Endangered species are plants, animals, and other organisms facing imminent threat of extinction if conditions threatening their survival aren't addressed. In Canada, species at risk are assessed and listed under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and provincial equivalents. Threat levels include extinct, extirpated (eliminated from Canada), endangered (facing imminent extinction), threatened (likely to become endangered), and special concern (may become threatened). Listing triggers legal protections and recovery planning. Causes of endangerment include habitat loss, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and overexploitation. Municipalities contribute to species protection through land use planning, natural heritage protection, habitat restoration, and environmental assessments for development. Notable Canadian endangered species include woodland caribou, North Atlantic right whales, and various freshwater fish and plant species unique to specific regions.