Biodiversity

SHAPE of Nature: Knowledge of species

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]

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This evaluation tracks scientific knowledge on the number of wild species in Canada and their conservation status.

Key points

• 80,000 Is the estimated number of wild species in Canada.
• 80% of species in Canada that are not described by Western science or remain poorly documented.
• 19% of species assigned status ranks that are of conservation concern.

Abstract

There are an estimated 80,000 wild species in Canada (CESCC, 2016). Just over 3,200 documented species have been introduced to Canada by people.

While some groups, such as birds and vascular plants, are well-documented, almost 80% of wild species in Canada are “grey biodiversity” that not described by Western science or remain poorly documented (Figure 1).

Of the over 16,000 species from Canada that have been assigned national conservation ranks by NatureServe, 3,144 (19%) are of conservation concern (i.e., assessed as Critically Imperiled, Imperiled, Vulnerable, Historical, Extirpated or Extinct).

There remain significant gaps in documented knowledge of Canadian species. More investment is needed to catalogue Canadian biodiversity and assign conservation ranks. This includes more effort towards species inventories and gathering of local and Indigenous knowledge.

Potentially, there are over 15,000 species of conservation concern in Canada. These are species that, if assessed using NatureServe criteria, are likely to be ranked as Critically Imperiled, Imperiled, or Vulnerable.

Canada may have over 30 times more species of national conservation concern than are officially recognized under the Species at Risk Act. Addressing their needs will require holistic approaches to conserving wildlife such as coordinated multi-species and ecosystem-based actions.

Much of this undocumented biodiversity is likely to occur in areas that are already known for their diversity and unique species, including in Key Biodiversity Areas. Identifying and conserving these places will help to conserve Canada’s undocumented species.

Recommended citation

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada] (2022). SHAPE of Nature: Knowledge of species. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]. https://wcscanada.org/resources/shape-of-nature-knowledge-of-species/