DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

Did you know that there are 41,415 threatened species? 16,306 of which are in danger of becoming extinct!1 It is jaw dropping facts like these that have driven Nolah Mattress to support Defenders of Wildlife in their mission to defend and conserve our wildlife.

WOLF INFOGRAPHIC

Habitat Conservation

Species each have their own unique habitats, from desert to ocean. But these habitats are being threatened throughout North America. When the survival of one animal is threatened, it can sometimes impact an entire ecosystem. Habitats are affected by climate change. For example, climate change causes sea ice to melt, which can negatively impact the feeding and breeding habits of polar bears. Habitats are also affected by industrial and agricultural development, and expanding cities. There have been many examples of human-caused habitat destruction, including the 2010 oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. There are, however, federal lands where animals can roam. Places like national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests and the national public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management provide important habitats for imperiled wildlife.

How Defenders of Wildlife is Conserving Habitat

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only system of federal lands in the United States dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our nation’s national wildlife refuges provide habitat for hundreds of species, including 380 of our endangered or threatened species, from the Florida panther to the leatherback sea turtle.3 

Many of these refuges, however, sit on natural gas or oil deposits and have infrastructure in place to allow access to these deposits for companies who have owned the mineral rights since before the lands were designated as refuges. This can leave the lands susceptible to toxic spills, and the refuges can become damaged or destroyed.

National Forests

Many of us enjoy visiting the beautiful natural forests around the country. These forests are not only an escape for people, but for wildlife as well. One-third of the threatened or endangered species in the U.S. live in the national forests.4 But even in these protected lands, wildlife is threatened by logging, mining, recreational activity, climate change, and other threats that can affect or destroy an animal’s habitat.

BLM Public Lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers more than 258 million acres of public lands, primarily in the 11 western states and Alaska.2 They include deserts, forests, shrublands, and wetlands. 

Animals living on BLM public lands include:

Sage-grouse

Mule Deer

Native Trout

Desert Tortoises

Bald eagles

Caribou

and More

How Defenders of Wildlife is Conserving Habitat

Defenders of Wildlife works to protect public lands. Defenders’ field staff in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina and Washington work with local officials and other stakeholders to implement innovative, comprehensive strategies to improve wildlife conservation on public lands. Defenders’ Conservation Law department holds federal agencies accountable wherever they fail to properly apply the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws on public lands.2 

Defenders of Wildlife has helped shape policies for managing national wildlife refuges. Defenders is working to vigorously fight any proposal to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling.3 Defenders has also supported the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the development of new regulations on how non-federal oil and gas beneath the Refuge System are accessed and managed.3 Defenders is also advocating for policies that create new refuges and expand existing ones in order to further preserve wildlife and their habitats. Defenders of Wildlife is a member of the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) which works to secure adequate funding for the Refuge System. 

Defenders’ Forests for Wildlife Initiative is shaping new forest and wildlife conservation policy, thwarting attacks on our public forests and the imperiled species that depend on them, and engaging in innovative conservation projects in national forests.4 Defenders works closely with national forests in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Rocky Mountains, and Alaska’s Chugach and Tongass National Forests. Defenders forcefully opposes every policy and legislative proposal that could degrade habitat or weaken conservation laws such as the Endangered Species Act on our national forests and other public forestlands.4 They work closely with the Forest Service, conservation scientists, and other partners to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of national forest wildlife conservation policies, plans and projects.4

Facts About Habitats

  • BLM public lands are home to more than 3,000 species of fish and wildlife.2
  • Tourism to national wildlife refuges infuses $1.74 billion into local economies annually.3
  • Refuges provide over 32,000 U.S. jobs across the country.3
  • More than 200 national wildlife refuges have existing oil and gas infrastructure, including 103 refuges with active oil and gas wells.3
  • 36% of wildlife refuges have no staff on site.3
  • The National Forest System is made up of 193 million acres across the country.4

Protecting Wildlife

As people move into new areas and expand cities, they encroach on wildlife habitat. This results not only in the destruction of valuable wildlife habitat, but in increased conflict between animals and people. Defenders of Wildlife is devoted to helping people coexist with wildlife by finding effective solutions to minimize conflict between wildlife and people, develop an appreciation of wildlife which share the land, and create more healthy ecosystems. By learning to live with nature, we can all protect the plants and animals we love most.

Endangered Species Act

One of the most impactful laws that help protect wildlife is the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is a federal law that was enacted in 1973 and protects endangered wildlife and plants from becoming extinct. More than 99 percent of the more than 2,000 plants and animals protected by the law still persist today.5

How Defenders of Wildlife is Protecting Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife works with many organizations and private landowners to help people and wildlife coexist. For decades, Defenders of Wildlife has been a leader in working with lawmakers, conservation professionals, local communities, and private landowners to develop innovative and effective methods for minimizing conflicts between people and wildlife. They are a leader in helping ranchers implement proven, nonlethal solutions to prevent attacks on livestock, such as using range riders to patrol for wolves and electric fencing to keep grizzlies out of small pastures, chicken coops and beeyards. They also provide bear-resistant trash cans and educate people on how to deal with wildlife encounters.7 Defenders also supports the ESA, advocates to protect and increase federal funding for the Act, and opposes all legislative attacks that would weaken the law5 so that you can enjoy seeing your favorite plants and animals in their natural habitats.

