Over the years, our work and observations have allowed us to document the presence of numerous species with special status in the Odanak territory. There are two laws that govern the protection of these species in Quebec. First, the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species ensures a status for certain species at the PROVINCIAL level, namely Threatened, Vulnerable, or Likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable. At the FEDERAL level, it is the Endangered Species Act that ensures the protection of these species. At the federal level, before being annexed to the law, a species must obtain an assessment from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). It therefore happens that a species obtains an opinion from COSEWIC, but that it is not yet annexed within the meaning of the Act.
In both cases, both provincially and federally, the legal designation of a species at risk leads to the establishment of a recovery program. These programs are documents describing the most up-to-date information on the species (demographic situation, critical habitat, scientific knowledge), the main threats that put pressure on the species and its habitat and the actions to be taken to improve its situation.
Unfortunately, as in many other places, the Odanak territory is home to some invasive alien species (IAS). An IAS is a plant, animal or micro-organism (virus, bacteria or fungus) which is introduced outside its natural range and which can establish itself at a speed and/or intensity which could constitute a threat to the environment, the economy or society. In Quebec, more than twenty species are already considered to be of concern (e.g. phragmites, zebra mussel, round goby, tench) and many others are on our doorstep. In Odanak, we have documented the presence of some of them, including the warbler, the tench and the reed canary grass. It is important to stay on the lookout for these species and limit their spread across the territory. For more information, please refer to this site:
https://www.pub.mddefp.gouv.qc.ca/scc/Catalogue/ConsulterCatalogue.aspx
