Fish and Wildlife Service Celebrates Endangered Species Day
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous conservation organizations will observe Endangered Species Day on May 20, 2011, to recognize conservation efforts underway across the nation aimed at helping America's imperiled species.
To date, the Endangered Species Act, which became law in 1973, has helped to prevent the extinction of hundreds of species. Co-administered by the Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the purpose of the Act is to conserve imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service works with our many conservation partners as well as the public to conserve and protect imperiled species. Endangered Species Day provides an opportunity to celebrate our shared successes." said Acting Service Director Rowan Gould. "By taking action to help our imperiled native fish, wildlife and plants, we can ensure a healthy future for our community and protect treasured landscapes for future generations."
The Service and the Endangered Species Coalition are cosponsoring events around the country to focus public support on rare and imperiled species, including at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC.
Many of the Service's field and regional offices will be hosting events in their communities and providing unique programs to visitors on endangered species conservation. For more information on how you can find an event near you, please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ESDay/2011.html.
In the Service' Pacific Region, Fish and Wildlife Service staff in the Portland, Oregon, office will participate in an event May 20 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and staff in the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife office will participate in an event May 21 at the Honolulu Zoo.
The Service works with other federal agencies, state, local and tribal governments, environmental organizations, industry groups, academia, the scientific community and members of the public to help conserve our nation's threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plants. Endangered Species Day honors this national commitment to recovering endangered species and their habitats and provides an opportunity to learn about what efforts are being made to conserve them.
The bald eagle, brown pelican, American alligator and Maguire daisy are all species that were on the brink of extinction, but have successfully rebounded. The wood stork, Kirtland's warbler, Lake Erie water snake, Okaloosa darter, black-footed ferret and Louisiana black bear are also listed species that are showing significant progress towards recovery - the ultimate goal of the Act. These recovered and recovering species are just a few examples of those benefiting from the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act and the dedicated people who work to ensure their continued existence.
"Endangered Species Day celebrates America's natural heritage and our country's successful efforts to protect imperiled species," said Leda Huta, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. "As Americans, we can be proud that we have one of the strongest endangered species programs in the world. Americans have established a legacy of protecting endangered species for our children and grandchildren."
For more information about events around the country and Endangered Species Day, visit www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org.
America's fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To learn more about the Services Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
To date, the Endangered Species Act, which became law in 1973, has helped to prevent the extinction of hundreds of species. Co-administered by the Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the purpose of the Act is to conserve imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service works with our many conservation partners as well as the public to conserve and protect imperiled species. Endangered Species Day provides an opportunity to celebrate our shared successes." said Acting Service Director Rowan Gould. "By taking action to help our imperiled native fish, wildlife and plants, we can ensure a healthy future for our community and protect treasured landscapes for future generations."
The Service and the Endangered Species Coalition are cosponsoring events around the country to focus public support on rare and imperiled species, including at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC.
Many of the Service's field and regional offices will be hosting events in their communities and providing unique programs to visitors on endangered species conservation. For more information on how you can find an event near you, please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ESDay/2011.html.
In the Service' Pacific Region, Fish and Wildlife Service staff in the Portland, Oregon, office will participate in an event May 20 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and staff in the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife office will participate in an event May 21 at the Honolulu Zoo.
The Service works with other federal agencies, state, local and tribal governments, environmental organizations, industry groups, academia, the scientific community and members of the public to help conserve our nation's threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plants. Endangered Species Day honors this national commitment to recovering endangered species and their habitats and provides an opportunity to learn about what efforts are being made to conserve them.
The bald eagle, brown pelican, American alligator and Maguire daisy are all species that were on the brink of extinction, but have successfully rebounded. The wood stork, Kirtland's warbler, Lake Erie water snake, Okaloosa darter, black-footed ferret and Louisiana black bear are also listed species that are showing significant progress towards recovery - the ultimate goal of the Act. These recovered and recovering species are just a few examples of those benefiting from the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act and the dedicated people who work to ensure their continued existence.
"Endangered Species Day celebrates America's natural heritage and our country's successful efforts to protect imperiled species," said Leda Huta, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. "As Americans, we can be proud that we have one of the strongest endangered species programs in the world. Americans have established a legacy of protecting endangered species for our children and grandchildren."
For more information about events around the country and Endangered Species Day, visit www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org.
America's fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To learn more about the Services Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
