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wildearthguardians.org

The WildEarth Guardians is an organization ensuring that life as we know it is protected and restored.  More specifically, they are working to protect biological diversity in the American West as categorized in four program areas—wildlife, wild places, wild rivers and climate & energy. Each one of these programs also has campaigns and each campaign has a goal, the smaller of which have time frames of anywhere from 3 months to 6 to 8 years. For example, in one of their priority campaigns, in New Mexico and Arizona, the organization is trying to secure permanent and lasting protection for the Mexican gray wolf in New Mexico and Arizona.

According to WildEarth Guardians’ executive director, John Horning, environmental protection needs to take precedence in everyday lives simply because life as we know depends on it.

“Whether wolves or little aquatic insects, the diversity of life is important because it is a part of the fabric of life.  As with any fabric, if you start to pull out individual threads, the beauty and integrity of the entire piece is threatened.  It may take some time and the early signs may be difficult to detect, but whether it’s the 5th or the 50th thread that is destroyed, the quilt functions better when all the pieces hold it together,” said Horning.

“I also believe that our world and what it means to be human is significantly diminished if unique creatures like salamanders, tortoises and spotted owls no longer exist in it.  More concretely the air we breathe and the water we drink are not things we can take for granted. We need all of these things for economic, emotional and personal well-being,” concluded Mr. Horning of the WildEarth Guardians.

Beginning in February, the organization will conduct a series of river restoration events throughout New Mexico and Arizona, which they will continue through late April or early May. WildEarth Guardians will also host its annual Gala fundraiser dinners in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Denver in fall of next year.

The core of this four-star Charity Navigator charity consists of 16 full-time workers. They also have 9 board members, none of who are compensated.

Its restoration programs and efforts do receive federal funding, but the majority of their work (about 90%) involves advocacy and litigation, which receives no federal funding. The majority of support comes from foundations and individuals.

People can help by getting involved.  That can mean a lot of different things and it depends on a person’s interests, availability and means.  Some people simply give money (click here for their donation page); others only give time (click here for their volunteer page), by writing elected officials on critical issues, helping out with mailings, tree plantings or whatever urgent matter needs theirour attention that day.