World Vertebrate Populations Declining - How is Canada Doing?

A new study, The Impact of Conservation on the Status of the World's Vertebrates, published in the journal Science, sheds light on the global biodiversity crisis we are facing today.

Carried out by 174 scientists from around the world, and using data for 25,780 species (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fishes) from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, the study finds that an estimated 20% of the world's vertebrates are Threatened - assigned Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable status according to the IUCN Red List. Of the 20% are 25% of all mammals, 13% of birds, 22% of reptiles, 41% of amphibians, 33% of cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks and rays) and 15% of bony fishes (i.e., fish with scales). Their study shows that an average of 52 species of mammals, birds and amphibians move closer to extinction annually.

The main threats driving these species towards extinction are logging, over-exploitation, agricultural expansion and invasive alien species. Southeast Asia has experienced the most losses and faces high risk of extinction. Other regions seeing large declines in biodiversity include parts of Central America, the tropical Andes of South America and Australia.

On a more positive note, the study shows clear evidence that without conservation efforts biodiversity loss would have increased by 18%. Their analysis showed that 64 mammal, bird and amphibian species had their status improved due to such efforts. Three of these species (the California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, and the Black-footed Ferret, Mustela nigripes, in the United States, and Przewalski’s Horse, Equus ferus, in Mongolia) had been extinct in the wild and later reintroduced.

To ensure that conservation work continues to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss, their study shows that commitment and resources are needed. Referring to the tenth meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD COP10) in Nagoya, Japan, IUCN's Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre says "this is clear evidence for why we absolutely must emerge from Nagoya with a strategic plan of action to direct our efforts for biodiversity in the coming decade. It is a clarion call for all of us – governments, businesses, citizens – to mobilize resources and drive the action required. Conservation does work but it needs our support, and it needs it fast!”

Canada's latest and most comprehensive report on biodiversity, Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010, shows that in this country 20% of amphibians are at risk of extinction, 17% percent of freshwater fish are Endangered or Threatened, 40% of grassland birds have been lost and there has been a 50% decline in the 35 shorebird species found in Canada. Canada's 4th National Report to the CBD (a reporting mechanism under the Convention every four years), which assessed progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, showed that an average of 17% of Canadian species across all taxa are considered 'at risk', 30 species were Extirpated and 12 have gone Extinct.

Join us in urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take action in conserving Canada's natural heritage during this International Year of Biodiversity! And don't forget that there are changes we can all make in our everyday lives that will benefit biodiversity, too.

Photo 1: African Elephant

Photo 2: Burrowing Owl

Sockeye salmon return to BC in record numbers after last year’s disappearing act

Photo by Chris Pike

The succulent orange-fleshed sockeye salmon is a prized meat and a popular dish to many, and a cornerstone of the North American commercial fishing industry. Last year, a dramatic decline in sockeye salmon in the Fraser River sparked calls for a Commission to investigate the crash. According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 9 to 11 million sockeye salmon didn’t returned to the Fraser River in 2009. Now people in the Fraser Valley community of British Columbia are rejoicing, as the salmon returned in droves, hitting a record high not seen since 1913. Current estimates provided by the Pacific Salmon Commission lists the fish population at 25 million.

Sockeye salmon have been off limits to West Coast fishermen for the last four years. “This is the first year we’ve fished sockeye in four years, and we don’t expect to fish for the next three years,” said Phil Eidsvik, spokesman for the B.C. Fisheries Survival Coalition. Salmon have a four-year life cycle. They breed and rear in fresh water until they reach adulthood, then venture out to the open sea where they will grow rapidly (size ranges from 60 to 84 centimetres in length and weight can be between 2.3 to 7 kilograms). The salmon reside for at least one year and then finally return to their native fresh water homes where the cycle begins anew.

Ironically, the Cohen Commission in charge of the federal probe into last year’s decline began touring B.C. communities on August 18 and will continue to do so until October 21 to uncover ‘why sockeye salmon are disappearing’. Public hearing will start on October 25 and continue into 2011 when researchers’ final reports are due next January.

Currently experts can only speculate as to why sockeye numbers are so high this year but were so very low last year. Gail Shea, federal minister of fisheries and oceans, said “she had no idea why the numbers are so high”, but that the commission will need to take this new information into account. She also stated that, “the salmon is not gone” and that she sensed some real hope in an industry which many had feared for some time was coming to an end, “but that couldn’t be further from the truth, obviously.”

Oil Spill in Michigan Threatens Birds, Fish

It's becoming a wearying -- and worrying -- refrain. For (at least) the third time this year, an oil pipeline has burst, birds and fish are being killed, water is being fouled, and local residents are asking, How could this happen?

The site this time: Battle Creek, Michigan, where a pipeline belonging to Calgary-based energy giant Enbridge Inc has leaked at least three million litres of oil into the Kalamazoo River.

The pipeline, which normally carries about 30 million litres of crude oil a day from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario, sprung a leak on Monday, but cleanup crews didn't begin work until Wednesday. Once again, initial estimates from the company of the amount of oil spilling from the pipeline were lower than reality, and once again townspeople were left surprised that a pipeline was so close to one of the state's major waterways. From the Associated Press:

"I just can't believe they allowed that to happen, and they're not equipped to handle it," said Owen Smith, 53, of Galesburg.

Sound familiar?

This is just the latest in a string of spills that have been reported this year. All of these spills, particularlythe tragedy unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, serve as a reminder that oil production is never safe for the environment or for the communities along our coasts and waterways. Oil in the water is dangerous for fisheries, wildlife and ecosystems no matter where it happens.

This spill, harmful though it is to the area's wildlife and people, is at least smaller in scale than the BP spill. Check out how much of Ontario would be covered by the Gulf of Mexico spill!

Canada ranked low on Environmental Performance Index

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a tool that was developed to measure the environmental performance of a country's policies, has ranked Canada 46th out of the 163 countries measured.

The major environmental factor that pushed Canada further down the list was its ranking for greenhouse gas emissions per capita: 151st, beaten by all industrialized nations except Australia. This GHG ranking was based on data that was collected for the years 2007 and 2008 without even accounting for 2009!

A few other disappointing rankings revealed by the EPI were:

- 125th (out 127 countries) on fisheries conservation; beaten by Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. The US also scored better than Canada - mainly due to its federal regulations for sustainable fisheries.

- 80th on preserving biodiversity and habitat;

- 140th in preserving the vitality of ecosystems;

- 146th in sulphur dioxide emissions;

- 147th in nitrous oxide emissions.

It seems Canada will have to saddle up to start revitalizing its reputation as an environmental leader!