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
Dalhousie University
9
Western University
10
Royal BC Museum
11
University of Alberta
12
McGill University
13
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
14
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
15
University of Lethbridge
16
African Lion Safari
17
Carleton University
18
Royal Ontario Museum
19
University of Toronto at Scarborough
20
University of Calgary
21
Brock University
22
York University
23
Museum of Entomology
24
University of Manitoba
25
University of Guelph
26
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
27
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
28
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, & Nematodes
29
Simon Fraser University
30
University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
31
Natural Resources Canada
32
Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
33
University of Western Ontario
34
Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre
35
Royal Alberta Museum
36
Indiana University, USA
37
Environment & Climate Change Canada
38
Eastern Washington University, USA
39
Laval University
40
New Brunswick Museum
41
Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes
42
The New York Botanical Garden, NY, USA
43
Duke University, NA, USA
44
University of Toronto Scarborough
45
Vancouver Aquarium
46
University of Northern British Columbia
47
University of Toronto
48
Government of Yukon
49
KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, USA
50
US Arizona Game & Fish Department
51
Freshwater Institute
52
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
53
Yukon Department of Environment
54
Marmot Recovery Foundation
55
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, USA
56
Trent University
57
Acadia University
58
University of California, Los Angeles
59
Gulf Fisheries Centre
60
University of Windsor
61
Science Branch, DFO
62
Pacific Biological Station
63
Institute of Ocean Sciences (Pacific Region)
64
Queen's University
65
University of Victoria
66
BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy
67
private
68
University of Washington, USA
69
Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre
70
Conservation & Protection Program, DFO
71
Maurice Lamontagne Institute
72
University of Florida, USA
73
Kansas University, USA
74
Maritimes at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
75
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
76
Society for the Exploration & Valuing of the Environment (SEVE)
77
Museums Victoria, Australia
78
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA
79
Government of Alberta
80
Huntsman Marine Science Centre
81
International Tundra Experiment (ITEX)
82
The Arctic University Museum of Norway, Norway
83
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
84
University of Oslo, Norway
85
University of Oxford, England
86
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
87
Darwin Tree of Life, England
88
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland
89
Uppsala University, Sweden
90
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
91
The University of Texas at El Paso, USA
92
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow & Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
93
University of Ottawa
94
UBC Botanical Garden
95
BC Ministry of Forests
96
Kalamalka Forestry Centre, BC Government
97
Vancouver Island University
98
Montreal Botanical Garden
99
Genome Sciences Centre
100
University of Montreal
101
University of Tuebingen, Germany
102
Quebec Ministry of the Environment
103
Laurentian University
104
Brandon University
105
Calgary Zoo
106
Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Italy
107
University of Ferrara, Italy
108
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
109
Shawnaga First Nations
110
Scales Nature Park
111
Toronto Zoo
112
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.