Recently we were able to conduct a brief interview with Tamara Strobel from the Canter for Biological Diversity. The Center for Biological Diversity works to protect endangered species and the environment through the use of science and political/legislative action. We were able to ask about what kind of work the Center does as well as how people can support it.
What are some examples of the kind of work your organization does?
"We do a LOT! We have 10 different programs and you can read about them here: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/. In general, we work to save species via science, law and creative media so we comment on species listing and delisting (from the Endangered Species Act), we keep an eye on construction projects, we work to change policies to benefit species and the environment, and we rally our supporters to speak up whether it’s in a protest or by connecting with their elected officials."
What role does the press play in the protection of endangered species?
"Press are incredibly helpful in getting the word out – especially to raise attention to an issue. We have many journalists we connect with anytime we know of something going on: whether it’s someone or some institution trying to do something that’s anti-environmental or just to spread the word that we’re advocating for the wild or discuss the environment within current events, having a connection to press helps get more traction and attention to the issue. Which can get a lot of people’s attention."
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity? How will international action play a role in conserving endangered species?
"The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the protection of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity. It’s designed to create biodiversity conservation strategies in the midst of the current global extinction crisis. The Convention’s new biodiversity framework, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, is currently being drafted (I think this is still the case) and is aimed at encouraging “urgent and transformative” action globally. It includes the “30 by 30” goal to protect 30 percent of global land and sea areas by 2030, with a particular focus on areas of high importance for biodiversity."
"International action is critical to conserving endangered species because the threats species face (climate change, habitat loss, competition with invasive species, etc.) occur on a global scale. We need all countries committed to protecting the most biodiverse areas on the planet, which may include implementing and enforcing their own laws nationally to support global goals, providing resources for developing nations to protect key areas, etc."
Are there any conservation efforts through legislation happening on a local or national level currently?
"SO many. On a local level there are almost always conservation efforts happening, it just depends on your state/region. You mention our petitions in the next question, that’s a great way to see some of the conservation efforts. We also have a c4 (Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund) that works directly with lawmakers from all political parties. Here’s the website: https://centeractionfund.org/about/. It’s different than a regular nonprofit though, because of the direct work with lawmakers."
On your website, there are petitions about species conservation as well as ones about global reproductive rights, plastic pollution, the food supply chain, and many others. How do these issues connect to the protection of endangered species?
"Everything is interconnected. And people are a main reason why species become endangered/go extinct. By supporting global reproductive rights, women can decide how many children they want and how. In many places in the world (including the U.S.), they don’t have those rights. You can read more about our population work here. Plastic doesn’t break down and is now a global crisis. As you may have seen on our website, billions of pounds of plastic can be found in 40% of our the world’s ocean surfaces. It’s expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea in less than 30 years. Food supply also affects how much space there is left for the wild. There are many ways to use food sustainably, whether it’s eating food that doesn’t look as pretty (bruised food, carrots w/two legs, etc) or cutting back on meat, these can work to fix a broken food system. Honestly, spend some time reading up on each of our programs. There’s a synopsis of them at the top of our website, under Programs>Program Overview. But as I said, everything is interconnected. Our planet now faces a global extinction crisis never witnessed before. Scientists predict that more than 1 million species are on track for extinction in the coming decades. It’s up to us to save the world’s biodiversity by protecting our lands and waters. When a species goes extinct, the world around us unravels a bit. There are tangible consequential losses such as crop pollination and water purification, but also spiritual and cultural ones. We have a deep emotional connection to the wild world. And this current crisis is entirely our own making."
What are some of the specific ways that your organization goes about protecting endangered species?
"I think I’ve hit a lot of it, but to reiterate: we work with the law to enact policies to protect the wild – water, land, and species; we use science to present the most-up-to-date information to help US Fish and Wildlife Service protect species hovering on the brink of extinction; we use media (social, news, etc) to bring attention to these issues to the rest of the world. My specific role is to write petitions to list species under the Endangered Species Act, or write comments in support of species that are close to being listed. I also inspire others by answering their questions for school reports. I also work to keep a pulse on what’s happening in my region – again, making sure that the environment is a consideration in every political or building decision made."
How do volunteers and donations play into the work your organization does?
"As mentioned, we do a lot! Donations give us life-saving funds to do the work we need to do to save life on earth. Plus, the energy of our members fuels our souls as well. Knowing how many people support our work and are invested means so much. And whether that’s by donating money or time, we’re all in this together (not to sound cliché, but it’s true)."
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