Dear NRDC Activist,

This past December, 23 species were declared extinct — forever wiped from the face of the earth.

And scientists say that one million more plant and animal species risk extinction, many within the next few decades — largely due to habitat destruction, trade in wild plants and animals, industrialization, runaway climate change, and other human-caused activities, often driven by the fossil fuel industry, mining companies, Big Ag, and other polluters. As humans, it is our responsibility to fix this.

But there's hope: Next month, scientists and leaders from nations around the world will convene in a critically important conference to negotiate and coordinate the massive effort to save endangered and disappearing wildlife species and reverse the biodiversity crisis gripping our planet. It's imperative that this group supports a goal of halting human-caused species extinctions.

Thankfully, NRDC's team of wildlife scientists and experts will attend this negotiation session, advocating hard for the nations to commit to ending human-caused species extinction, and we want to bring the powerful voices of supporters like you with us.

Help us generate 40,000 petition signatures calling for strong action under the Convention on Biological Diversity to save imperiled species from extinction, and protect the habitat wildlife need to survive. Sign here and we'll deliver the letters straight to the negotiation table >>

This is the last negotiating session before final decisions are made in August by all the countries that have joined the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We must take action now!

A planet that cannot sustain wildlife, habitat, and biodiversity ultimately cannot sustain people and communities.

And to prevent mass extinctions and bolster resilience to climate change, scientists agree that we must also enact a "30x30" plan, which would protect at least 30 percent of our lands, rivers, lakes, oceans, and wetlands by 2030.

This 30x30 goal will help protect the ecosystems on which we all depend, provide safe havens to help wildlife adapt to climate change, and sustain forests, mangroves, and wetlands that store carbon. Plus, securing and protecting our oceans will help safeguard marine ecosystems and fisheries that provide food, jobs, and cultural sustenance to billions of people around the world.

There's no time to waste: Call on all nations to end the extinction crisis and commit to protecting at least 30 percent of our lands, waters, and oceans by 2030 under CBD.

We have the tools to create a better, healthier future for our planet — and ourselves — but we must act now.

Please sign the petition and help us bring 40,000 strong voices to the negotiation meeting!

Thank you for doing your part to protect our wildlife and our planet's future.

Sincerely,

Zak Smith
Senior Attorney, Nature, NRDC