Here today ... here tomorrow ? top antioquia brush-finch | SVIEIRA
Perhaps you noticed the words , “ Here today …” on the cover of this newsletter and easily recognized the cliché . It usually ends in “ gone tomorrow ”, uttered as a fait accompli accompanied by a shrugging of the shoulders .
The biodiversity crisis is shrugged off by some , worried about by others , and acted on by those of us who can ’ t accept — won ’ t accept — a careless disregard for the future of life on Earth . We know you join us in committing to a very different ending to this story :
“ Here today , here tomorrow .”
There isn ’ t a lot of time left for Earth ’ s endangered species . The threats continue to grow . Habitat destruction and wildlife disease are pushing species closer to extinction every day and climate change is only exacerbating these threats . But we have many successes to celebrate in our work with you and our strategic partners . Together , we have helped pull Critically Endangered species back from the brink of extinction and this should give us all hope that time has not run out .
There are many examples we could share that demonstrate just how well species on the verge of extinction can make a comeback when given a chance , but let me just highlight three that you have helped bring about .
First , in the Beni Savanna of the southwestern Amazon basin of Bolivia lives the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw , a spectacularly beautiful and highly intelligent species that in the early 1990 ’ s was thought to be extinct . In 1992 , a small population was discovered , and that glimmer of hope has led to protected areas being established by Rainforest Trust partner , Asociación Armonía . With this protection ,
and other conservation actions , we are slowly seeing the population increase .
Next , in South Africa , the Endangered Wildlife Trust has spearheaded the effort to create protected and conserved areas for both the Albany Adder and Amatola Toad , two species that , like the Blue-throated Macaw , hadn ’ t been seen in years and were on the verge of being declared extinct . Both of these species were found after years of intensive searching and now have a safe home for the future , thanks to your help .
And last , but not least , is the elusive Saola of the Annamite Range in Vietnam and Laos . Arguably one of the rarest mammal species in the world , this cousin of cattle was only described by science in 1992 . Unlike the other species mentioned above , our understanding of the Saola is so limited that our only strategy to save it from extinction lies in protecting its habitat and ensuring it remains safe to roam the forest — an effort your support has been contributing to since 2019 .
The following pages contain stories related to recent projects we have undertaken with your support . We hope you enjoy this inside look at the beauty and magnificence of Earth ’ s most threatened habitats and species we are protecting forever , together .
We are in this for the long haul , and we know you are with us . Let ’ s not let a cliché define the future for endangered species we hold dear .
– James Lewis | Vice President of Conservation
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