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Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog
Center for     Biological     Diversity   

Court Keeps 1.8 Million Acres Protected for Endangered Frogs

Some of California's rarest amphibians are holding onto critical habitat. A federal court has upheld protection of 1.8 million acres for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, the northern population of mountain yellow-legged frogs and Yosemite toads.

The Center for Biological Diversity has been fighting for these species for years. After they won federal protection, the Pacific Legal Foundation — an extreme property-rights group — sued to overturn habitat safeguards. The Center and allies intervened, and last week the court dismissed the case.

These hoppers need all the help they can get. Sierra Nevada and mountain yellow-legged frogs have declined by about 90 percent, and more than half of Yosemite toad populations have vanished.

"This is a huge victory for these incredible, highly imperiled frogs," said the Center's Jenny Loda.

Read more in The Union Democrat.

Wolf pups

Tell Congress You Want Wolves Saved

Our campaign against Trump's disastrous plan to strip away wolves' safeguards is moving to the next level.

For Earth Day this month, Ignite Change volunteers are setting up meetings with Congress members to ask them to oppose Trump's proposal to end protection for nearly all wolves in the lower 48.

Never lobbied a member of Congress before? No sweat. Sign up and we'll send you materials and plenty of support to make your meeting a success. We've even created a video to walk you through the process.

Sign up to lobby for wolves.

Dr. Donley, What's the Skinny on 'Biodegradable' Plastics?

Face painting with glitter

Are so-called biodegradable plastics really like having your disposable cake and eating it too?

Our newest "Ask Dr. Donley" column supplies the pros and cons of alternatives to conventional, throwaway plastics — from "plant-based" and "bio-based" to "certified compostable."

Check it out on Medium.

Southern resident killer whales

Wildlife-loving Attorneys + Action = Wins for Wildlife

If you know the Center, you know our legal work is crucial to saving species and the places they live. We have attorneys nationwide with a remarkable track record of success: More than 83 percent of our lawsuits result in favorable outcomes.

In the past week alone, Center staff took legal action on behalf of 12 kinds of corals, iconic sage grouse, the imperiled Arizona eryngo plant, Southern Resident killer whales and threatened Atlantic Coast marine life. We also sued the Bureau of Land Management over its refusal to provide public records of its plans for more oil drilling and fracking in California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over records on its approval of bee-killing pesticides.

This lifesaving work is made possible by supporters like you. Thank you.

Stop International Trade in Endangered Wildlife

Giraffes

Millions of imperiled animals are plucked from their wild homes each year for hunting trophies — and for sale as trinkets, unproven medicines and décor. It's sickening, and it has to stop.

That's why, in May, 183 nations will gather in Sri Lanka for the next Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting to decide which animals and plants need protection.

From elephants and giraffes to blue tarantulas, so many species need your help. Act now to tell the U.S. reps at CITES to push for the strongest safeguards possible.

Monarch butterflies

Join the annual migration of monarch butterflies in this video from "CBS This Morning," which also explores the serious threats they face. Although this year's count of eastern monarchs was up due to perfect weather conditions, our Senior Scientist Tierra Curry tells CBS, "I'm scared this is the last big bumper year." This week the Center, along with more than 100 other conservation groups, urged the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee to increase spending on monarch conservation by $100 million annually.

Vachellia bolei

The Revelator: Has Sand Mining Driven a Rare Tree Extinct?

So-called "sand mafias" have contributed to the apparent extinction of a rare tree in southern India, writes John Platt in The Revelator. The authors of a new study on the disappearance of a legume called Vachellia bolei believe the illegal sand trade was a major factor in the species' demise — and could cause more extinctions in the future.

Read it now and sign up for The Revelator's weekly newsletter.

Endangered board game

Are You Game? Help Make This Board Game a Reality

The Center has teamed up with Grand Gamers Guild, the creative genius behind an exciting new board game called Endangered. Once produced, every boxed game will include an insert about the Center's real-world work to save endangered species.

To make this collaborative board game possible, we're encouraging our supporters to participate in the crowdfunding campaign just launched on Kickstarter. Check it out and take part in a novel, fun way to educate others about the critical fight for endangered species.

You Did It: Cleaner Air Coming to Colorado

Longs Peak

The Colorado Front Range is plagued with air pollution. And when the Environmental Protection Agency tried to put off dealing with the smog problem earlier this year, it appeared things were going from bad to worse.

But when we asked you to speak out against this dangerous delay, hundreds of you answered the call.

Now Colorado has withdrawn its request for an extension and will start tackling its smog. This is a big win — and you did it. Thanks.

Bunny harvestman

Wild & Weird: This Daddy Longlegs Looks Like a Dog's Head

The Earth is full of weird arachnid surprises. Case in point: In the rainforests of Ecuador lurks an adorable species of daddy longlegs known as the "bunny harvestman." It grows no bigger than a thumbnail and actually looks like a dog's head — complete with eyes, ears and snoot — perched atop eight spindly, yellow legs.

Learn more about the bunny harvestman at IFL Science.

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Photo credits: Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog by Devin Edmonds/USGS; wolf pups by klengel/Flickr; face-painting with glitter by schuetz-mediendesign/Pixabay; Southern Resident killer whales by Miles Ritter/Flickr; giraffes by Samuel Piker/Flickr; monarch butterflies by Patrick Donnelly/Center for Biological Diversity; museum specimens of Vachellia bolei (c) the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, reproduced with permission; Endangered board game by Joe Hopkins; Longs Peak by weesam/Flickr; bunny harvestman by Andreas Kay.


Center for Biological Diversity
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Tucson, AZ 85702
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