No. 1259, August 22, 2024 |
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Suit Defends Jaguars and Owls From New Roads |
The Center for Biological Diversity and allies just sued the U.S. Forest Service over its plan to build new roads and let more traffic through three sensitive canyons in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains — habitat for endangered jaguars and Mexican spotted owls.
For years the Chiricahuas have been home to Sombra, one of only two known jaguars in the United States. New roads through these remote canyons would bring hunters — including hound hunters — as well as destructive off-road vehicles, wood cutting, and other noisy harassment that would almost certainly drive away any nearby jaguars. The roads would also boost wildfire risk, raze vegetation, pollute precious desert waterways, and disturb animals like coatimundis and golden eagles.
“These fragile canyons are a sanctuary for wildlife, and this deeply flawed plan once again puts the interests of hunters and off-roaders over the protection of endangered species and public lands,” said the Center’s Laiken Jordahl.
Help us fight for jaguars and other wildlife with a gift to the Center’s Saving Life on Earth Fund. |
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The Continuing Problem With U.S. Avocados |
A new study shows that leading U.S. avocado importers are still sourcing from illegally deforested land in Mexico, even though they know about the deforestation in their supply chains.
Every day more than 10 football fields’ worth of Mexican forests are cleared for avocado production. If the United States keeps consuming avocados at this rate, by 2050 the land area destroyed to grow them will have increased by more than 70%. Most U.S.-sold avocados come from a single region in Mexico where millions of monarch butterflies spend the winter. Losing their winter home could lead to their extinction.
Urge top U.S. grocery chains to adopt an avocado-sourcing policy that protects monarchs and the people and forests of Mexico. |
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After 50 Years, Ocelot Seen in Arizona Mountains |
A trail camera has captured video of an ocelot in the Atascosa Mountains near the Arizona-Mexico border — where the beautiful little cats hadn’t been sighted in 50 years. “If we want to see more cats in Arizona,” said our border specialist Laiken Jordahl on a Tucson radio news show, “if we want to see them recolonize their native range, we have to ensure that new sections of border wall aren’t built and don’t seal off these mountains.” |
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We Won the Community Choice Award |
We did it — thanks to you.
After an overwhelming flood of votes from Center supporters, we just won the 2024 Community Choice Award. Run by trusted charity-assessing org Charity Navigator and decided by popular vote, this nationwide competition recognizes a nonprofit’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence.
We earned your support by winning for the wild. So far this year, we’ve already racked up scores of victories for wildlands, the climate, and wildlife like Atlantic humpback dolphins, coastal martens, and polar bears. We’re so honored — thank you. |
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Center Op-Ed: Let’s Not Greenwash Mining |
In the push to scale up renewables and produce technology like electric cars, writes Center policy specialist Ashley C. Nunes in Scientific American, there’s a lot of talk about increasing access to minerals.
But some members of Congress are pushing bills that muddy the waters on what the term critical minerals — which has a very specific definition — really means, using the green rush to fast-track mining projects that have nothing to do with sustainability. Streamlining such projects could be devastating for people and wildlife alike, destroying habitat, polluting waterways, and hurting rare and endangered animals like jaguars, sage grouse, and yellow-billed cuckoos.
Read Ashley’s op-ed. |
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Revelator: 16 Ways to End the Summer Right |
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That's Wild: Ants Practice Triage |
Ants can treat each other’s injuries, from licking wounds with antibiotic secretions to performing leg amputations on their companions — amputations that demonstrably save the ants’ lives.
Watch this video of an ant OR. |
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Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
United States 0-0-0-0 |
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