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Writer's pictureAna Olteanu

Overexploitation and the Biodiversity Crisis in Canada

With over 80,000 species calling Canada’s ecosystems home, biodiversity is critical to a healthy environment and to ensuring healthy human communities. 

In our most recent campaign, Vanishing: The Biodiversity Crisis in Canada, the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective explores five key drivers of biodiversity loss across the country. 


Through photographs, videos, expert interviews, and research, we hope we have shed light on the biodiversity crisis unfolding across Canada, and on the complex interdependencies among species, habitats, and ourselves. 


A key factor contributing to biodiversity loss in Canada is overexploitation.



What is overexploitation?


CCPC/Jérémy Mathieu

Overexploitation includes logging, overfishing, mining, and hunting. Animals and plants alike are harvested beyond their natural ability to reproduce at the same rate, resulting in decreased biodiversity. There are lasting impacts on entire ecosystems.


What are the greatest impacts of overexploitation on Canada’s biodiversity?


  • Ecosystem disruptions: An entire food web can suffer from the negative chain reactions ecosystems face at the hands of overexploitation. A good example is the relationship between cod and zooplankton. If cod numbers diminish, sprat flourishes. More sprat means a decline in zooplankton, which leads to high amounts of phytoplankton. The result? Higher nutrient concentrations and less oxygen in the ocean.

  • Species decline and extinction: Atlantic sturgeon, whooping cranes, humpback whales, bison, and sea otters are only a few examples of species in Canada that narrowly evaded extinction due to overexploitation. The Labrador Duck did not rebound and has vanished.

  • Habitat loss: Logging and mining are large contributors to habitat loss, often carried out for land development or economic profit. Different species are impacted through both the diminished availability of food sources and of shelter. Even critical habitat like those of woodland caribou are not spared, despite the status of a species.

  • Predator-prey relationships: Removing keystone predators can have tremendous downstream impact on the remaining species. It increases competition and results in overharvesting of certain plants, leading to a decline in their species as well.


What are examples of overexploitation within Canada?


CCPC/Josh DeLeenheer
  • Salmon: Salmon all over Canada face serious challenges due to overfishing and other forms of exploitation. Multiple species are designated as endangered.

  • Logging: Over 1 million acres are clear-cut annually, leading to degradation of ecosystems. Canada ranks 131 out of 208 countries for proportion of terrestrial protected space. Sitting at 12.7%, this is a far stretch from the country’s 30 by 30 goal.

  • Mining: Canada mines various metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. Thermal coal is among them, which is responsible for among the most detrimental environmental and health impacts.

  • Grizzly bears: Overexploitation in the form of hunting, habitat destruction, and human-bear conflicts as a result of land development all contribute to their status as “Species of Special Concern”.


What can we do to address biodiversity loss related to overexploitation?


A useful way to find solutions to addressing biodiversity loss due to overexploitation is to look back in time.


Sea otters, humpback whales, whooping cranes, and bison were able to rebound because of strong monitoring of at-risk species, enhanced regulations, and protections at municipal, provincial, and federal levels to limit to exploitation. It's key to have greater visibility into extractive projects with plans available for public review prior to approval.


We all have roles to play. Report illegal harvesting, donate to wildlife sanctuaries, volunteer your time, write letters, and consume fewer problem products. Each small act matters.



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