Committed to the conservation, enhancement and stewardship of habitat across Newfoundland and Labrador
Conserving NL's Special Places
Newfoundland and Labrador is home to many important and sensitive wildlife habitats. The iconic puffin, the fish that swim our rivers, and the shorebirds that visit our coastlines each fall are just some of the things that make our biodiversity special. As a central part of SAM's mission we work to identify, prioritize and conserve the land areas of the province that support important biodiversity and are important to us culturally. We seek, in partnership with our municipal members, to find a balance between preservation of biodiversity values and economic and social development opportunities. We also recognize that there are many ways that these lands can be effectively conserved and so we actively seek to share our findings with other people and groups who share our vision.
Species at Risk Habitat
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Newfoundland and Labrador is home to many unique wildlife and plant species, and some, unfortunately, need our help to survive. Species at risk are a part of our landscape, and their loss would forever diminish our natural heritage. SAM is working to conserve wildlife habitat so that native species in our province do not become extinct due to human activity or interference.
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Currently there are 51 species, subspecies, and populations listed under the Newfoundland and Labrador’s Endangered Species Act: 27 of these species are listed as endangered, 10 are listed as threatened and 14 are listed as vulnerable.
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Designations:
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Endangered: A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
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Threatened: A wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.
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Vulnerable: A wildlife species that has characteristics which make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events (equivalent to COSEWIC’s designation of Special Concern).
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Designations Under the Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act
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By signing a Habitat Stewardship Agreement, communities are committing to the conservation and enhancement of the species at risk habitat within their municipal boundaries, protecting the vulnerable species within.
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