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ESA Legacy Pledge

Sign the Endangered Species Act Legacy Pledge!

The Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most important safety net for wildlife, plants, and fish that are on the brink of extinction. Unfortunately, in recent years both the act and the protections it provides have come under assault from Congress and the Bush administration. We hope to collect thousands of signatures over the coming months, sending a message to our elected officials that their constituents support strong protections for our nation’s endangered fish, plants and wildlife, and the special places they call home.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Endangered Species Act Legacy Pledge

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

WHEREAS, America has a long and proud tradition of respect for the Earth's wildlife and natural resources, and

WHEREAS, we have a responsibility to our children and future generations to be good stewards of our environment and to leave behind a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home, and

WHEREAS, the strength and vitality of the human environment is inextricably linked with the health of all species and the places they live, and

WHEREAS, species extinction and habitat destruction are a serious threat to our own welfare. For example, nature is the source for most of our commonly-prescribed medicines and the loss of species could mean the loss of life-saving drugs, and

WHEREAS, we have a responsibility to use the best available science to ensure we protect this legacy for future generations, and

WHEREAS, for over 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has served as the nation's safety net for wildlife, saving hundreds of plants and animals from extinction, putting hundreds more on the path to recovery, and safeguarding the habitats on which they all depend,

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, PLEDGE to uphold the Endangered Species Act so it may continue to protect our plants and animals and the special places they live, from the finality of extinction.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
September 27, 2004


Background Information

The Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most important safety net for wildlife, plants, and fish that are on the brink of extinction. For over 30 years it has helped prevent the extinction of hundreds of imperiled species, including the American bald eagle, the Florida panther, the black-footed ferret and many others.

Unfortunately, recently both the act and the protections it provides have come under assault from Congress and the Bush administration. The House of Representatives recently passed Rep. Richard Pombo's "Extinction Bill," which would weaken protections for a range of important species such as salmon, grizzly bears, and spotted owls. To help demonstrate the widespread support for strong endangered species protections, a number of conservation organizations—along with Representative John Dingell (D-MI), an endangered species champion who helped write the original Endangered Species Act in 1973—have joined together to create an Endangered Species Act Legacy pledge.

With tens of thousands of concerned citizens across the country signing this pledge, we will send a message to our elected officials and the media that we owe it to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment and that we must work together to leave behind a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home. The conservation community will take the list of pledge supporters to members of the Senate, and let them know that their constituents support strong protections for our nation’s endangered fish, plants and wildlife.

Please sign the Endangered Species Act Legacy pledge today!

Want to learn more about the ESA? Resources from Earthjustice: