The ultimate rant from an environmentalist.

Our real goal as human beings, is to protect our wildlife and the Earth, NOT destroy them!!!! What gives humans the right to kill some of God’s creatures, and destroy their natural habitat in the first place???? We have to live in harmony with them, not destroy them!!!! This is not humane nor is it right for us to take what doesn’t belong to us!!!! Humans are not the only creatures on this planet that have feelings, nor are they the only creatures with the right to exist on this planet!!!! I will sign any petition to save these animals!!!! You know, this is exactly why a majority of people who oppose this massacre, really hate your guts, because you can’t do anything right by us, or our wildlife, and we need wildlife for our own survival!!!! Do you idiots realize what would happen if there were no animals or forests???? We will regret it once everything on this planet is destroyed, because once the entire ecosystem is gone, the human race won’t survive!!!! Those uncivilized people don’t have a place in a civilized world, since they are the cause of this blood bath in the first place!!!! The animals were here long before most of the human race, I think they deserve to live in the wild!!!! The main problem is the human race is taking over the wild territory, it’s not the fault of the animals!!!! Humans need to learn more about the other species on God’s earth, we’re not the only animals that can survive on it, and we won’t have much time left to live once all other species are gone!!!! Please, let them be, they all have a right to live too!!!! Humanity’s true purpose in life is, to care for the planet, and all the creatures that live on it!!!! We don’t have the right to take what doesn’t even belong to us, be it the life of another living creature, or the land that rightfully belonged to the animals!!!! Humans are supposed to be very intelligent, and fully evolved creatures, but the fact that they kill/destroy/abuse, pollute, and exploit natural resources without thought, only makes the human race the exact opposite of what they were supposed to be!!!! All over this world some people are taking these animals and slaughtering them, and for what? These animals are very important to the entire ecosystem, and humans are taking their way of life and totally tearing their way of life apart, these animals deserve so much more from us humans than what they are receiving at this time of taking care of what we have in this world, conservation and learning from these animals in the oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, and jungles!!!! Many animals die due to human stupidity, and arrogance/ignorance!!!! This should be a problem this world can change by law, so that heartless people can’t do as they please!!!! These barbarians are killing/destroying all our worlds last remaining wildlife, and our world leaders must do more to make sure that japan and any other nation is stopped from killing these animals to extinction, and destroying Earth’s natural resources!!!! The human race is going to pay the ultimate price for what they’re doing to the planet, and all that were put on it for a very important purpose… PERIOD!!!! Change this and make this madness stop, NOW!!!! Our children/grandchildren deserve to live on a healthy planet, full of life and great beauty, but that’s not going to happen if we keep destroying what little resource we have left on this planet!!!! Humans were put on this planet to love, protect, and save the very place we proudly call home, ”Earth” and all the creatures that live on it today!!!! Extinction was not meant to be caused by an intelligent race such as humans, and yet it pretty much is, but we can still change that, if we’re as intelligent as we made ourselves out to be!!!! Humans have a responsibility to protect Earth’s natural resources, and destroying them until there’s none left, would be completely irresponsible!!!! All life on Earth should be treated with love and respect, not abused or killed for some sick, and twisted pleasure!!!! Migratory birds around the world embark on incredibly long journeys every year as the seasons change, but while their routes remain the same, the landscape has continued to change. Now researchers are raising serious concerns about the impact habitat loss along their flight paths is having on their ability to survive. According to a study just published in the journal Science, more than 90 percent of the world’s migratory bird species are lacking adequate protection along their migration routes, which is putting them in peril. As they move from their nesting grounds and stopovers to their winter homes, these birds are finding fewer safe places to hit the ground. Some of the birds researchers focused on include the Arctic tern, who fly the equivalent of making three trips to the moon and back during their lives, and the small blackpoll warbler, who travels across the open ocean non-stop for three days as they travel from Canada to South America. While those log some impressive distances, many other travelers make incredible journeys and are in need of greater protection. After tracking more than 8,200 important bird and biodiversity areas around the world, researchers from Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) found that only 22 percent of them were fully protected, while less than half overlapped with protected areas. In all, they