The Endangered Species Act turns 50 this year!
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is a landmark piece of legislation that solidifies our national commitment to the conservation and protection of imperiled wildlife and plants. It’s an immensely popular and bipartisan bill that passed in a landslide. The Act remains a long-lasting example of commitment, cooperation, and the conservation triumphs we can make when working together.
In fact 99% of species protected under the Endangered Species Act have avoided extinction!
“This year, as we celebrate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act, we know its role in maintaining biodiversity is more important now than ever, especially as we face a worsening climate crisis and mass extinction. From protecting critical habitat to creating recovery plans, the Endangered Species Act has facilitated the recovery of species like the humpback whale and bald eagle, while also protecting iconic species like grizzly bears, sea turtles and jaguars. We know this milestone is also a time to reinvigorate our defense of Endangered Species Act protections. Each year, Republicans ramp up their attacks to undermine science-based decisions about listing, delisting, habitat protections and recovery, so they can more easily dole out favors for polluters. We stand ready to continue our fight for species and their habitats over the next 50 years and beyond.”
House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva
Despite its strong track record and the support of 90% of American voters, the Endangered Species Act continues to face political threats. In 2017 more than 400 organizations including us) signed a letter to members of Congress opposing efforts to weaken the law. This year provides an opportunity to reflect on the law’s successes, as well as find ways to strengthen it to protect imperiled plants and animals.
Visit the ESA at 50 website to find opportunities to join the celebration, educational resources, and more.
Join us for Colorado Endangered Species Week!
On May 14-20, 2023, Rocky Mountain Wild and our partners will host the 7th annual Colorado Endangered Species Week! This week is dedicated to providing educational events and advocacy opportunities to protect the planet and species at risk here in Colorado.
During this week, Rocky Mountain Wild and our partners organize speakers, fundraisers, direct action events, and other activities along the Front Range, with major events occurring in Boulder and Denver.
Join us for the events and for The Most Awesome Environmental Online Auction in the Front Range! All items in this auction have been donated by members of a green coalition (1% for the Planet, Certifiably Green Denver, Certified Green Lafayette, Climate Neutral Certified, The Conservation Alliance, Good Food 100, Green America, etc) or the item itself may replace a less environmental one.
Schedule of Events:
For each day during Colorado Endangered Species Week, we’ll be focusing on one of our important species or wild places, or a solution that protects our important species or wildly places here in Colorado. Each day will feature a suite of activities, including things to read, direct actions to take, and things to watch to help us learn about and advocate for our Colorado imperiled, threatened, and endangered species!
Not in the area? A lot of the activities can be taken from wherever you are! You can also check out Endangered Species Coalition’s Event Map for activities and actions in your city!
Celebrate the efficacy of the Endangered Species Act, Sunday, May 14
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is a landmark piece of legislation that solidifies our national commitment to the conservation and protection of imperiled wildlife and plants. It’s an immensely popular and bipartisan bill that passed in a landslide. The Act remains a long-lasting example of commitment, cooperation, and the conservation triumphs we can make when working together.
In fact 99% of species protected under the Endangered Species Act have avoided extinction!
Despite its strong track record and the support of 90% of American voters, the Endangered Species Act continues to face political threats. In 2017 more than 400 organizations including us) signed a letter to members of Congress opposing efforts to weaken the law. This year provides an opportunity to reflect on the law’s successes, as well as find ways to strengthen it to protect imperiled plants and animals.
Join us at Celebrate the Efficacy of the Endangered Species Act to understand more of what’s happening here to this important piece of legislation and how you can help.
A huge thank you to our partners for the day: Endangered Species Act at 50 and Endangered Species Coalition.
Get Passionate for Plants, Monday , May 15
Colorado ranks 13th for plant diversity and 8th for the most plant species at risk. There are 117 plant species in Colorado considered to be globally imperiled and vulnerable to extinction. Of those, 68 species are found only in Colorado, which means it’s our duty to make sure they remain protected.
Most of these species are restricted to a very specific habitat, which is why protections through habitat designations are so important!
Join us for Get Passionate for Plants to understand more of what’s happening with Colorado native plants and how you can help. And be sure to join the lunch-and-learn at noon to learn about urban biodiversity and the importance of creating connected habitats for insects and songbirds in urban and suburban communities!
A huge thank you to our partners for the day: Suelo Bueno Consulting, Colorado Native Plant Society, and the City of Boulder Climate Initiatives.
Get Batty about Colorado Bats, Tuesday, May 16
Bats face numerous threats in Colorado, such as habitat loss and climate change. In addition, hibernating bats in Colorado may be impacted by white-nose syndrome (WNS), a pathogen that has killed millions of bats in the eastern and midwestern U.S. since 2006. WNS was just detected in a Colorado bat on April 24 of this year.
Unfortunately, relatively little is currently known about the population status of most species of bats in Colorado. This prevents land managers and conservation organizations develop strategies and programs to protect bats and their habitats.
Thankfully, we have a community science project where you can help collect data about Colorado bats!
