SI/2022-720222

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20222

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SPECIES AT RISK ACTList of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) OrderP.C.2022-7520222

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Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsections 27(1.1) and (1.2) of the Species at Risk Acta,aS.C. 2002, c. 29(a)refers the following assessments back to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) for further information or consideration:(i)the assessment of the status of the Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Northern Mountain population,(ii)the assessment of the status of the Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Central Mountain population, and(iii)the assessment of the status of the Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Southern Mountain population; and(b)approves that the Minister of the Environment include in the public registry established under section 120 of that Act the statement that is attached as the annex to this Order and that sets out the reasons for the referral back to COSEWIC.ANNEXStatement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessments of the Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) — Northern Mountain Population, Central Mountain Population and Southern Mountain Population — Back to COSEWICTwo mountain caribou populations in western Canada are currently listed in Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act— the Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population), listed as a threatened species in 2003, and the Woodland Caribou (Northern Mountain population), listed as a species of special concern in 2005.In 2011, COSEWIC defined twelve new designatable units (DUs) to support assessments of caribou across Canada. In particular, it split the two currently listed mountain caribou populations in western Canada into three new DUs and modified their boundaries.In 2014, COSEWIC provided its assessment of the status of the newly structured DUs for mountain caribou in western Canada in its “COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Caribou Rangifer tarandus, Northern Mountain population, Central Mountain population and Southern Mountain population in Canada – 2014” (the 2014 report).Based on the uncertainties relating to the delineation of the three DUs for mountain caribou in western Canada, insufficient genetic information, the lack of inclusion of Indigenous knowledge with respect to the creation of the DUs, as well as recent changes in population size of some affected herds, the assessments in the 2014 report are referred back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. The Department of the Environment is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.