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| Dear Friend, |
| Twenty-three animals and plants were declared extinct last month. Twenty-three species that had their right to exist stripped from them by a society that has placed extraction from and exploitation of nature above our obligation to maintain and protect the web of life of which we are a part. |
| This is a tragic indictment of how humanity has failed our fellow inhabitants of the planet. We’ve also failed our children and grandchildren who will never hear the wondrous call of the Kauai o’o, or witness the sweeping flight of the ivory-billed woodpecker through the Southeastern cypress swamps and forests, woodlands that were logged and leveled for development. We must use this moment to re-evaluate the way our systems damage the natural world. |
| No extinction is inevitable — we have the tools and know-how to confront the extinction crisis. The protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act likely came too late to save the 23 animals and plants. But we have other species in crisis including wolves, salmon, Florida panthers, monarch butterflies, and many others both iconic and humble, all that hold intrinsic worth. We are fighting on all fronts to protect these species and ensure they are afforded the full protections and benefits of the Endangered Species Act. |
| This week, the United Nations kicks off a critical global meeting on biodiversity. Shamefully, the U.S. is not a party to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, but there’s still work we can do right now to join with the entire planet to address the biodiversity crisis. |
| It’s time to recommit to the endangered wildlife that call this country home — and we need your help. Join the fight by calling for a National Biodiversity Strategy to take comprehensive action to confront the extinction crisis, including restoring the Endangered Species Act to its full strength and providing the necessary resources to implement it. |
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Sincerely,
Addie Haughey
Legislative Director, Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans |
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