Anyone who is a self-proclaimed nature lover is most likely in favor of nature and wildlife conservation, because the world’s flora and fauna are what make nature such a spectacular place. Eliminate any number of these species, and nature gradually becomes bleak, unhealthy, and little more than a ghost in our memories.
In many cases, humans are the direct cause of a species becoming endangered, whether it be through destruction of habitats, pollution, or illegal poaching in instances where protections have been established for an endangered species. As the human population continues to expand, so does our disregard for the place that all species of flora and fauna have in any given ecosystem.
The need to bring a heightened public awareness to these issues initiated the annual National Endangered Species Day in the US, falling on May 17 of each year. This year celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Federal Endangered Species Act, one of the most powerful pieces of legislation aimed at protecting species from possible extinction as a result of “economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.”
Across the country, there are various organizations and facilities that celebrate Endangered Species Day through festivals, activities, and events that take place at zoos, wildlife refuges, aquariums, botanical gardens, schools, and libraries, wherein people of all ages are encouraged to participate and learn more about endangered species and how human actions can ultimately help or hurt them. Participation can also include entreating your local and state governments to do more to protect endangered species of the region and their habitat.
Research has shown that the Federal Endangered Species Act has been largely successful, with more than 90 percent of endangered species populations recovering at the rate prescribed by each species’ federal recovery plan. With the continued support of nature enthusiasts and people who care about the ecological health of our world, we can make that success rate even higher.
What will you do to celebrate National Endangered Species Day 2013?
Images via USFWS Mountain Prairie
