 

“Official there are 877 species that have gone extinct since 1500. But even if we multiply this official number by a hundred, it still represents a relatively small fraction of the diversity of life on Earth today.”

The management and preservation of remaining habitats still remain the most effective ways to combat the prospect of further extinctions. Whether its endangered stocks of Atlantic whitefish, threatened turtles in many provinces, or delicate plant species in rainforest habitats, Kraus says there still is a chance of restoring numbers through management practices. 

“Look after the tallgrass prairie in Manitoba and the prairie will look after hundreds of species, including western prairie white-fringed orchid and monarch butterfly. Conserve and restore the wetlands on Pelee Island, and the wetlands will help migrating shorebirds and endangered reptiles.”

Local organizations such as the Lake Lenore Wildlife Federation, which monitors fish counts and manages catches from Lenore Lake, are part of the solution. Habitat protection is efficient and provides many benefits to people, such as water security, carbon storage and providing passive recreational sites to Canada’s wildlife and plants.

Examples of rebounding numbers provide hope for the future. Birds of prey such as bald eagles and raptors fell victim throughout the 1950s and 60s due to DDT poisoning and indiscriminate shooting. Through initiatives like relocation and banning certain pesticides, those numbers are steadily rising. 

Kraus maintains that Canada could stop all extinction and species loss from our own borders. We generally know which species are at the greatest risk. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada assesses new species every year. Provincial and territorial Conservation Data Centres track the status of almost 30,000 species. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada continues to find supports for its work in preserving wildlife habitats and species across the country.