YELLOWKNIFE (July 30, 2012) – The 2012-2017 schedule identifying species to be assessed to determine if they are at risk has been released by the Northwest Territories (NWT) Species at Risk Committee.

The Species at Risk Committee reviews the species status assessment schedule every year and revises it as needed.

Species scheduled for assessment in 2012 are Peary Caribou, Hairy Braya, Polar Bear, and Boreal Woodland Caribou.  In 2013, species scheduled for assessment are Barren-ground Caribou, Dolphin-Union Caribou, and Northern Leopard Frog.  Species were prioritized for status assessment using a checklist of the following six factors: uniqueness; trends; community concern; rarity; threats; and percentage in the NWT.

More species are scheduled for assessment in 2014-2017.

The Species at Risk Committee, established by the Species at Risk (NWT) Act, is an independent committee of experts responsible for assessing the biological status of species at risk in the NWT. The Committee will use the assessments to make recommendations on the listing of species at risk.  The assessment categories are Extinct, Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, Not at Risk, and Data Deficient.

The full 2012-2017 species status assessment schedule and a backgrounder are attached.
 

For more information, contact:

Judy McLinton
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-873-7379
Email: judy_mclinton@gov.nt.ca

 

­ Species Status Assessment Schedule

2012-2017

 

Note: This schedule will be revised annually and may change based on the results of these annual reviews.

Species to be assessed by December 2012

• Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi)


• Hairy Braya (a plant-formerly called Hairy Rockress) (Braya pilosa)


• Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)


• Woodland Caribou (Boreal population) (Rangifer tarandus caribou)

 

Species to be assessed by December 2013

• Barren-ground Caribou (except Dolphin Union population) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus)


• Barren-ground Caribou (Dolphin Union population) (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus x pearyi (R.t. pearyi x groenlandicus))


• Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens (Rana pipiens))

 

Species to be assessed by December 2014

• Wolverine (Gulo gulo)


• Nahanni Aster (plant) (Symphyotrichum nahanniense (Aster nahanniensis))


• Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas (Bufo boreas))


• Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae)

 

Species to be assessed by December 2015

• Drummond Bluebell (Plant) (Mertensia drummondii)


• Peregrine Falcon anatum-tundrius complex (Falco peregrinus)


• Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)


• Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

 

Species to be assessed by December 2016

• Canadian Toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys (Bufo hemiophrys))


• Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)


• Little Brown Myotis (bat) (Myotis lucifugus)*


• Northern Myotis (bat) (Myotis septentrionalis)*


• Long-eared Myotis (bat) (Myotis evotis)*


• Long-legged Myotis (bat) (Myotis volans)*


• Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)*

 

*The five bat species will be bundled together into one species status report but assessed separately.

Species to be assessed by December 2017

• American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)


• Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris)


• Banks Island Alkali Grass (plant) (Puccinellia banksiensis)


• Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)­

 

Species Status Assessment

Backgrounder

• The Species at Risk (NWT) Act provides a process to identify, protect and recover species at risk in the NWT. The Act applies to any wild animal, plant or other species managed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. It does not apply to fish, marine mammals or migratory birds. It applies everywhere in the NWT, on both public and private lands, including private lands owned under a land claims agreement.


• The Species at Risk Committee (SARC), established by the Species at Risk (NWT) Act, is an independent committee of up to 15 experts responsible for assessing the biological status of species at risk in the NWT.


• Species status assessment will be done at the territorial level, and the results may be different from assessments done at the national level. Assessments will be based on species status reports that include the best available traditional, community and scientific knowledge of the species.


• Status assessments are scheduled to be done on 25 species between 2012 and 2017.


• Species were ranked in order of priority for assessment using a checklist of the following six criteria:

 

• Uniqueness – How distinct or special it is; species are given higher priority than subspecies and subspecies are given higher priority than distinct populations.


• Trends – A species whose numbers, or amount of habitat, are showing a decline is a higher priority than a species with stable or increasing populations or habitat.


• Community concern – Species with a high level of community concern in the NWT are given a high priority.


• Rarity – A species with one small population in the NWT is higher priority than a species that is abundant.


• Threats – A species with threats affecting more than half the population is a higher priority than a species with threats of minor or no impact.


• Percentage in NWT – A species found only in the NWT is a higher priority than a species that is widespread.

 

Assessment Categories


SARC recommends each species assessed be placed in one of the following status categories:

• Extinct – no longer exists anywhere;


• Extirpated – no longer exists in the wild in the NWT;


• Endangered – facing imminent extirpation or extinction;


• Threatened – likely to become endangered if nothing is done;


• Special Concern – may become endangered or threatened because of threats and biological factors;


• Not at Risk – not currently at risk of extinction; or


• Data Deficient – not enough information to determine status.