By David Robinson, 11/20/25

This is the time of year when we are especially thankful and charitable.

At least it should be, even during the ongoing challenges of defending the Endangered Species Act. (The latest unwelcome headline: Trump proposes to narrow Endangered Species Act protections)

Besides giving thanks for family and health, and offering faith-related blessings, we take time to appreciate our nation’s fragile biodiversity; always remembering that humans share the planet with other living things.

Of course, we’re grateful that the ESA was established in 1973 and has continued to help protect threatened and endangered animal and plant species and their precious habitats. We are thankful for Senators, Congressional Representatives, and other leaders who are committed to preserving the Act.

We acknowledge the amazing and effective work that the Endangered Species Coalition, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Audubon and so many other organizations do every day.

Let’s also salute the ever-expanding legion of-dedicated individuals who do whatever they can to make a difference. We are grateful to the teachers who encourage young people to take part in endangered species protection activities. And all the others who support the endangered species conservation mission in a variety of ways.

Being charitable means donating to worthwhile organizations if possible. It also means being generous with our time, even during the busiest months of the year.

Wishing you a memorable and peaceful “holiday season.”

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There’s Bad News, Good News & Next Steps

Protecting Grizzlies and other Species

By David Robinson (8/4/25)

We’re accustomed to receiving bad news about the status of endangered species.

Of course, the current administration and POTUS allies are dedicated to neutering the Endangered Species Act and derailing other environmental programs. Among their noteworthy actions are the harmful proposals to eliminate habitat protections for endangered species, strip protections for gray wolves in 48 states, and delist grizzly bears.

Now, a new study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity informed us that worldwide there are 10,443 species considered critically endangered (based on the IUCN Red List’s criteria of “rapid population declines, extremely restricted ranges, or having fewer than 50 mature individuals remaining.”)

“It is surprising that more than 1,500 species, so 15% of the critically endangered species, are estimated to have fewer than 50 mature individuals remaining in the wild, a large number of those plants,” said Rikki Gumbs, research fellow at the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology and co-author of the study.

“The good news is that it’s within our power as humans to [save them],” Gumbs added. “It’s our unsustainable behaviour driving these devastating declines — whether through deforestation or the introduction of invasive species and diseases — so we can turn things around and bring these species back from the brink.”

As always, the good news means we have an opportunity to help protect the ESA and threatened and endangered species. Rather than be overwhelmed by the worldwide challenges, perhaps it’s best to do something closer to home. One option to consider is the Defend the Great American Grizzly Bear campaign, supported by the Endangered Species Coalition, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Association, and other environmental organizations. Its purpose is to “ensure that the work of defending the great American grizzly bear is supported across the nation, from the Western Rockies to the shores of New Jersey.” You can visit greatamericangrizzly.org for a toolkit of materials and other information on how to get involved.

Remember, we can all do something to help protect vulnerable species and their precious habitats.

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*But Take Time to Recognize Achievements & Celebrate the 20th Endangered Species Day on May 16
By David Robinson (4/17/25)
   We’ve become accustomed to receiving bad news with the current administration, including its recent proposal to loosen federal protections for endangered species. While there will be many potholes ahead, I believe we must take time to recognize the major accomplishments as well. For example, we praise the critical work of environmental organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to protect threatened and endangered species.

In addition, we should all celebrate the 20th Endangered Species Day on May 16. I am particularly excited about this special milestone, because I had the unique privilege of working with the late California Senator Dianne Feinstein and her staff (with significant support of the Endangered Species Coalition and other organizations) to establish Endangered Species Day. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved this “special day,” which was first held on May 11, 2006.

You can find out more about Endangered Species Day at http://www.endangeredspeciesday.org I encourage you to join the many other young people and adults in the U.S. and other countries who will participate on May 16 and throughout the month. There will be special programs or events at wildlife refuges, botanical gardens, schools, libraries, zoos and aquariums, and elsewhere. You can see the event map on the Endangered Species Day website to see if there is an activity near you. You’ll find other resources as well. If there isn’t an event close to home, you can plan your own:
*Organize a habitat clean-up.
*Plant a pollinator garden.
*Visit a natural history museum, aquarium, or zoo to learn more about endangered species, including the plants and animals in your area.
*Assist with a children’s program or any other activity related to threatened and endangered species.

Here’s another suggestion. Make every day Endangered Species Day. This annual celebration is an ideal opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting vulnerable species and their precious habitats. However, it’s essential to make endangered species conservation an ongoing concern. Look for ways on this site or elsewhere to help make a difference.

Thanks for your ongoing commitment to endangered species conservation.

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The Fight Continues

We Must Challenge Those Who Attack The ESA
By David Robinson (4/1/25)
We expected the attacks, but they’re still disheartening.

We knew it wouldn’t take long before the current POTUS and his loyal allies would once more challenge the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and related environmental safeguards.

