The Rights-of-Way as Habitat program is an incredible resource for restoring pollinator habitats. This initiative, supported by the Trillium Foundation of Ontario and Environment and Climate Change Canada, has already restored more than 7.02 square kilometers of pollinator habitat in eastern and southwestern Ontario. The program also monitors vegetation and pollinators along roads and hydroelectric lines to assess habitat quality. The Canadian Endangered Species Coalition, which includes the Canadian Nature Federation (CNF), is campaigning for federal legislation on endangered species.
Thanks to the CNF, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has expanded its mandate to include the consideration of invertebrate and non-vascular plant species. The Canadian government and fishing industry have been criticized for their involvement in the annual commercial seal hunt, which is the biggest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. In response to the Canadian Endangered Species Coalition campaign, federal and provincial ministers agreed on a national agreement for the protection of endangered species. This agreement resulted in the passing of the Endangered Species Act, which helps prevent wildlife species from disappearing in Canada, ensures their recovery if they are threatened or extirpated due to human activity, and manages species of special interest to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened. The CNF and Canadian Wildlife Service launched the Endangered Plants and Invertebrates Program in Canada (EPIC). This program was supported by Canada's Council of Wildlife Ministers, as well as the Endangered Wildlife Recovery (RENEW) initiative, which was created to inform the public about progress made in protecting endangered species.
The CNF also created wildlife vignettes in the 1960s to use television as a medium to interest people in wildlife conservation. The Wildlife Area Regulations were modernized to better protect habitats for migratory birds, endangered species, and other wild animals in Canada. The Regulations currently designate 55 national wildlife areas across Canada that provide approximately 1 million hectares of habitat for wildlife species. The Scott Islands National Marine Wildlife Area was established under Canada's Wildlife Act as the first National Marine Wildlife Area. Nature Canada launched a campaign to protect the Suffield National Wildlife Area from expanding gas drilling operations. This campaign resulted in public hearings on proposed development plans within the protected area.
In recognition of its growing responsibilities to protect nature, Wildlife Service Canada became its own branch within the Department of the Environment. The Canadian Wildlife Federation continues to work with regional partners, community groups, lake associations and individuals to reduce risks to turtles. The CNF report on wildlife conservation with a small budget concluded that illegal poaching, resource development, toxic chemicals, climate change and inadequate funding (just 15 cents per hectare) threaten national wildlife areas (NWA) and migratory bird sanctuaries (MBS).