found that 1324 of 1451 migratory bird species are lacking protection for at least one part of their migration pathway, while 18 species had no protection at their breeding grounds and two species had no protection at all along their entire route. “More than half of migratory bird species traveling the world’s main flyways have suffered serious population declines in the past 30 years. This is due mainly to unequal and ineffective protection across their migratory range and the places they stop to refuel along their routes,” said Dr. Claire Runge, lead author the study, from CEED and the University of Queensland. It’s an unfortunate reminder about the need for global conservation efforts to protect migratory species that may seem fine in one place, but are threatened elsewhere. In this case, researchers found the most significant conservation gaps across China, India, parts of Africa and South America, but the problem is still a global one. Now, researchers hope that their work will lead to more coordinated efforts to protect important areas along migratory routes now to ensure the future survival of bird species around the world. “It won’t matter what we do in Australia or in Europe if these birds are losing their habitat somewhere else, as they will still perish,” said co-author Richard Fuller, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Sciences.“We need to work together far more effectively around the world if we want our migratory birds to survive into the future.”A study has found the Brazilian Amazon has neared a deforestation threshold past which wildlife may crash, according to a report cited on Mongabay.com. The study, published in the journal Conservation Biology, examines the impact of forest loss on biodiversity and shows that one-third of the Brazilian Amazon is headed toward or has just passed a threshold of forest cover beyond which species loss accelerates. Researchers found that for every 10 percent of forest that is lost, one to two major species are wiped out!!!! Species of the Brazilian Amazon where the study took place include mammals and birds falling within various IUCN Red List categories like the red howler monkey, giant anteater, the white-bellied monkey and jaguar. Lead author of the paper, Ochoa-Quintero, said: “This is not just a result of overall loss of habitat, but also reduced connectivity between remaining forest fragments, causing species to hunt and mate in ever-decreasing circles,” Ochoa-Quintero said. “This fragmentation may be the key element of the ‘threshold’ tipping point for biodiversity.” No animal deserves to go extinct due to human stupidity!!!! We know the earth’s tropical rainforests play a critical role when it comes to storing carbon, and that deforestation is a huge problem. But now scientists are focusing on the devastating impact losing tropical animal species is having on forest health, and how it’s going to speed up climate change. Rainforests, sometimes referred to as the lungs of the earth, take in huge amounts of carbon dioxide and store it, and return oxygen. In order to continue this critical service, forests need to be healthy, and to be healthy, they need animals, and we need them!!!! A variety of wild animals, particularly fruit-eating species from large primates and tapirs to toucans, among others, play a critical role in seed dispersal by eating them and passing them through their digestive tracts as they move around. Unfortunately, the species keeping forests healthy are declining due to habitat loss, overhunting and poaching and that’s really bad news, according to a study just published in the journal Science Advances that’s warning when the animals go, so will the trees. For the study, a team of researchers from around the world looked at data from more than 2,000 tree species and more than 800 animal species in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest to see how forest growth was impacted by wildlife. They found that defaunation, or the loss of animals from ecosystems, is changing the way forests grow, which impacts their ability to act as carbon sinks. Researchers explain in a statement that frugivores, or fruit-eating animals, who aren’t targeted by hunters, including small bats, birds and marsupials, can only disperse small seeds associated with small trees. The larger trees, which are responsible for storing more carbon, need larger animals to spread their seeds, but those bigger species are being disproportionately targeted by hunters. “We show that the decline and extinction of large animals will over time induce a decline in large hardwood trees. This in turn negatively affects the capacity of tropical forests to store carbon and therefore their potential to counter climate change,” said Professor Carlos Peres, from the University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences. While the research was conducted in the Atlantic Forest, it still applies to tropical rainforests around the world, including the Amazon and those in Africa. Researchers hope their findings, which build on similar previous conclusions, will bring the importance of wildlife into the conversation when it comes to efforts and policies to mitigate climate change. They write, “Although intergovernmental policies to reduce carbon emissions and reforestation programs have been mostly focused on deforestation, our results demonstrate that defaunation, and the loss of