Scientific experts track threatened species

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) has drawn up lists of wildlife and plant species its members believe to be in danger of extinction in Canada since 1978.

The committee is made up of scientific experts from across Canada and includes representatives from wildlife management agencies as well as governments.

It gets money from the federal government, but keeps an arm’s length relationship with the government and makes independent decisions.

Its meetings are not held in public, except for press conferences at the end.

COSEWIC’s assessments are forwarded to the federal minister of the Environment and help form the legal list of species at risk under the Species at Risk Act.

If they’re on the list, hunting is usually prohibited or severely reduced.

These are the northern species the committee believes are facing imminent extirpation or extinction:

* Bowhead whale (Eastern Arctic)
* Bowhead whale (Western Arctic)
* Beluga whale (Eastern Hudson Bay)
* Beluga (Ungava Bay)
* Peary caribou

These are species the committee believes are likely to become endangered unless something is done to protect them:

* Peregrine falcon
* Beluga (Cumberland Sound)

These are species the committee believes are especially sensitive to human activities or natural events.

* Beluga (Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay)
* Beluga (Western Hudson Bay)
* Polar bear
* Grizzly bear