Wildlife and Legislation

Nature has its own ways to defend itself, but at times it may need a little help. This is why governments enact legislation to protect our planet's wildlife habitats. Such rules and regulations aim among other things to prevent or counter various threats to our natural heritage. Acts such as destroying a nesting area to construct a factory or capturing endangered turtles for the pet market have serious consequences and cannot go unpunished. The smugglers who callously tap into our resources heedless of the long-term survival of our animal species must be held responsible for their deeds. As a result, an entire legal system has been created to monitor and punish those attempting to circumvent the law.

Laws regulate activities such as hunting and fishing in the natural environment which may threaten the long-term survival of wild species. Wildlife officers across the country travel throughout the territory, inspecting areas of activity and ensuring that laws are obeyed. They verify permits, control hunting materials and count harvested species. In the event of a violation, they take the appropriate legal measures and may impose fines. Environment Canada (EC) helps apply many laws relating to wildlife and the environment. For example, most of the country's migratory birds are protected by the Law concerning the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which responds to the norms of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, concluded between Canada and the United States in 1917. The Canada Wildlife Act (1985) focuses on conservation and makes it possible to create, manage and protect certain territories defined under the name national wildlife reserves. Adopted more recently, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) aims to protect our ecosystems from pollution.

The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) went into effect in 1996. Its purpose is to protect Canadian plant and wildlife species threatened by the risk of excessive hunting or overexploitation due to poaching or illegal trade. The law also aims to control the introduction of potentially harmful or invasive foreign species. As well, it allows for the effective implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Canada.

Because of the staggering growth in the world's population and the ongoing reduction of wild habitats, it is now obvious that an international agreement to protect wildlife is essential. This idea, however, was considered revolutionary, even excessive, not so long ago. CITES was born in 1973 owing to the decline of numerous species worldwide. Signed in Washington on March 3, 1973 by 80 countries, it went into effect on July 1, 1975.Canada was one of the very first to sign it. The convention, which now includes more than 175 countries, allows for the control of the international trade in plant and animal species that are, or may become, threatened in the not so distant future. CITES covers both imports and exports for these countries. Some 5,000 animal species and 28,000 plant species are currently listed in one or another of its appendices (I, II or III). A species in a CITES appendix encompasses not only living specimens, but also any part or product obtained from the animal or plant (e.g., a bracelet made of elephant ivory). These species are classified based on their risk of extinction from international trade. The appendices may include entire groups such as primates, cetaceans or orchids, or a single species or population. A notable example of the latter is the Caracal, a feline native to Africa and Asia. The population of the Asian feline is in appendix I, whereas the African variety is covered in appendix II.