BREAKING NEWS
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Agreement Moves Rare Desert Wetland Wildflower Toward Endangered Species Protections
LAS VEGAS— The Center for Biological Diversity and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reached a legal agreement that will bring a rare desert wildflower one step closer to protection under the Endangered Species Act.
The Tecopa bird’s beak, which grows in desert wetlands in Nevada and California, is threatened by groundwater pumping for mining, agriculture and energy development. Its vulnerable habitats could dry up if the species is not protected.
“I’m thrilled the Tecopa bird’s beak is closer to getting the protections it so urgently needs,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center. “Nevada’s unsustainable groundwater pumping threatens to annihilate the desert wetlands where these wildflowers live. If we want to save them from extinction we have to act now.”
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Media Contacts:
Media director: Patrick Sullivan, [email protected], (510) 844-7116
Climate: Nyshie Perkinson, Media Specialist – [email protected], (718) 928-5148
Endangered species, carnivore conservation: Aaron Kunkler, Media Specialist – [email protected], (206) 949-5353
Energy justice: Mary K. Reinhart, Deputy Media Director – [email protected], (602) 320-7309
Oceans, international wildlife, and Alaska: Natalie Jones, Media Specialist – [email protected], (510) 418-0179
Oil and gas pollution, decommissioning issues: Kyle Dunphey, Media Specialist – [email protected]
Pesticides, toxics, air pollution, industrial agriculture and environmental health: Andy Parker, Media Specialist – [email protected], (503) 310-5569
Population and sustainability: Kim Dinan, Media Specialist – [email protected], (513) 535-1306
Public Lands, national monuments: Mary K. Reinhart, Deputy Director of the Media Program – [email protected], (602) 320-7309
Southwest, borderlands, New Mexico, Southern Rockies, Northern Rockies and Great Basin: Vanessa Barchfield, Senior Media Specialist – [email protected], (520) 867-6686
Urban wildlands, government affairs: Wendy Leung, Senior Media Specialist – [email protected], (818) 625-3128
Media photos: Patrick Sullivan, Media Director, [email protected], (510) 844-7116
