The intergovernmental Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) began the critical task of defining a national list of species at risk in 1977. Comprising representatives from federal, provincial, and territorial governments, along with independent experts and NGOs, COSEWIC aimed to assess the conservation status of wildlife species based on scientific evidence. This initiative laid the groundwork for identifying and protecting vulnerable species across Canada, ultimately influencing future conservation policies, including the development of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).