Despite many programs focused on maintaining and enhancing wildlife populations, some species have become threatened with extinction and require special attention to help ensure their survival. The mission of the Saskatchewan species at risk program is to protect species from extirpation or extinction and to prevent new species from becoming threatened with extinction.
What's happening
What we are doing
Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) have been working through a backlog of species assessments. This work resulted in multiple new federal listings under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). In 2019 there are 22 federally listed species at risk and a further five species proposed for listing in the commercial forests of Saskatchewan. In 2009, six federally listed species at risk were known to occur in the commercial forest, and a further nine species proposed for listing.
COSEWIC continues to assess species on a bi-annual basis. Additional species will be recommended for addition to the SARA registry following these assessments. Knowledge of species in the forest is incomplete due to the large area and the inability to conduct complete surveys over the extent of the commercial forest.
SARA listed species and species proposed by COSEWIC for SARA listing that occur in Saskatchewan's commercial forest
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status |
| Little Brown Myotis | Myotis lucifugus | Endangered |
| Northern Myotis | Myotis septentrionalis | Endangered |
| Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee | Bombus bohemicus | Endangered |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Threatened |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | Threatened |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | Threatened |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | Threatened |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | Threatened |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | Threatened |
| Shortjaw Cisco | Coregonus zenithicus | Threatened |
| Woodland Caribou | Rangifer tarandus caribou | Threatened |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | Threatened |
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | Special Concern |
| Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Special Concern |
| Northern Leopard Frog | Lithobates pipiens | Special Concern |
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | Special Concern |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | Special Concern |
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | Special Concern |
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Special Concern |
| Yellow Rail | Coturnicops noveboracensis | Special Concern |
| Eastern Wood-pewee | Contopus virens | Special Concern |
| Yellow-banded Bumble Bee | Bombus terricola | Special Concern |
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canadad (COSEWIC) species in the commercial forest
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status |
| Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | Endangered |
| Nine-spotted Lady Beetle | Coccinella novemnotata | Endangered |
| Bison | Bos bison bison | Threatened |
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes | Special Concern |
| Transverse Lady Beetle | Coccinella transversoguttata | Special Concern |
Why it matters
Habitat protection has benefits for the province's flora and fauna and helps to maintain a healthy environment for all of Saskatchewan's wildlife. The number of species at risk indicates that there is some risk of extirpation in Saskatchewan for those species listed. Most, but not all, are at risk from the impacts of human activities and resource use. The ministry continues to adjust practices to mitigate some of the impacts to the commercial forest which includes timing of operations and working toward larger cut block sizes that mimic natural disturbance.