Target: Martha Williams, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service
Goal: Demand the U.S. prioritize animal welfare and biodiversity conservation at a national convention.
It is no secret that biodiversity is declining at a more rapid rate than ever before. Back in 2019, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services announced that over 1 million species worldwide were at risk of extinction. Animals have long been threatened by human activity–namely by means of habitat loss, climate change, agricultural development, pollution, pet trade, and overconsumption–and, according to WWF’s 2020 Living Planet Report, the world has seen an average 68% drop in animal populations since 1970.
There is still hope for endangered species. This upcoming November, 183 member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will assemble for the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) in Panama City, Panama. Here, they will discuss vital protections for over 600 species, including the revision of progress in the conservation of specified species, potential ammendments to the list of protected species, and recommendations on how to improve the Convention’s effectiveness.
Sign this petition to demand this Convention prioritze our world’s biodiversity in all decisions made at this Convention.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Williams,
Each and every year, an estimated 0.01 to 0.1% of all species become extinct–and we are to blame. Human activity has long strained the ecological resources available to wildlife and plants, and past efforts to preserve biodiversity have not been enough to bring back hundreds of thousands of animals from the brink of extinction. As you and your agency will be defending American interests at the upcoming CITES Co-19 Convention, we are asking that you honor our nation’s commitments towards species conservation and help instate vital protections for the 600 species that will be discussed.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Nom d’util
Not signing. Those drafting petitions need to become more informed and use far more DISCERNMENT. The UN will use this as a ready excuse to BAN regular people from natural spaces, and only give Elites access for their OWN use.