SPECIES AT RISK SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2008

SPECIES AT RISK SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
McGuinty Government Looks to Science To Assess And Classify Species At Risk

The work of the committee will result in species being classified as “at risk” and placed on the Species at Risk in Ontario list. Species can be classified as extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern. The committee makes decisions on appropriate classifications based on the best scientific information available, including community and Aboriginal traditional knowledge. Species classified as endangered and threatened will be protected, along with their habitat.

The committee is one of two provincial committees established under Ontario’s new Endangered Species Act to work on the protection and recovery of species at risk and implementation of the new act. The other is the Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee, which provides advice on protecting species at risk.

QUOTES

“While this committee has existed since 1995, the new Endangered Species Act gives it legal recognition and changes its role so that classification decisions made by the committee are automatically reflected on the Species at Risk in Ontario list,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is home to more than 30,000 species, of which more than 180 are currently identified as being at risk.

• Ontario’s new Endangered Species Act took effect on June 30, 2008, making the province a North American leader in species at risk protection and recovery.

LEARN MORE

• See a list of the members of the committee with a brief biography.

• Find out more about Ontario’s new Endangered Species Act (ontario.ca/speciesatrisk).

• Learn more about how you can protect species at risk in Ontario.

For More Information

Ivan Langrish, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2212

Anne White, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2093

ontario.ca/natural-resources-news

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)