Activity 1 - The Species at Risk Act

What you will need:

• Reference materials provided by your teacher
• Library Books
• Access to the Internet

Let's get started!

Use the materials provided including the fact sheets, the library, and /or the Internet, to explore the following:

Part 1: Define these terms

1. Ecosystem
2. Habitat
3. Critical habitat
4. Recovery
5. Special concern
6. Threatened
7. Endangered
8. Extirpated
9. Extinct

Part 2: What is the Species at Risk Act (SARA)?

Part 3: What does the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) do?

Part 4: How do species get on the list?  

Part 5: What three federal government departments are involved in protecting Species at Risk?

Part 6: Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for protecting all aquatic species, both freshwater and saltwater.  Under SARA Fisheries and Oceans Canada must produce recovery strategies and action plans for aquatic species listed as endangered or threatened. What is a recovery strategy?

Part 7: What species are at risk in Newfoundland and Labrador?