4. What is listing under legislation for?
Threatened species listing under legislation is not an end in
itself but a means to other ends, through formal conservation
actions. The objective is to conserve listed species.
Legislation frequently triggers a commitment to recovery
planning. Under Canadian and Australian federal legislation, a
timetable is set, with the order in which recovery plans are
developed for species determined by the risk category in
which they have been listed. Under the Australian federal
legislation, recovery plans must be made within 2 years of a
species present in both State and Commonwealth areas being
listed as critically endangered, within 3 years of being listed as
endangered and within 5 years of being listed as vulnerable
(Australia, 1999). In Canada, draft recovery strategies must be
put on exhibition for public comment within 1 year of a species
being listed as endangered and within 2 years of it being listed
as threatened (Canada, 2002)