Newsletter: The extinction crisis--15 things to know

 

Newsletter

The extinction crisis: 15 things to know

Scientists generally agree that we’re now experiencing the sixth mass extinction event in the history of the planet. Unlike the others, this one is caused primarily by human activity, including climate change and runaway development. We’re exploring what the extinction crisis means for communities and wildlife—and how protecting lands and waters can help tackle this challenge head-on: 5 key facts to understand the extinction crisis 6 ways extinction and nature loss hurt people 4 ways protecting lands and waters can help answer the extinction crisis

Only 14% of U.S. land is protected from large scale development like mining, drilling and road-building. The few ‘islands’ of protected land that remain are vital for the survival of animals and plants—and so is being able to travel safely from one of those wild islands to another. That’s why we’re working to protect a connected network of lands and waters permanently. Watch our new animation

UN climate change report: "We have solutions" A major climate change report confirmed what many of us are experiencing firsthand: the climate crisis is here, and quickly getting worse. But the United Nations experts who authored the briefing also highlighted that we have the tools and solutions at hand to temper this crisis right now. Read more

7 threatened species we can help by protecting public lands Species like the Carolina northern flying squirrel, Canada lynx and northern spotted owl face threats including sprawling development and climate change. By protecting key landscapes like the Southern Appalachians, Crown of the Continent and North Cascades, we can give them the best chance to survive. Read more

Please donate—5x Earth Day match still in effect! It’s not too late to have your gift matched 5x as part of our Earth Day campaign. Give now, and it will go five times as far to find solutions for the extinction crisis, including protecting vulnerable wildlife and the wild places they call home. Donate now to protect threatened public lands and waters!

ACT NOW

Jacob W. Frank, NPS

1801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Ste. 200 Washington, DC 20006

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