The Canadian Wildlife Service or CWS (French: Service canadien de la faune, SCF) is an agency of the Government of Canada, administered by the Department of the Environment, also known as Environment Canada. System of government Canada is a constitutional monarchy as a Commonwealth Realm (see Monarchy in Canada) with a federal system of parliamentary government, and strong democratic traditions. ... The Department of the Environment, also referred to as Environment Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and programs as well as preserving and enhancing the natural environment and conservation of wildlife. ...

CWS is Canada's national wildlife agency, with responsibility for the protection and management of migratory birds and nationally important wildlife habitat, endangered species, research on nationally important wildlife issues, control of international trade in endangered species, and international treaties. Wildlife management in Canada is a responsibility which is shared by the federal and the provincial / territorial governments, however CWS is also responsible for Canada's "National Wildlife Areas" which are federally protected natural areas.

CWS maintains personnel and research/operations facilities in all Environment Canada regions, namely: Atlantic Region, Quebec Region, Ontario Region, Prairie and Northern Region, and Pacific and Yukon Region.

History

CWS traces its history to the early 20th Century with the decline and/or extinction of several species of migratory birds in eastern North America as a result of hunting, namely the Passenger Pigeon. It became apparent to the federal government that the provincial responsibilities toward hunting regulation of migratory birds by various sub-national jurisdictions (provinces in Canada, states in the United States) was limited in scope. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Hunting is, in its most general sense, the pursuit of a target. ... Binomial name Ectopistes migratorius (Linné, 1766) The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was once probably the most common bird in the world. ...

In 1916, both nations signed the "Migratory Birds Convention", followed by the Parliament of Canada passing the "Migratory Birds Convention Act" in 1917, which gave the federal government responsibility for managing certain migratory bird species. 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... The Parliament of Canada (French: Parlement du Canada) is Canadas legislative branch, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Federal responsibility for the conservation of birds and terrestrial mammals was concentrated in 1947 when the precursor to CWS was formed, the Dominion Wildlife Service (DWS). By 1970 it was apparent that federal responsibility was required for further wildlife management issues, such as mammals crossing the International Boundary with the United States, as well as Canada's maritime borders with France (St. Pierre and Miquelon), Denmark (Greenland), Russia and Norway. There were also serious problems mounting whereby increasing numbers of wildlife species were threatened with extinction. 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Canada and the United States of America share the longest common border among any two countries that is not militarized or actively patrolled. ...

In 1973 the "Canada Wildlife Act" was passed, giving the federal government authority to undertake wildlife research and, in cooperation with the provinces, to undertake wildlife conservation and interpretation activities. This act applies to all "non-domestic animals" in the nation. 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ...

CWS currently holds responsibility for 140 National Wildlife Areas across the nation in a variety of environments. CWS scientific experts also advise the federal and provincial governments during environmental impact assessments for various construction and development projects which might have an adverse impact on Canadian wildlife.