I can try, but I'm hoping my colleagues can come up with some views also.
I would start by saying that our implementation of the Species at Risk Act is founded on the assessment phase, which is conducted by an independent committee, COSEWIC, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Those scientists, PhD types, are drawn from many walks of life, including government, NGOs, industry, and academia. They consider the species. What does it mean if you are talking about a polar bear, for example? Maybe that's one thing, while if you're talking about a bird, it's something else.