Strengths of the new Endangered Species Act

Under Ontario’s previous endangered species protection, only a portion of the species recognized by scientists to be Endangered—the highest category of risk—were protected by law. No species listed as Threatened or Special concern were listed—until the new ESA was passed. Now, both Threatened and Special concern species are included; the number of species protected by law jumped from 42 to 186 overnight.

Habitat protection for Threatened and Special Concern species is a huge step forward – by far the most critical improvement from the old Act to the new. The broadened list of species is scientifically, rather than politically, based. If a species is at risk, it’s on the list. That’s good science.

Now, species at risk in Ontario have science based listing and habitat protection. Considering that habitat loss is the number one threat to most endangered species in Ontario (and in the world), we’ve got the makings of a very strong safety net.

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