Table 7. Guidelines on two non-consecutive plausible threat categories (based on IUCN 2019)

In some rare cases, uncertainties may result in two non-consecutive plausible status categories. This may happen, for example, when extent of occurrence (EOO) or area of occupancy (AOO) is smaller than the Endangered threshold and one subcriterion is definitively met, but it is uncertain whether a second subcriterion is also met. Depending on this, the category can be either Endangered or Special Concern. In such cases, the category could be specified as the range Endangered–Special Concern in the documentation (giving the reasons why), and the assessors must choose the most plausible of the categories, of which Threatened could be one. This choice depends on the level of precaution and should be justified.

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The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is an independent advisory panel to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada that meets twice a year to assess the status of wildlife species at risk of extinction. Members are wildlife biology experts from academia, government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector responsible for designating wildlife species in danger of disappearing from Canada.

COSEWIC secretariat

Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd, 14th floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3

Email: cosewic-cosepac@ec.gc.ca


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