Species at Risk Act

Canada's Species at Risk Act: Implementation at a Snail's Pace
Report Released April 2009

Conclusion

The shortcomings of SARA's implementation highlighted in this report are directly impacting species at risk in Canada. Discouragingly, after six years of SARA implementation, only two species have had critical habitat protected outside of existing protected areas, and these only in response to a court case! In the absence of habitat protection for at-risk species, habitat degradation continues and we can expect Canadian species to continue to decline. As it stands now, the implementation of SARA is failing at its key goals of providing for the survival and recovery of species at risk and the protection of their critical habitat. The five-year review creates an opportunity for government to change its ways and to start effectively harnessing the Act's potential to protect species and their habitats. Government must take strong actions to ensure that our imperilled species are given a fighting chance at survival and to truly facilitate species recovery.

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