WildEarth Guardians

Saturday, January 1, 2000
Keystone Species Campaign

Like the keystone that supports an archway in architectural design, keystone species sustain ecosystems.
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

The present biodiversity crisis, caused by human activities such as oil and gas development, livestock grazing, logging, mining, and urban sprawl, features extinction rates at 1,000 to 10,000 times the natural extinction rate. Under the federal Endangered Species Act, passed by Congress in 1973, species facing imperilment or extinction must be provided with protection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The Bush Administration’s refusal to provide species on the brink with urgently needed ESA listing and protections makes the work of groups such as WildEarth Guardians absolutely vital if we are to preserve the rich variety and abundance of native animals, plants, and ecosystems in the U.S.

Read the Fact Sheet (PDF)