The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Mission to Protect our Natural Habitats 

What are the most pressing threats currently facing Canada’s wildlife and natural habitats?  

In Canada, more than 800 plants and animals are at risk of being lost forever. This includes many of the smallest and most productive pollinators. But it also includes many fish, bats, turtles and whales. There isn’t any one culprit, but a combination of factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, development and pollution, invasive species, most of which can be tied to human activity. People are an integral part of biodiversity and rely on it for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment. That’s why renewed and enhanced efforts to reduce the threats to biodiversity are critical. 

How does biodiversity loss in Canada impact the long-term health and resilience of our ecosystems?  

Loss of biodiversity makes us less resistant to invasive species, diseases and climate change. Freshwater, terrestrial and marine ecosystems all depend on high levels of biodiversity for stability.   

Without biodiversity, our whole way of life is at risk. Pollinators produce one-third of the food we eat. Bats provide billions of dollars in agricultural pest control. We need healthy trees for oxygen and intact ecosystems for carbon sequestration. 

Biodiversity loss is an environmental and social issue that affects the health of people and nature alike, from wildlife habitat being destroyed to communities losing access to food. Loss of biodiversity also diminishes Canada. Our wildlife and wild habitats are a part of our heritage and these need to be protected. We gain many economic benefits from our wildlife species – and we can continue to do this, but we must also pay attention to their conservation. By working together, we can reverse biodiversity loss, but it is going to take a vigilance from all sectors of society and a unified demand for strong government commitment. We can continue to benefit from the natural world, but we must do it in ways that don’t drive species or habitats extinct.  

How can Canadians contribute meaningfully to wildlife conservation efforts in their own communities? 

Canada is such a huge country that scientists cannot possibly document and monitor all its biodiversity without the public’s help. Throughout the year, the public can post their wildlife photos and sound recordings using the iNaturalist app or at iNaturalist.ca so scientists can track species across the country in all seasons and settings. Scientists and decision makers are using the data for crucial conservation work such as species at-risk assessments, delineating Key Biodiversity Areas and answering critical research questions. Canadians can also reduce their use of pesticides, replace mowed lawns with native wildflower gardens, and follow best practices for outdoor recreational activities. What role do policymakers and government regulations play in protecting species at risk, and where is immediate action most needed? 

Strong government policies are critical to the conservation of nature. Governments need to take the necessary action to safeguard Canada’s most vulnerable species. The federal Species at Risk Act provides a crucial backstop but is not enough. The provinces and territories signed on to also take care of species at risk at the provincial and territorial level, yet many don’t have endangered species legislation and those that do aren’t implemented to a high standard the federal Act requires. Immediate action is needed to rectify this, whereby provinces, territories and the federal government collaborate to develop and implement stringent legislation and policies to protect and recover species at risk. Action is most needed to save critically endangered species, like North Atlantic Right Whales going extinct, which requires ample funding and a whole of government and whole of society approach. This requires all levels of government and across departments from Finance to Transport and Defense to Health.   

What success stories or recent conservation wins can inspire Canadians to believe that positive change is possible for our wildlife and biodiversity? 

Bringing species back is possible – for example, the Ontario Butterfly Species at Risk Team successfully reintroduced the Mottled Duskywing in southwestern Ontario. Four years of monitoring has found it to be successful with a now established population of more than 200 butterflies! There is also hope for endangered bats – populations that were nearly wiped out from White-nose Syndrome are not only stabilizing, but bats are showing a resistance and fewer signs of the disease in eastern Canada.   

What programs or initiatives does the CWF offer for Canadians who want to volunteer, donate, or advocate for wildlife protection? 

In addition to posting wildlife observations using the iNaturalist app or on iNaturalist.ca, Canadians can volunteer by planting for pollinators, naturalizing shorelines, installing bat boxes that meet our national standards, joining the CWF photo club and signing up for activities and programs like WILD Education and wildlife-friendly garden certification. Canadians can donate to CWF online by one time or monthly gifts, gifts in honour or memory, legacy giving, corporate giving or by product purchases like magazine subscriptions and symbolic animal adoptions. Direct mail donations are also accepted. This funding helps CWF lead several successful evidence-based conservation efforts such as restoring habitat for Monarch Butterflies along rights of way with a focus on key migratory corridors in Ontario and Quebec. CWF is also helping remove barriers to fish passage caused by road crossings over streams, railways and dams.  

CWF has built a national database of aquatic barriers and developed watershed connectivity plans that help prioritize action strategies. It’s also built the framework for a national native seed strategy and supported grassland conservation programs. Moreover, CWF has created the CanFISH Gear Lending Program to trial on-demand systems that replace traditional buoy lines to reduce entanglement of marine mammals.  

Together, we can make a difference to the kind of legacy we leave behind.