Washington, DC

October 22, 2019 kicks off the six-month countdown to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The stakes have never been higher. In 2019, two major large-scale reports have been released detailing the losses to biodiversity and wildlife – a stunning 3 billion birds have been lost from North America since 1970, and 1 million species are now threatened with extinction.
 
Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement: 
 
“Defenders of Wildlife is a proud supporter of Earth Day 2020. Our nation’s wildlife are experiencing significant losses – more than ever before in human history. Just this year, two major reports have found that 1 million species are threatened with extinction and a stunning 3 billion birds have been lost, since 1970. This is a call to mobilize and demand greater protections for our natural world and the wildlife that depend upon it.”  
 

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

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swimming manta rays
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.