#30 Forging alliances for the recovery of species at risk in Canada with Christie Whelan

Christie Whelan is the National Manager of Species at Risk Recovery with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Queen’s University, and her Masters degree in Biology at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to her current role, she was a Science Advisor and Coordinator for the department of fisheries and oceans Canada (DFO). In these roles at DFO she was responsible for implementation of the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat and the DFO member to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). At DFO, Christie was working on the assessment and recovery of marine species, but now looks after the development and implementation of recovery strategies and action plans for terrestrial species at risk in Canada.  Christie reviewed the structure and process of Canada’s Species at Risk Act (or SARA for short), including the cyclical nature of the legislation and the protections that species are given once they’re listed under the act. She also gave a clear summary of the jurisdictional complexity of species at risk management in Canada, including the roles and responsibilities of the federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Christie shared some insights into the collaborative nature of SARA by looking at the case of Peary Caribou, which are one of the four subspecies of caribou recognized in Canada. Peary Caribou are currently listed as Endangered under the federal legislation and have a recovery strategy in place, but have recently been assessed and given a status of threatened by COSEWIC, which is a reflection of positive action on the ground. Christie and her team are doing vital work at the interface of conservation science and policy, and we hope our chat provides some insight into the process of species at risk recovery in Canada. Species at risk - Canada.ca Species at risk: the act, the accord and the funding programs - Canada.ca Species at risk public registry - Canada.ca Critical habitat identification toolbox: Species at Risk Act guidance - Canada.ca Canada Gazette