Species Status Advisory Committee

Department

Authority

Remuneration

Purpose:

The Committee was established to review the status of species at risk, to advise the Minister on matters related to their designation and re-designation under the Endangered Species Act and is governed by the Species Status Advisory Committee Regulations. The Committee meets at least once every calendar year.

For additional information, please visit:

https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/wildlife/endangeredspecies/ssac/.

Structure:

This Committee consists of up to nine members appointed by the Minister. Members serve for a period of two or three years and are eligible for re-appointment. The Chairperson is elected by the appointed members.

The members of the Committee are experts across several taxonomic groups, specific ecosystems and/or geographic regions. 

Competency Profile:

Those who make up the Committee should collectively possess the following core competencies:

• Expertise in vascular plants, mammals, birds, mosses, molluscs, freshwater fishes or aquatic invertebrates or a combination of multiple taxa normally acquired education and work experience;
• Knowledge and experience with the wild species of Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Understanding of the potential threats to wild species;
• Experience in the field of conservation or biodiversity;
• Editorial skills (published authors would be an asset);
• Collaboration skills;
• Experience leading a science-based committee/team (asset); and 
• Knowledge of the Endangered Species Act. 

Qualifications:

As per Section 2 of the Species Status Advisory Committee Regulations, a person who has the following qualifications is eligible to be appointed by the Minister as a member of the Species Status Advisory Committee:

• Expertise in a relevant biological science acquired through a combination of education and experience, and current knowledge of the relevant biological science; or 
• A post-graduate degree (Masters, PhD or Post-Doc) from a recognized educational institution in a relevant biological science such as conservation biology, ecology, environmental sicence of wildlife management; or
• Current traditional/local ecological or Indigenous knowledge about species in the province and their habitat and be able to incorporate this information into species status assessments.

The Regulations also require that applicants have:

• General knowledge about the species of the province;
• Detailed knowledge of a taxonomic group such as freshwater fish, birds, mammals, vascular plants; arthropods other invertebrates groups (including but not limited to freshwater species); or
• Detailed knowledge of the species of a specific geographic region.

Time Commitments:

Members of the Committee should be available to meet one to two times per year, either virtually or in person. Committee members may also be expected to spend additional time reviewing materials, status reports and field reports to prepare for Committee meetings.

Term:

Committee member terms are for two years; however three members may have three-year terms.