Canadian Wildlife Service

The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), part of Environment Canada, handles wildlife matters that are the responsibility of the federal government. These include protection and management of migratory birds, nationally significant habitat and endangered species, as well as work on other wildlife issues of national and international importance. In addition, CWS does research in many fields of wildlife biology.

In 1997, the Canadian Wildlife Service (formerly Dominion Wildlife Service) celebrated its fiftieth year as a federal agency responsible for conserving canadian wildlife.

Environment Canada's mandate is to preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment; conserve Canada's renewable resources; conserve and protect Canada's water resources; forecast weather and environmental change; enforce rules relating to boundary waters; and coordinate environmental policies and programs for the federal government.

The Department employs about 6000 people and has an annual budget of over half a billion dollars. Approximately 60 percent of its workforce and 80 percent of its budget is devoted to science and technology activities.

Environment Canada’s national headquarters are located in Gatineau, Quebec. It has offices in some 100 communities across the country.

The Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB) is a co-management board composed of representatives selected by: The Gwich’in Tribal Council, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, The Canadian Wildlife Service, and The Department of Environment & Natural Resources.