CONSERVING WILDLIFE AND FORESTS

Released on September 27, 2001

Efforts to conserve the variety of fish, wildlife and forests in

Saskatchewan and Canada have been renewed thanks to an initiative jointly

led by Saskatchewan and Environment Canada.



"Biodiversity is important for everything from food production to

medicine," Environment and Resource Management Minister Buckley Belanger

said. "Many of our medicines come from plants or micro-organisms and we

use plants and animals to provide us with food and shelter every day.

Biodiversity loss is irreversible. We have to work together to identify

the issues and take action to conserve this diversity in our environment."



Five years ago, the provinces, territories and the federal government

collaborated on the development of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. At

a recent meeting of ministers responsible for Wildlife, Forests and

Fisheries, Saskatchewan introduced a plan that will breathe new energy and

focus into efforts to conserve biodiversity.



Together for the first time in almost a decade, the federal, provincial and

territorial ministers agreed that an effective biodiversity strategy calls

for close co-operation among ministries with varying responsibilities.

They also agreed to collaborate on four implementation priorities: science

and information, monitoring and reporting, stewardship, and addressing the

threat of invasive alien species. Ministers asked federal/provincial

working groups to begin action and report on progress at the ministers

meeting in 2002.



Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management championed a task group

that reviewed a draft Code on Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic

Organisms. After consultations with industry, the national task group

proposed developing a new risk assessment process, revising the code,

completing a National Registry on Introductions and Transfers, and

developing operating procedures that are consistent across all

jurisdictions. Hundreds of exotic species have been introduced into

Saskatchewan and some, such as purple loosestrife, have become agricultural

pests as well as threats to native species.



Other initiatives arising from the joint ministers meeting included

approval of a process to assist species that are listed as endangered or

threatened and a report on the development of the Canada-Wide Stewardship

Action Plan.



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For more information, contact:



Lin Gallagher

Fish and Wildlife Branch

Environment and Resource Management

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-2327