CELEBRATING THE SPECIES WE HAVE SAVED
For many of us, wildlife is the symbol of nature conservation. This isn’t surprising; humans have lived closely with other living things for most of our history.
Despite our ancient connection to wildlife, we have not been kind to many of the planet’s other species. Scientists have warned we are entering an age of extinction. While past mass extinction events were caused by asteroids hitting the planet or huge volcanic eruptions, this one is the result of the environmental changes humans are causing. Here in Canada, more than 800 species have been assessed as at risk of extinction. Bumble bee and shorebird populations have plummeted. Wild species, ranging from sea mink to the passenger pigeon to — even a moss that once only grew in eastern Ontario — are now gone forever.
But hidden within these trends and forecasts is this simple truth: We can save species from extinction. There is clear evidence that past generations have pulled wild species back from the edge of extinction.
I can see this evidence around me. I now witness wildlife that just a generation ago did not exist where I live. The promise of wildlife recovery lives across Canada in the swift foxes now found in the Prairies, the humpback whales along the Atlantic coast, and the small white lady's-slipper in the tallgrass prairies that are now protected and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in Manitoba.
Each species we have saved has an extraordinary recovery story. Some required ambitious reintroduction and captive breeding programs. For others, we needed new laws and policies. Often their stories unfolded over decades. They all had this in common: Behind every wildlife recovery story, there were people that cared enough to take action. Maybe people like you.
Canadian Environment Week, this past week. was founded to celebrate Canada’s environmental accomplishments and encourage Canadians to contribute to conserving and protecting their environment. It’s important that we understand and celebrate these Canadian stories about wildlife recovery. This is not to dilute or distract us from the biodiversity crises, but to direct us toward a different future.
For me, wildlife recovery is powerful evidence of hope. Wildlife recovery represents the best in people.
Join NCC on June 10 for a Naturetalks webinar on Saving Canada’s Species: 10 stories of Canadian wildlife recovery and why they matter. We’ll explore Canadian species that are rebounding thanks to conservation efforts.
Dan Kraus Senior conservation biologist Nature Conservancy of Canada