Hi,

Did you know 1,000,000 species are threatened with extinction?¹ On this International Day for Biological Diversity, we're reminded of the urgent need to protect the planet's most vulnerable wildlife. With your help, EARTHDAY.ORG’s The Canopy Project® is making significant strides toward restoring vital habitats for these creatures.

Endangered species face increasing threats as their natural habitats continue to decline. Tropical forests are vital to protecting these species as 29% of global vertebrates are endemic to these biomes.² Despite their importance, the world's forests have shrunk by 75% between 1990 and 2015 due to deforestation.³ This alarming loss not only takes away the homes of countless species but also jeopardizes their survival. 

Will you help us continue the vital work  of restoring these forest habitats by donating today? Every tree you help us plant is a lifeline for species teetering on the edge of extinction.

Through the Canopy Project, we are working to save numerous endangered species:

• Golden Lion Tamarin⁴: Once reduced to fewer than 200 in the 1960s due to habitat loss, the population of Golden Lion Tamarins has rebounded to around 2,500, supported by The Canopy Project planting over 46,000 saplings in their native Brazilian habitats.
  
  
• Madagascar's Lemurs⁵: Critical for the survival of Madagascar's lemurs, we have planted over 125,000 trees in 2022, focusing on baobab trees which serve as essential habitat and pathways for these endangered primates.
  
  
• Barbary Macaques⁶: The Barbary macaque population, having decreased by more than 75% since 1975, is being revitalized in Morocco’s M’Goun Valley by planting 42,000 trees to restore their diminishing forest habitats.
  
  
• Bengal Tigers⁷: Facing a 50% population decline since the 1990s, Bengal tigers are benefiting from the Bangladesh Canopy Project where we plan to grow 100,000 saplings, enhancing forest connectivity and habitat to help stabilize tiger populations.
  
  
• Wildlife of LTanganyika⁸: To combat habitat destruction from agriculture near one of the world’s oldest freshwater lakes, we aim to protect unique aquatic species like cichlids and terrestrial species such as olive baboons by preserving and restoring forest ecosystems in the area.

The challenges remain daunting, but we are determined to expand our tree-planting efforts, which are essential for building the habitats and improving the health of these endangered species that desperately need to thrive.

Your support can drive these projects forward. Even a small donation, as little as $1, can have a big impact.

Let’s continue to make a difference.

Together,

Kathleen Rogers
President 

Footnotes:

1. United Nations: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/

2. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment: https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2420

3. Forest Ecology and Management: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.06.014 

4. Golden Lion Tamarin: https://www.earthday.org/helping-the-golden-lion-tamarin/ 

5. Madagascar’s Lemurs: https://www.earthday.org/madagascar-lemurs-at-risk/ 

6. Barbary Macaques: https://www.earthday.org/how-wildfires-leave-barbary-macaques-at-heightened-risk-of-extinction/ 

7. Bengal Tigers: https://www.earthday.org/the-royal-bengal-tiger/

8.Wildlife of Ancient Lake: https://www.earthday.org/wildlife-in-ancient-lake-face-modern-problems/