The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada's nature, biodiversity, and species at risk. In a collaborative effort with all provinces and territories, the Government of Canada is releasing Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada to enhance the understanding of the status and distribution of wild species across the country.
For the first time, the Wild Species report takes stock of more than half of all known species in Canada. With the inclusion of 50,534 species, an increase of over 20,000 species from the report published five years ago, the Wild Species 2020 report represents the most complete inventory of Canada's biodiversity to date.
The first step in preventing the loss of species is to identify those that exist, where they are, and their status. The report's results indicate that 80 percent of the assessed species are secure, while 20 percent are at some level of risk of extinction in Canada. The data in this report will support provinces, territories, municipalities, and partners in their conservation efforts, and inform the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada of the species that may be at risk.
The Government of Canada has made historic investments and taken significant action to protect species at risk. Earlier this week, the government announced that $8.7 million will be invested to support 67 conservation projects across Canada led by communities, individuals, and non-government organizations taking action to recover species at risk in their communities. This builds on work to protect key species at risk including caribou, monarch butterflies, sage grouse, right whales, southern resident killer whales, and more. Through the 2 Billion Trees program, important progress is also being made to replant important tree species in local habitat.
From December 7-19, 2022, Canada will welcome the Parties to the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal, Quebec, for COP15, which will focus on the negotiation of a new Global Biodiversity Framework. This important international conference will be a landmark event with thousands of delegates from around the world gathered to take action on protecting nature. Canada will take a strong leadership role, along with international partners, in championing the development of an ambitious framework with clear targets and actions that also recognizes the important role Indigenous peoples and communities play in conservation and biodiversity. Canada is committed to halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 and achieving a full recovery for nature by 2050, and conserving 25 percent of land and oceans by 2025, working toward 30 percent of each by 2030.
