Wildlife of Canada

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Canadian wildlife
Biodiversity
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Common North American beaver, official national symbol and one of the most iconic species of Canada's fauna.

The wildlife of Canada or biodiversity of Canada consist of over 80,000 classified species,[a] and an equal number thought yet to be recognized.[3] Known fauna and flora have been identified from five kingdoms:[4] protozoa represent approximately 1% of recorded species; chromist (approximately 4); fungis (approximately 16%); plants (approximately 11%); and animals (approximately 68%).[2][1] Insects account for nearly 70 percent of documented animal species in Canada.[2] More than 300 species are found exclusively in Canada.[5]

There are 20 major ecosystems – ecozones – in Canada: 15 terrestrial and 5 marine.[6] Canada's major biomes are the tundra, boreal forest, grassland, and temperate deciduous forest. Since the end of the last glacial period, Canada has consisted of eight distinct forest regions,[7] with approximately half of its land area covered by forests (roughly 8 percent of the world's forested land).[8]

Due to human activities, invasive species and environmental issues in the country,[9] there are currently more than 800 species at risk of being lost.[10] About 65 percent of Canada's resident species are considered secure.[4] Protected and conservation areas have been established to preserve and restore Canadian flora and fauna species.[11] Approximately 5000 Canadian animal species and 30,000 Canadian plant species are restricted from export for international trade.[12]

  1. ^ a b Andrea Olive (2019). The Canadian Environment in Political Context, Second Edition. University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-4875-7037-8.
  2. ^ a b c "Wild Species 2015: The General Status of Species in Canada" (PDF). National General Status Working Group: 1. Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. 2016. p. 2.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Animals was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "Wild Species 2000: The General Status of Species in Canada". Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Conservation Council (CESCC). 2001.
  5. ^ Hayward, Abi (2020-06-05). "Ours to save: the species that can only be found in Canada". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2018-01-10). "Introduction to the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) 2017". www.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  7. ^ National Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. 2005. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-7705-1198-2.
  8. ^ Luckert, Martin K.; Haley, David; Hoberg, George (2012). Policies for Sustainably Managing Canada's Forests: Tenure, Stumpage Fees, and Forest Practices. UBC Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-7748-2069-1.
  9. ^ "Biodiversity in Canada: Commitments and Trends". Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada - The Office of the Auditor General of Canada. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  10. ^ "COSEWIC Annual Report". Species at Risk Public Registry. 2019.
  11. ^ "What Are Protected Areas?". Nature Canada. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  12. ^ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (May 19, 2017). "Endangered species list". aem.


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