Along with the never-ending barrage of executive orders and other pronouncements during the last two months, we heard from the Republican-led House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. On March 25 they held legislative hearings on two bills that target the ESA. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) said his ESA Amendments Act of 2025 is aimed at “streamlining” regulatory and permitting processes. He insisted it is necessary because “the Endangered Species Act has consistently failed to achieve its intended goals and has been warped by decades of radical environmental litigation into a weapon instead of a tool.”

However, Earthjustice disagreed, warning the proposed bill “would gut the critical protections that the ESA provides for thousands of imperiled species, upend the scientific consultation process (which has been the cornerstone of American species protection for 50 years), slow listings to a crawl while fast-tracking delistings, and allow much more exploitation of threatened species and shift their management out of federal hands to the states, even while they are still nationally listed.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) reminded us that the other bill, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, that she and Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) introduced in January, would “remove the ability of progressive judges to get in the way of science and allow states to set their own rules and regulations for managing their gray wolf population.” They would achieve their goal by delisting the species from the ESA within 60 days and prohibiting judicial review of the action.

Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney Ellen Richmond stressed that “this bill is deceptively named and if enacted will directly undermine our nation’s landmark conservation laws….Wolves play important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and cutting short their recovery not only harms the species but also the incredible landscapes we all love.”

Meanwhile, the Musk led Department of Government Efficiency has been enthusiastically firing hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and halting the hiring of seasonal workers responsible for species protection.

It’s safe to assume that we can expect more trouble during the next several months and beyond. Environmental groups are working overtime—filing lawsuits, organizing protests, and encouraging supporters to help in the marathon fight to help save the ESA and protect threatened and endangered species.

We have to do our part as well, by calling and emailing Congressional reps and Senators, signing petitions, denouncing the ESA attacks during Town Hall meetings, and doing whatever else we can.
Everyone who cares about vulnerable plants and animals and their precious habitats must join the challenge.

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Standing Against His Environmental Policies

By David L. Robinson (1/27/25)
Of course, we weren’t surprised.
We expected that among the newest president’s executive orders and other drastic actions would be some damaging environmental pronouncements.
During his first few days, the repeat president issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency, which will eventually result in diminished endangered species protections. As the Center for Biological Diversity stressed, the National Emergencies Act order weakens the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on federal agencies “jeopardizing the survival” of endangered and threatened species or harming their critical habitat.
The Animal Welfare Institute noted that the ESA’s emergency rules, as hastily revised, will now only require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to issue “nonbinding recommendations” to other federal agencies on ways to mitigate harm to species and habitats from agency projects.
Another of POTUS’s first-week achievements was withdrawing America from the Paris Climate Accord. Before doing so, he called the international treaty on climate change a “ripoff.”
We can assume that he and his loyalists will also push for/support congressional bills that weaken the ESA in other ways.
But this is not the time to get (too) discouraged and take a break from our work on behalf of threatened and endangered plant and animal species and related environmental concerns. Instead, we need to redouble (or triple) our efforts. For example:
*Review this site for various actions you can take to help protect plant and animal species and their precious habitats.
*Support and get involved with organizations such as the Endangered Species Coalition, World Wildlife Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Earthjustice.
*Call and write letters/emails to your congressional representatives—urging them to vote for species-protection measures.
*Learn more about the endangered species in your region and take steps to protect them.
We can all do something today, tomorrow, and during the next four years.

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—Dealing with the New, Unfriendly Administration
By David Robinson (11/15/24)
You may be one of the many Americans still trying to process the results of the presidential election.
If your preferred candidate lost, the next four years will seem disheartening and chaotic. But we will (somehow) survive.
Among other significant concerns, we should be worried about the incoming administration’s likely plans for the environment: abandoning the Paris Agreement Climate Accord, fighting the Endangered Species Act, and ignoring support for vulnerable species and their precious habitats.
Of course, we must find ways to cope. In addition to meditating, practicing mindfulness activities, and trying to stay positive, we can look for special resources. Regarding the environment, we know the Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) and other environmental groups will work overtime looking for ways to protect threatened and endangered plants and animals. The day after the election, the ESC provided the following resources that “have been referred to this week as we all have been processing election results and thinking about next steps.”
*Defenders of Wildlife; The Endangered Species Act; The next 50 years and beyond
*The Building Movement Project and Solidarity Is- The 2024 Elections and Beyond; Fortifying Ourselves, Our connections, and our ecosystems
*There is Hope- Ten Ways to be prepared and grounded now that Trump has Won
*The Revelator– Opinion from John Platt on Election Day: Damage is coming soon, but we can strengthen ourselves now
Yes, the road ahead will be bumpy. We need to be prepared for major challenges to a variety of areas, including endangered species protection and other critical environmental priorities.
But this isn’t the time to give up or lose hope. Your actions and overall support will be more important than ever.

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Vote for the Species!

Choose Candidates Who Support Environmental Initiatives

By David Robinson (9/26/24)

You don’t need me to remind you to vote. The upcoming election is too important to ignore.

I assume you are already convinced who the most qualified candidate(s) are. Of course, the focus is on the country’s new president and vice president, but there are also congressmen/women and senators we need to approve.

