What does the indicator show?
The indicator shows that several of the species groups have relatively large proportions of their populations classified in the "may be at risk" and "sensitive" classifications. These groups consist of reptiles, ferns, amphibians and orchids. These classifications indicate that more assessment is required into the populations of some species. The purpose of further assessment is to definitively assign a status.
How do we compare?
Nationally, a greater proportion of species from the reptiles, ferns, amphibians and orchids groups are classified as "secure" than in Alberta. However, the statistics are influenced by the relatively small number of species in these groups in Alberta. In the remaining groups that have larger population sizes (mammals, freshwater fish, birds and butterflies), the national status classifications are comparable to Alberta's.
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Why is this indicator important?
Biodiversity is a broad topic that covers a wide range of ecological and physical attributes of the environment. One of the measures of biodiversity that has been used in other areas is the percentage of all species at risk. There is an extensive process that has been implemented in Alberta (as well as across Canada) to evaluate and assess the status of all wild species with regards to risk. The outcome of this process is a detailed listing of selected groups of organisms and their relative status according to their numbers and distribution.
The importance of species of risk as an indicator is that it shows where pressures are occurring on the natural system. These pressures have the potential to affect ecological balance. Species at risk also provides an indication of potential impacts on human health, and economic and social well-being.
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What actions are being taken?
In Alberta, the Species at Risk program through Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is conducting on-going species assessments for reporting. The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program (ABMP) Prototype Project is a four-year initiative to develop a province-wide operational monitoring program in 2007. It will collect, analyze and report on a wide range of biodiversity information. The objective is to present reporting on the status and trends of biodiversity, and their relationship to disturbances on the landscape. This information is important for use in land-use planning and measuring the impact of recurring (cumulative) use.
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