Join us for Get Batty about Colorado Bats to understand more about Colorado bats and how you can help us learn more about them. And be sure to join the evening bat conservation event in Wheat Ridge!
A huge thank you to our partners for the day:
Get Hopping for Boreal Toad, Thursday, May 18
Boreal toads inhabit a variety of high-altitude wet habitats – such as marshes, wet meadows, streams, beaver ponds, glacial kettle ponds, and subalpine forest lakes- at altitudes primarily between 8,000-11,500 feet. They are Colorado’s only alpine amphibian and an indicator of the environmental health of our mountain streams and wetlands.
In the past two decades 168 known amphibian species on the planet have gone extinct. One third of the world’s amphibians are considered threatened, and almost half of all species are declining. The causes for recent amphibian declines are many, but an emerging disease called chytrid fungus and global climate change are thought the be the biggest threats to amphibians. Here in southern Rocky Mountain region boreal toads, once a common member of our alpine ecosystems, are estimated to occupy just 1% of their historical breeding areas.
Join us for Get Hopping for Boreal Toad to understand more about the current status of boreal toads and how you can help. And be sure to join the evening presentation with experts from Denver Zoo to find out how you can join the community science project to protect boreal toads!
A huge thank you to our partners for the day: Denver Zoo and Green Spaces.
Get Howling for Wolves, Friday, May 19
Wolves once roamed the snow-capped peaks and rim rock canyons of the West, but their howl has been missing from Western Colorado for 75 years. On November 3, 2020, Coloradans voted yes to Colorado Proposition 114, the Gray Wolf Reintroduction Initiative.
The measure was designed to require the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to create and carry out a plan to reintroduce and manage gray wolves (with paws on the ground) by the end of 2023.
A bipartisan Senate Bill 23-256 would delay Colorado’s gray wolf reintroduction until a final federal ruling is made on whether wolves could be killed in some circumstances (a 10(j) rule). This new Bill, if passed, could delay wolf reintroduction until 2029.
Join us at Get Howling for Wolves to understand more of what’s happening here in Colorado and how you can help. And be sure to join the noon lunch and learn with experts from Defenders of Wildlife!
A huge thank you to our partner for the day, Defenders of Wildlife.
Envisioning Equity in Environmental Nonprofits, Saturday, May 20
Today is Colorado Public Lands Day, which is a perfect day to envision equity in environmental nonprofits! Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) support environmental protection at a higher rate than white people. 36-42% of the U.S. population are BIPOC, but only 16% of environmental nonprofit staff are BIPOC, and only 12% of those individuals are in leadership positions.
Join Rocky Mountain Wild and Next 100 Colorado for Envisioning Equity in Environmental Nonprofits to explore how we can make environmental organizations more equitable, inclusive, and just. And be sure to join our in-person film screening, panel, and affinity group space breakout sessions with Next 100 Colorado!
A huge thank you to our partners for the day, Next 100 Colorado and Good Business Colorado.
The Most Awesome Environmental Online Auction in the Front Range:
Colorado Endangered Species Week includes The Most Awesome Environmental Online Auction in the Front Range, with auction items that are either donated by a business with a green coalition membership or items that are environmental in nature.
The online auction will open at noon MT on May 12 and close at noon MT on May 20. Check out the items in the silent auction here! And register to bid here.
Here is more information about the silent auction for businesses. If you would like to donate something to the online auction, please fill out our Google form or email chris@rockymountainwild.org with the details.
A huge thank you to Wild Connections for sponsoring The Most Awesome Environmental Online Auction in the Front Range!
A huge thank you to this year’s donors:
Partners:
This week can’t happen without the help of all our partners. If you are interested in becoming a Media Sponsor, a Resource Partner, an Event Partner, or a Sponsor, please check out our Sponsorship Packet and email Chris at chris@rockymountainwild.org with the type of partnership you would like to have this year.
A huge thank you to this year’s partners:
For the Kids (and Kids at Heart):
Feel free to download any of our coloring pages! And if you love how it turned out, please send it to us and we’ll post it on our Instagram page!
- American pika coloring page
- Bighorn sheep coloring page
- Boreal toad coloring page
- Canada lynx coloring page
- Gray wolf coloring page
- Greater sage-grouse coloring page
- Gunnison sage-grouse coloring page
- Townsend’s big-eared bat coloring page
- Wolverine coloring page
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife coloring pages
Header image: Top row: American pika (imperiled, but not listed) courtesy of Will Thompson, USGS; boreal toad (state endangered) courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife; greater sage-grouse (state special concern) courtesy of Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management; Colorado River cutthroat trout (state special concern) courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife; least tern (state endangered) courtesy of Amanda Boyd, USFWS; Bottom row: burrowing owl (state threatened) courtesy of Ben Lawrence; kit fox (state endangered) courtesy of Kelly Rigby, Bureau of Land Management; clay-loving wild buckwheat (state endangered) courtesy of Langton Alicia, USFWS; longnose leopard lizard (state special concern) courtesy of William Bosworth, ID Department of Fish and Game. All images are public domain.