If you are still trying to decide, let me offer a timely suggestion. In addition to the economy, immigration, women’s reproductive rights, and the need for civility and adherence to the rule of law, please remember the environment. For example, which candidates will support the Endangered Species Act (ESA), biodiversity crisis solutions, and the Paris Agreement climate accord? Which ones will likely favor dismantling the ESA and be disinterested in protecting vulnerable species and their precious habitats?

It’s also essential for us to encourage young people who will be voting for the first time. If they aren’t already aware, help your children and others understand what’s at stake. Make sure they are prepared to make a good decision. We only have about 40 days before the election. But there is time to do some further research, if necessary. We still have an opportunity to evaluate the candidates’ records, positions, and basic humanity.

We have to be right in November. Along with the other critical issues, we can only afford to have elected officials who are concerned about the survival of the plant and animal species with which we share the planet. We’re voting for our future and our children’s future.

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We Can All Do Something(s)

It’s easy (and necessary) for everyone to be involved in the protection of threatened and endangered species.

By David Robinson, August 1, 2024

People often lament that they don’t know how to help protect threatened and endangered species and their precious habitats. “It is such a complex issue; how can one person make a difference?; and what can I do?” are the concerns.

This blog column has frequently emphasized how our everyday actions make a difference. That includes supporting the Endangered Species Act, participating in Endangered Species Day activities and other significant events, joining and getting involved with environmental organizations, and encouraging others to do so.

A recent Earth.org post about World Nature Conservation Day (July 28) reminded us how important Citizen Science is in the ongoing effort to protect endangered plants and animals. It shared various citizen science projects, such as Remote Sensing (using smartphones and other devices to photograph and record data on climate-related factors) and Biodiversity Monitoring (using iNaturalist and eBird to observe and track species).

There are many other ways to be an influential citizen scientist or endangered species conservation activist. You can find additional ideas on this site, at Earth.org’s What Can I Do? page, on the Endangered Species Coalition website (www.endangered.org), and elsewhere.

As we’ve all heard many times, “It Takes a Village”—of people like you, me, our neighbors, and many others. Every individual action helps achieve the critical mission of protecting endangered species. If you haven’t already started, please take the first step today.

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Wildlife Conservation Measures Work

*Greater Funding, Diverse Programs Needed

By David Robinson (May 29, 2024)

Do the numerous conservation initiatives aimed at protecting wildlife and their critical habitats make a difference?

According to a recent study, the answer is “yes.”

As described in the Science journal, a “first of its kind” study analyzed hundreds of conservation actions throughout the world and concluded that wildlife preservation actions have led to “measurable achievements.” The researchers evaluated 186 studies, including 665 trials, and measured the changes to biodiversity. They learned that about two-thirds of the conservation actions either decreased biodiversity declines or resulted in enhanced biodiversity.

The study noted that some of the most effective efforts have included restoring wildlife habitats, minimizing habitat loss, controlling invasive species, establishing protected areas, and managing ecosystems in sustainable ways.

“Our study shows that when conservation actions work, they really work,” stated Jake Bicknell, co-author of the study and senior lecturer at Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology of the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK. “In other words, they often lead to outcomes for biodiversity that are not just a little bit better than doing nothing at all, but many times greater.”

The researchers-authors emphasized that conservation measures don’t always work as planned. For example, they indicated that in about 20% of the cases evaluated, there was an overall decline for the specific species. However, in some of the less successful ones, there was still a (unintentional) benefit for other species.

The study concluded that there is a significant need for additional funding to support innovative and successful conservation actions. Also, a diverse range of conservation programs must be developed to halt a decline of biodiversity.

Of course, we all have a role to assume in the ongoing challenge of designing and initiating actions that protect threatened and endangered species and their precious habitats. We must demonstrate our support of the Endangered Species Act. Assist environmental organizations that are working nonstop to conserve species. Participate in local and national activities that benefit conservation programs. We can and must make a difference.

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May 17 is Endangered Species Day!

*Make time to celebrate the 19th annual ES Day.

By David Robinson (5/12/24)

Endangered Species Day is less than a week away, but you still have time to make plans to celebrate this important annual event.

Join the many other children and adults who will recognize this Day throughout the U.S. and in other countries on May 17 and the following weekend. There will be special programs or events at wildlife refuges, botanical gardens, schools, libraries, zoos and aquariums, and elsewhere. For example, a Spring Mini Bioblitz will take place at the Keystone Farm and Forest Preserve on Whidbey Island (Coupeville, WA) on May 17. Details at https://www.whidbeycd.org/events.html

You can see the event map on the Endangered Species Day website (www.endangeredspeciesday.org) to find if there is an activity near you. You’ll find other resources as well. If there isn’t an event close to home, you can organize a habitat clean-up; plant a pollinator garden; visit a natural history museum, aquarium, or zoo to learn more about endangered species, including the plants and animals in your area; and/or assist with a children’s program or any other activity related to threatened and endangered species.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to celebrate Endangered Species Day. Encourage family, friends, and neighbors to join you.

And remember to make every day Endangered Species Day. Look for ways on this Site or elsewhere to help make a difference.

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