The avian conservation crisis, Canada’s international record, and the need for a new path forward

[摘要] Avian Conservation and Ecology, is the official publication of theSociety of Canadian Ornithologists and so, while we present justthe views of the authors, we take this opportunity to focus onCanada’s standing internationally when it comes to theconservation of biodiversity in general and avian diversity, inparticular. Our brief reflections were inspired primarily by therecent publication of the International Conservation Fund ofCanada (ICFC 2020) that presents the case for an expanded rolefor Canada in stemming global biodiversity loss. That report cameas a surprise given Canada’s current support on a variety ofdomestic conservation issues and internationally with respect toboth social justice initiatives and wildlife conservation. In starkcontrast, this report describes Canada’s limited support for theconservation of nature internationally and especially in the highlythreatened tropical regions of the world. This ICFC report clearlycomes at a time of intense societal upheaval due to the Covid-19pandemic and the unprecedented catastrophic global declines inbiodiversity and rapid increases in extinction rates. Here, wehighlight the main messages of the ICFC 2020 report and suggestthat, among other initiatives, a recognition that populationdeclines of numerous species of Neotropical migrant birdsbreeding in Canada, including many of the species listed on theSpecies at Risk Act (SARA), are inextricably linked to habitatloss and degradation taking place outside our national bordersand especially in tropical forests of Central and South America.A renewed focus on full life-cycle conservation of migrantavifauna breeding in Canada and our international obligationsfor these species provides a win-win opportunity to both increaseour effectiveness in recovering migratory birds in decline and helpfight global biodiversity loss.

[学科分类] 口腔科学