What is a priority plaCE?
A priority place is an area of high biodiversity value and concentrations of species at risk within a recognizable ecological theme. The people who live and work there see it as a distinct place with opportunities to advance conservation efforts.
There are 11 designated Priority Places in Canada.
Having a designation as a priority place spurs the co-investment and development of an action plan for species at risk conservation, led by agreed principles and common criteria for local priorities and partnerships.
A map of the 11 Priority Places identified by the federal and provincial/territorial governments. These places have significant biodiversity, concentrated species at risk and opportunities for joint conservation efforts.
In 2018,
the government of canada released its pan-Canadian Approach to transforming species at risk conservation in canada, which sets out a new approach for species at risk conservation that is concentrated on a multi-species and ecosystem approach and enables more collaborative conservation efforts focused on priority places, species, sectors, and threats.
So far, six priority species have been identified across the country and additional species may be identified by partners and stakeholders as we work together. Key sectors and threats have also been identified as a way to streamline mitigation and identify opportunities to improve outcomes for species at risk.
Shared Priority Species:
Caribou (Boreal Caribou, Southern Mountain Caribou, Peary Caribou, Barren-ground Caribou), Greater Sage-Grouse, and Wood Bison
Priority sectors & Threats:
Priority sectors include: agriculture, forestry, and urban development
Key threats include: invasive alien species, wildlife disease, and illegal wildlife trade
Delivering conservation outcomes for targeted priority species can have significant co-benefits for other species at risk, wildlife in general, and related biodiversity values.
