Target: Inger Andersen, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme
Goal: Support robust investment in special recovery efforts for hundreds of bird species at risk of extinction.
Roughly 160 bird species went extinct during a 500-year span. According to an alarming new analysis, bird populations are poised to plummet well past this red line. A study that evaluated most of the bird species on the planet (around 10,000) found that in just one century’s time, 500 of these species will be no more.
Factors believed to drive these mass extinctions include habitat loss and effects of agriculture expansion. The study cites a diverse number of avian species being impacted, from the European turtle dove to the puffin to the great bustard. Researchers recommend urgent special recovery programs to help curtail the worst-case scenarios. These initiatives would focus on habitat restoration, breeding efforts, and promotion of sustainable farming practices.
Action requires commitment and investment, however. Sign the petition below to encourage worldwide support for an ambitious international rescue plan for the planet’s irreplaceable flying wonders.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Executive Director Andersen,
The California Condor and the UK Bittern: both of these birds, worlds apart, were once written off as unsalvageable. Yet because of involved human-led efforts, both species are thriving on their roads to recovery today. In just 100 years’ time, over 500 avian species will experience the same treacherous slide toward extinction. Will they become lost to history and human failures, or will they become success stories and testaments to human initiative and ambition?
The choice is ours. Birds are an integral cog in ecosystems worldwide, and if they fall they do not fall alone. Please invest in the captive breeding programs, the habitation restoration initiatives, and the frameworks for sustainable agriculture and climate betterment that will give these animals – and the entire planet – a fighting chance.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Richard Bartz
