Wildlife numbers continue to shrink across Canada as governments weaken protections to speed up massive developments.
WWF-Canada’s Living Planet Report tracked 910 vertebrate species between 1970 and 2022, with over half showing decline.
Populations overall dropped by 10 per cent in five decades, while birds, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians all trended downward.
James Snider of WWF-Canada said human activities such as farming, infrastructure, and pollution increasingly harm ecosystems.
Marine life faces noise, overfishing, contaminants, and shipping threats, while climate extremes intensify biodiversity loss nationwide.
Despite clear warning signs, federal and provincial authorities still roll back protections to advance economic projects.
First Nations and conservation groups criticized these policies for eroding environmental safeguards and Indigenous rights.
Snider argued nature and the economy must work together, urging restoration projects and Indigenous-led stewardship for lasting benefits.
Grasslands and Forests Suffer Heaviest Losses
Grassland habitats in Prairie provinces recorded the steepest declines, with 62 per cent of species populations shrinking.
Swift foxes and prairie rattlesnakes face extreme pressure, alongside forest mammals like woodland caribou and grizzly bears.
The spotted owl teeters on extinction due to old-growth logging, while bats struggle with white-nose syndrome.
Canada’s snowy owl population has dropped 40 per cent in southern Arctic ranges because of warming, poisoning and electrocution.
Snider said urgent early intervention is cheaper and more effective than waiting until species reach critical levels.
He emphasized coordinated action between federal, provincial, and even international bodies to protect wide-ranging species.
Migratory caribou and endangered killer whales highlight the need for complex, cross-border recovery efforts.
Indigenous Conservation Provides Hope
Governments pledged to protect 30 per cent of Canada’s land and waters by 2030 under the global biodiversity pact.
Indigenous-led protected conservation areas, such as the Great Bear Sea, emerged as promising initiatives for species recovery.
Snider called Indigenous programs “bright spots” and urged continued investment to meet ambitious goals.
He stressed the need for large-scale restoration of grasslands, wetlands, and forests in heavily populated southern regions.
Such efforts would not only revive wildlife but also strengthen climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Snider concluded that decisive cooperation and sustained resources remain essential to halt biodiversity decline and protect ecosystems.
