Explore

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For years, humans have taken from the wild without thought of giving back. But that is changing. In Canada, we have many national parks to protect both animal and plant habitats. We also have parks in each province and territory that are dedicated to doing the same thing, and more are being designated every year. In this lesson, you will learn about the strategies for minimizing loss of species.

These protected areas allow species to live relatively undisturbed in their natural habitats. This is called in-situ conservation. It allows the natural processes of an area to continue undisturbed by humans.

In Canada, there is also a push to restore ecosystems and species. One example is old naval ships being cleaned and sunk as artificial reefs. One such ship is the HMCS Saskatchewan.

Click on the Play button below to view a video about the day that the HMCS Saskatchewan was sunk. Later, you will watch another video that takes you underwater to see the amazing reef that has been created on the vessel.

Click on the Play button to watch a video that takes you underwater where you will see the reef that has been created on the HMCS Saskatchewan.

Let's look at some other examples where organizations are committed to minimizing the loss of species.

Ducks Unlimited is dedicated to helping species regain habitat. This organization works to restore wetlands.
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The federal government has also passed laws to protect species that are at risk. These laws protect both the species that are at risk and their habitats by ensuring that no development occurs in that area.

Some places take minimizing loss of species to a higher level. Some communities are developing wetlands that serve as more than habitats for animals and plants; they also act as filters for the sewage that humans generate.

Click on the Play button to watch a video on restoring the wetlands.

Self-Check

What can you do to help?

Think about it!

There are lots of things you can do to help! Your help can be as simple as picking up garbage in a ditch and making sure you do not litter. As well, try walking, riding your bike, or using public transit instead of driving. In your home, you can reduce your energy usage by turning off your lights. You can also avoid buying disposable products and reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever you can.

Think about the things that you can do to help save biodiversity. You will write about this in the next assignment.