Center for Biological Diversity
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Endangered Earth
No. 1,018, Jan. 9, 2020
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We Sued Trump to Save Habitat for Green Sea Turtles
You can't save species without safeguarding where they live. Green sea turtles are protected in the United States, but their habitat — threatened by sea-level rise, plastic pollution and global warming — still isn't.
So the Center for Biological Diversity and partners sued the Trump administration Wednesday to protect the turtles' U.S. nesting beaches — plus offshore ocean habitat on the southeastern and west coasts.
"We can be proud of how far we've come with green sea turtle recovery, but the fight's not over yet," said Jaclyn Lopez, the Center's Florida director. "Now the feds have to step up and ensure sea turtles have safe passage to nest on our beaches. These imperiled animals can't afford any more delays."
Learn more.
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Consider supporting this work with a donation to our Wildlife and Wild Places Defense Fund.
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Next Week Join Our Fight to Halt Extinction
We've reached a critical moment for the planet's wildlife.
More than 1 million species are on track to go extinct in the coming decades. Humans have never witnessed the kind of extinction wave that's sweeping the planet, threatening wolves and other mammals — and of course reptiles, birds, insects, plants and fish.
That's why the Center is launching a powerful grassroots campaign to fight extinction. Join us Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT to learn how you can get involved. We need to make the extinction crisis a key issue in the 2020 elections and build a coast-to-coast network to make sure the United States is a global leader in the fight to save biodiversity.
Join other volunteers around the country on Wednesday's kick-off call to learn how to get involved.
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Who Was the Worst Eco-Villain in 2019? Vote Now
We're picking the most outrageous eco-villain of 2019, and we need your help.
For years the Center has given out our Rubber Dodo Award to spotlight those destroying wild places, driving species extinct, and tearing down the planet's life-support system.
Trump was the clear winner last year. Frankly we'd give him the prize again this year if we didn't want to spread the love. So the 2019 nominees are Interior Secretary David Bernhardt (for attacks on America's wildlife and public lands); EPA chief Andrew Wheeler (for assaults on clean air and water); wildlife trophy hunter Donald Trump Jr.; and Stephen Miller, the White House advisor sowing the seeds of Trump's hate-fueled immigration policies, including the border wall.
Vote now.
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In Australia's Nightmare, a Vision of the Planet's Future
Hundreds of massive wildfires are burning throughout Australia. More than 15 million acres have been scorched so far, with 24 people dead, many more missing, and an absolutely staggering wildlife death toll.
What's happening Down Under is a dark preview of the chaos and destruction awaiting the rest of the world in this rapidly unfolding climate crisis — if we don't take global action now.
Get more in this op-ed by Center scientist John Fleming.
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Protections Proposed for California Red Fox, Butterfly
In response to Center lawsuits and petitions, this week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took important steps toward protecting two imperiled California animals under the Endangered Species Act.
The Service has proposed protecting the tiny Sierra Nevada population of red fox as endangered and the Hermes copper butterfly as threatened.
By law both proposals must be finalized within a year. We'll keep you posted.
Learn more about proposed protections for the Sierra Nevada red fox:
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Learn more about proposed protections for the Hermes copper butterfly:
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Rare Nevada Flower Saved From Mining ... for Now
Following a Center suit against the Trump administration, we reached an agreement protecting the last population of Tiehm's buckwheat — temporarily. This beautiful white wildflower, surviving on just 21 acres of Nevada public lands, was immediately threatened by two mining-exploration permits the feds granted to an Australian company. We put a stop to that.
But the precious plant is still at risk from an open-pit mine proposed on its only habitat. Said the Center's Patrick Donnelly, "This Nevada treasure is just one of many species threatened by the Trump administration's disturbing push to give away our public lands to mining companies."
Read more in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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The Revelator: Here Are the Ones We Lost
A eulogy for the animals and plants declared extinct last year.
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How Trump's EPA Brings Dangerous Pesticides to Market
A Center analysis released Tuesday reports that Trump's EPA approved more than 100 pesticide products in 2017 and 2018 that contained ingredients widely considered to be the most dangerous still in use. Some have been banned in multiple countries. These findings reveal that the EPA is working against its own pledge to phase out the distribution of older, more dangerous pesticides.
Learn more about our new report.
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And then take action: Tell the EPA to stop approving dangerous pesticide products for the market.
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A Global Roadmap to Saving Insects
Scientists from around the world published a plan on Monday for saving the world's insects from their staggering decline, since 40% of insect species may now be facing extinction. They're calling for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and replacing intensive agriculture with greener farming methods that cut down on chemical use. Curbing light and noise pollution and protecting "microhabitats" for insects are also crucial.
"We're calling for action because insects are key to our own survival, and we ignore their decline at our peril," said Dr. Tara Cornelisse, a scientist and entomologist at the Center.
Read more at Common Dreams.
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Wild & Weird: Amazing Footage of Microscopic Water Bears
James Weiss spends hours a day observing and recording the behavior of single-celled organisms through powerful microscopes. His apartment, full of hundreds of jars of water from different places, is an informal zoo of the microscopic.
One of his favorite micro-critters is the tardigrade, or "water bear." Nearly indestructible, they live almost everywhere on Earth — and maybe even on the moon.
"My favorite thing about tardigrades is their eyes!" Weiss told the Center. "Those charcoal-black eyes melt my heart like nothing else. They're just photosensitive cells, so tardigrades can't see things in the way we do. But they know when it's day and when it's night."
Take a close-up look at stunning footage on Facebook or YouTube of water bears eating, mating, hatching and more — all captured by Weiss. And if you're on Instagram, follow Weiss to see a new microscope video daily. We bet you'll find tardigrades as adorable as we do.
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James Weiss on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jam_and_germs
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Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
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