Politics of the Wild: Canada and Endangered Species

Dr. Patrick W. Colgan is Director of Research and Natural Lands at the
Royal Botanical Gardens.

Politics of the Wild incisively analyzes why federal Canada is having so
much difficulty enacting legislation to deal with endangered species.
The contributors are mostly academics, with the two editors hailing from
Dalhousie University. In his preface, David Suzuki sets the stage by
reviewing losses in biological diversity and correctly deems the book
“crucial reading for all who care.” The editors outline the
organization of the book for the purpose of providing “historical
background and the context at this point in time.”

The first half of the book, titled “From Philosophy to Science,”
sensibly begins by setting humanity within the natural ecosystem, and
distinguishing instrumental and intrinsic valuations of endangered
species within an ethical sphere. The determination of what species are
in fact threatened is well outlined under the activities of the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and
Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW). There is a good
review of categories of conservation risk, analysis of these species,
and the critical link with habitat loss. This link is further explored
for its historical, managerial, and political dimensions, with the
importance of comprehensive ecosystem approaches and inclusive
stakeholder groups substantiated. The role of terrestrial protected
areas—particularly national parks—to combat strong and diverse
threats is graphically documented; for instance, Point Pelée has 55
COSEWIC species. A final chapter supports the parallel need for marine
conservation given the legacy of fisheries collapses and cetacean
devastation.

The second half, “From Science to Policy,” opens with an excellent
historical perspective, including the long dominance of the Canadian
Wildlife Service, and moves on to the more recent and frustrating times.
Although the United States passed a strong Endangered Species Act in
1973, and Canada was prompt to sign the 1992 Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), we still lack federal legislation. This failure is
examined in terms of contributing actors, institutions, and ideas.
Pitting conservationists against business and landowners, the key issue
of habitat protection has been the stumbling block for repeated attempts
at legislation. A significant threat is a response of “shoot, shovel,
and shut up” by landowners, yet scientists and conservationists are
correct in decrying the lack of governmental leadership. The limitations
of federal power have become painfully obvious and are highlighted in a
comparison with other OECD nations. Analyses of two initiatives, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the CBD,
sadly reveal how Canada has gone from a leader to a laggard, receiving
an “F” from the World Wildlife Fund. The environmental devastation,
together with the political complexities, means that much lies in the
balance.

The themes of loss and need for action reverberate throughout this
book. The chapters are well documented and clearly written, with careful
distinctions such as preservationists (those against any harvesting of
wildlife) versus utilitarian conservationists. Helpful supporting
material includes tables, maps, appendixes of abbreviations, an index,
and Web sites of relevant organizations. Overall, this book provides a
lucid, if deeply embarrassing, account of federal fumbling while the
nation loses its natural heritage.