YELLOWKNIFE (December 13, 2012) – ­The Northwest Territories (NWT) Species at Risk Committee has released the results of the 2012 Species Assessments.

Every year, the Species at Risk Committee assesses the status of species in the NWT. This is the first year assessments have been done since the Species at Risk (NWT) Act came into force in 2010. 

Species assessed in 2012 were Peary Caribou, Boreal Caribou, Polar Bear and Hairy Braya (a plant).

The Species at Risk Committee determined that Peary Caribou are Threatened in the NWT due to a historic decline and low population numbers.  The population size is approximately 7,250 animals.  While the population has been more stable in the last 20 years, the small numbers make these animals susceptible to overharvesting and catastrophic events associated with climate change. Harvesting is currently well managed in the NWT. Peary Caribou are the smallest of all caribou in the world and exist only in the Canadian Arctic islands.

Boreal Caribou have been assessed as Threatened in the NWT.  Boreal Caribou need large tracts of undisturbed habitat so they can spread out to minimize predation risk. This adaptation results in naturally low densities. There are an estimated 6,500 boreal caribou in the NWT.  Declines in Boreal Caribou have been documented in some parts of the NWT. Human-caused disturbances, including extensive oil, gas and coal mining exploration activities and emerging forest uses, are expected to have a significant effect on Boreal Caribou.

Polar Bears are assessed as Special Concern in the NWT. Polar Bears are found throughout the circumpolar north and hunt seals from the sea ice. The primary threat to Polar Bears is climate change, causing changes to sea ice and the availability of seals. Climate change will affect ice conditions differently across the range of Polar Bears. Harvest has been well-managed and maintained within sustainable levels. Overall, Polar Bear populations in the NWT are stable. There are approximately 2,000 Polar Bears in the NWT at any given time.

The Hairy Braya is a rare plant found nowhere else in the world except on the Cape Bathurst peninsula and Baillie Islands, NWT. It has been assessed as Threatened in the NWT due to its severely limited range, rapid erosion of coastal habitat, and small and declining population size. The extremely remote location means there is currently little human disturbance.

Details of the 2012 assessments can be found on the NWT species at risk website: www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca.

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. 

For more information see the backgrounder attached, or 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

 

2012 Species 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 in the NWT.


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

 

Assessment Categories
SARC recommends each species assessed by 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.