key ecological interactions, also poses a serious risk for the maintenance of tropical forest carbon storage. If we needed any reminder of how important the climate change agreement made last week is, new figures on the state of the Arctic show that this past year has been the warmest on record since 1900. This and other startling facts have emerged with the publication of the Arctic Report Card, an annual report that characterizes the state of the Arctic and what has happened over the past year in terms of its ice composition, the species that reside there, and other environmental factors. Released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the report details that the air temperature over Arctic land across all seasons between October 2014 and September 2015 was 3C higher than the average in several areas, and that the average air temperature during that period hit 1.3C over land, which was the highest on record since 1990. High temperatures isn’t the only worrying detail on the report card.” While some claims have been made that the total amount of sea ice in the Arctic shows that it has recovered much of its coverage, such blunt figures actually mask problems that the latest scorecard highlights all too clearly. For example, the maximum sea ice extent occurred 15 days earlier than the average, which is the earliest on record since 1979. In addition, the minimum ice extent was the fourth lowest on record. What’s more, the sea ice in the Arctic continues to be younger and thinner, that is to say it is not building like it once did. For animals like the polar bear that use the sea ice in order to gather food, any major change to ice patterns can be incredibly damaging to their hunting patterns and overall chances of survival, and this may only deepen concerns about this already at risk animal. Other species have seen mixed effects as a result of these changes. For example, according to NOAA walruses have been negatively affected by things like shifting fish communities and loss of sea habitat. They are also facing problems in the form of reducing sea ice levels. With the ice receding, many walruses are staying on shore, making it more likely their young will die as a result of overcrowding. That said, the walruses have received a measurable benefit as a result of reduced hunting pressure precisely because temperature changes affecting sea ice are making it harder for top Arctic predators to prey on them. Environmental details also showed that over 50 percent of the Greenland Ice Sheet melted for the first time since the then exceptional melting of 2012, while overall vegetation biomass continued the downward trend it has been on since 2011. “Now in its 10th year, the Arctic Report Card is a key tool to understanding changes in the Arctic and how those changes may affect communities, businesses, and people around the world,” NOAA Chief Scientist Dr. Rick Spinrad reportedly said in a press conference at the annual American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco this past week. “The Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the planet, which has ramifications for global security, climate, commerce, and trade. This year’s report shows the importance of international collaboration on sustained, long-term observing programs that provide insights to inform decisions by citizens, policymakers, and industry.” What happens in the polar regions is seen as a gauge and indeed warning over climate change in other parts of the world, so this new temperature high is concerning. Last week world leaders at the COP21 Paris talks agreed to a mostly voluntary and yet still ambitious climate change plan, one that hopes to keep temperatures at, at most, 2C over pre-industrial levels, with the hope of actually hitting the lower 1.5C target. As the above numbers show, we’re close to hitting that lower limit, so acting fast on the promises that were made in Paris is vital if we are going to slow and even reverse, to some extent, the problems man made climate change will bring, and we really need to start taking these warning signs very seriously. We know the problem with plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is bad and that it’s having a devastating impact on marine life — from disposable plastic objects being removed from sea turtles’ faces to estimates that 90 percent of seabirds have ingested it and that it’s making its way to remote regions of the world. Now, according to a new comprehensive study there’s a lot more of the harmful plastic than we previously thought. Still, to understand just how bad the problem is, we need to know how much plastic is out there, what happens to it over time and where it is. For the study, just published in Environmental Research Letters, researchers analyzed data collected by surface-trawling plankton nets going back to the 1970s. According to the study’s the authors, the number of microplastic particles, or pieces that are smaller than 5 mm in size, ranges from 15 to 51 trillion particles, which weigh between 93 and 236 thousand metric tons. The new estimate is about seven times more than previously thought and still didn’t take into account the amount that sinks, or is eaten by wildlife. Marcus Eriksen, co-author of the study from the 5 Gyres Institute, explains the new research is more reliable because it uses more data — and more recent data — along with comprehensive ocean models. He