We are part of the International Earth BioGenome Project
Several expert panels have been established to determine candidate species lists and rankings for genomic sequencing based on the four species selection criteria, with the goal of ensuring that the highest priority Canadian species will be represented in the Earth BioGenome Project and those species most benefitting from a whole genome resource will be prioritized for sequencing. The scientists involved in the expert panels have volunteered their time for this undertaking. We recognize that there is a large body of biological expertise in Canada and always welcome new committee members.
Cultural significance
At-risk and requiring or already subject to some form of management regime
Of particular scientific interest
An essential component in a local, regional or the national economy
Currently the most comprehensive listing and conservation assessment of multicellular species in Canada is represented by the Wild Species 2020 report generated by the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council and the National General Status working group, which assessed ~50,534 Canadian species (of the ~80,000 Canadian species).
1
University of New Brunswick
2
University of British Columbia
3
University of Melbourne, Australia
4
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
5
Canadian Museum of Nature
6
Memorial University of Newfoundland
7
University of Waterloo
8
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
9
Dalhousie University
10
Western University
11
Royal BC Museum
12
University of Alberta
13
McGill University
14
Ithaca College, New York, USA
15
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
16
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
17
University of Lethbridge
18
African Lion Safari
19
Carleton University
20
Royal Ontario Museum
21
University of Toronto at Scarborough
22
University of Northern British Columbia
23
Eastern Washington University, USA
24
Laval University
25
Nova Scotia Museum
26
Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre
27
New Brunswick Museum
28
Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes
29
The Hakai Institute
30
The New York Botanical Garden, NY, USA
31
Duke University, NA, USA
32
University of Maine at Fort Kent
33
University of Calgary
34
Brock University
35
York University
36
Museum of Entomology
37
University of Manitoba
38
University of Guelph
39
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
40
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
41
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, & Nematodes
42
University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
43
Simon Fraser University
44
Natural Resources Canada
45
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
46
Calgary Zoo
47
Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
48
University of Western Ontario
49
Natural Resource Solutions Inc
50
University of Cincinnati, USA
51
Royal Alberta Museum
52
MacEwan University
53
Indiana University, USA
54
Environment & Climate Change Canada
55
University of Toronto Scarborough
56
Vancouver Aquarium
57
University of Toronto
58
Government of Yukon
59
KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, USA
60
KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum
61
US Arizona Game & Fish Department
62
Freshwater Institute
63
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
64
Yukon Department of Environment
65
Marmot Recovery Foundation
66
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, USA
67
Trent University
68
Acadia University
69
University of California, Los Angeles
70
Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo
71
Gulf Fisheries Centre
72
University of Windsor
73
Science Branch, DFO
74
Pacific Biological Station
75
Institute of Ocean Sciences (Pacific Region)
76
the Council of the Haida Nation
77
Northeast Pacific Deep-sea Exploration Project
78
Queen's University
79
University of Victoria
80
BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy
81
private
82
University of Washington, USA
83
Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre
84
Conservation & Protection Program, DFO
85
Maurice Lamontagne Institute
86
University of Florida, USA
87
Kansas University, USA
88
Maritimes at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
89
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
90
Society for the Exploration & Valuing of the Environment (SEVE)
91
Museums Victoria, Australia
92
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA
93
Government of Alberta
94
Coldbrook Biodiversity Facility
95
Huntsman Marine Science Centre
96
Memorial University
97
Canada Centre for Inland Waters
98
International Tundra Experiment (ITEX)
99
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, Norway
100
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
101
University of Oslo, Norway
102
University of Oxford, England
103
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
104
Darwin Tree of Life, England
105
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland
106
Uppsala University, Sweden
107
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
108
The University of Texas at El Paso, USA
109
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow & Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
110
University of Ottawa
111
UBC Botanical Garden
112
BC Ministry of Forests
113
Kalamalka Forestry Centre, BC Government
114
Vancouver Island University
115
Montreal Botanical Garden
116
Genome Sciences Centre
117
University of Montreal
118
University of Tuebingen, Germany
119
Quebec Ministry of the Environment
120
Laurentian University
121
Brandon University
122
Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Italy
123
University of Ferrara, Italy
124
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
125
Shawnaga First Nations
126
Scales Nature Park
127
Toronto Zoo
128
St. Mary's University
Canada possesses significant biodiversity, with roughly 80,000 plant and animal species in environments ranging from desert to the arctic. Many of these species are under threat due to rapid changes in climate and other human-led impacts on our environment.
The 2020 federal Wild Species report, which assessed ~50,534 Canadian species, identified ~4.5 per cent (2,253 species) as “May Be at Risk” in Canada.
As of May 2023, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada’s (COSEWIC) assessments included 846 wildlife species in various risk categories; 21 Extirpated (i.e., no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition, 23 wildlife species have been assessed as Extinct.
Assessments by Indigenous Peoples in Canada also reflect systemic change— Inuit report declining abundance, health, and populations of several species.