Facts About the ESA

  • The decreasing number of bald eagles in the U.S. influenced Congress to pass the law so that species were protected from extinction. The bald eagle has now recovered to the point that it is no longer listed under the Act!
  • The ESA protects over 1,600 species in the U.S. Half of all listed species are plants, one fifth are birds or mammals, and ten percent are freshwater mussels that filter dirty water.
  • The ESA protects some species that are threatened by climate change, including the polar bear and staghorn coral. It also protects species that were imperiled for other reasons but are now threatened by climate change, like the Mount Graham red squirrel.
  • Funding to states and other parties to help conserve species is provided in the ESA. This collaborative approach is important because less than 30% of land in the U.S. is federally owned or managed.
  • The ESA has protected and recovered species, even in the face of declining budgets and political pressure to weaken it.

Renewable Energy

In addition to preserving habitats and learning to coexist with wildlife, another important aspect of conservation is working to reduce climate change through initiatives like generating renewable energy. Renewable energy is any energy from sources that are not depleted when used, unlike energy from fossil fuels. Generating clean, renewable electricity from sun, wind and geothermal sources is one of the best ways to slow down global climate change—one of the leading threats facing wildlife today.8 As we transition toward a clean energy future, it is imperative that we strike a balance between addressing the near-term impact of industrial-scale solar development with the long-term impacts of climate change. To ensure the proper balance is achieved, these projects should be placed in areas with little habitat value, such as old industrial areas or abandoned farmland.

Types of Renewable Energy

There are several forms of renewable energy. 

Wind power uses turbines to generate electricity. It does not create pollutants and relies on natural wind patterns. It is one of the least expensive forms of renewable energy available to us.9 Wind power can have negative impacts on wildlife, including migrating birds and bats. Defenders works to ensure that planned wind power projects are 'Smart from the Start' and take into account these concerns. 

Solar power uses the sun as a source of energy. The sun’s power is captured by panels and other solar collectors; these panels convert sunlight into electricity directly, providing a clean source of energy. Solar power is still relatively expensive compared to other sources of renewable energies. The amount of power generated is also limited by an area’s sun exposure. 

Hydroelectric power is generated by flowing water that moves turbines. While this method is effective, it requires that rivers are dammed so that the water can move quickly through the turbines. This can impact natural wildlife habitats. Building these dams also requires large costs. However, this renewable energy source won’t run out and isn’t as unpredictable as the wind or sun.

How Defenders of Wildlife Promotes Renewable Energy

Defenders is working with federal and state agencies to help shape policies for renewable energy development. We also partner with non-government organizations and companies to develop strategies and plans that help accelerate renewable energy development, while protecting wildlife and wild places. Defenders also provides guidance on individual renewable energy projects, with a particular emphasis on avoiding, minimizing and mitigating impacts on wildlife and habitats.8

Facts About Renewable Energy

  • U.S. wind energy can produce more than 10 times our energy needs.9
  • Hydropower provides for 20 percent of the world’s energy needs.9
  • Renewable energy projects create 3 times more jobs than fossil fuel projects do.10
  • One wind turbine can power over 1,400 homes.10
  • An hour of the sun shining on the earth could provide energy for an entire year.11

Nolah & Defenders of Wildlife

At Nolah Mattress, we understand the need to take care of the world around us. We work directly with Defenders of Wildlife and you! Each time you purchase a mattress from Nolah, we adopt an animal and donate the money you would have spent on shipping to helping defend that animal. With your amazing new mattress, you will also receive an official certificate of adoption!

Learn More About Our Program!
References
  1. Kasnoff, Craig. “The Plight of Endangered Species.” Endangered Earth.
  2. “Defenders in Action: BLM Public Lands.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  3. “Protecting National Wildlife Refuges.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  4. “Defenders in Action: National Forests.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  5. “Endangered Species Act 101.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  6. Engler, Sarah. “10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Endangered Species Act.” Natural Resources Defence Council.
  7. “Living with Wildlife 101.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  8. “Renewable Energy 101.” Defenders of Wildlife.
  9. Danielson, Nik. “5 Types of Renewable Energy.” My Energy Gateway. Association of Energy Services Professionals.
  10. Erman, Aylin. “10 Fun Facts About Renewable Energy.” OVO Energy.
  11. “Solar Energy.” National Geographic.

    Readers Note:

    Much of the above information was taken from the Defenders of Wildlife website.