adds that better waste management can help address the problem, but that will only go so far if we keep making and tossing plastic at the rate we’re going, which means we need better product design. “The single use throwaway product concept is trashing our oceans. No waste management scheme is going to effectively clean up the proliferation of poorly designed products and packaging, like plastic bags, plastic straws, microbeads, water bottles, etc.,” he said. There’s good news in at least one area addressing the production of plastic waste with a federal bill to ban plastic microbeads found in products we use every day over concerns about their impact on our environment. Even though they’re incredibly tiny, microbeads are causing big problems when they go down the drain, passing right through wastewater treatment plants, and ending up in waterways, oceans and the Great Lakes. The Microbead-Free Waters Act was just passed in the House earlier this month and now moves to the Senate for a vote. This legislation is stronger than state bans already passed to phase out their use and will ban their production and distribution over the next few years. “Most people who buy personal care products that contain microbeads are unaware that these tiny bits of plastic seep into waterways, threatening the environment and ultimately our health. Our bill is a bipartisan and commonsense solution,” said Congressman Frank Pallone, who introduced the bill. Just a few months ago we saw the heartbreaking impact our plastic waste is having on wildlife after researchers removed a plastic drinking straw from a sea turtle’s nose, and now they’re back with another devastating reminder after finding yet another sea turtle in need of help. In August, researchers studying sea turtles off the coast of Costa Rica discovered an olive ridley sea turtle with a straw lodged in his nose and the video they shared of their efforts to help went viral, along with calls for us to reconsider our use of disposable plastic items. Unfortunately, it’s already happened again. This time around, the researchers were alerted to the situation by a tourist on Costa Rica’s Playa Ostional who was trying to get assistance for a nesting olive ridley sea turtle who was spotted with an object sticking out of her face. Nathan Robinson, Field Director for the Leatherback Trust, said that because they were many hours away from the nearest veterinary clinic and had no assurance that appropriate treatment would even be available, they decided to act at the scene to remove the object, which turned out to be a plastic fork. The good news is they were able to help by removing the fork, and they said in an update that after observing her, she appeared healthy and active and eventually reentered the water and swam away. They believe, similar to the incident with the straw, that the sea turtle may have eaten it at some point and gagged, or tried to throw it up, and having somewhat similar anatomy to us when it comes to vomiting, it may have gotten lodged in her nasal cavity when she did. While these two sea turtles were incredibly lucky to have been discovered by biologists who could help them, the thought that many other sea turtles, and other marine animals, are out there eating these kinds of objects is a disturbing one. “Although happy that the fork was free, my first feeling was one of disgust. It is painful to think that the single-use plastic objects that we dispose of so freely can cause so much destruction for marine life. Marine animals commonly ingest plastic debris,” said Robinson. “As long as we keep using single-use plastic, these instances are going to become increasingly more common. We are all going to have to make an effort to reduce plastic pollution if we don’t want to see more events like this.” While we can work on better waste management systems and recycling programs, the fastest and easiest way to start making a difference is to reduce our use of plastic items that we can easily live without, especially when, as the Leatherback Trust puts it, “Every plastic straw, plastic bag, or plastic bottle that ends up in the oceans could mean the difference between life or death for any number of marine animals.” While these rescue efforts are hard to watch, hopefully seeing the direct impact and harm our use of plastic items is having will encourage us to change our habits. The Chinese white dolphin is loved by the people of Hong Kong and the world for its friendly demeanor and pinkish hue. But it’s time to remove the rose-colored glasses: The Chinese white dolphin is disappearing alarmingly fast — since 2003, individuals in Hong Kong fell from 158 to 60 — thanks to bad pollution and human activity, and an airport’s expansion project could spell the end for these fascinating creatures. As reported in The Washington Post, upcoming construction plans can complicate life for the rare dolphin living north of Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. Expanding the Chek Lap Kok airport will surely make life for humans more convenient, but conservationists fear that it could be the “final straw” for the dolphins. Chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society Samuel Hung explains to the AFP why the airport’s expansion is potentially so detrimental to the Chinese white dolphin. We think that if that project goes ahead, then it will probably drive the dolphin away from Hong Kong waters…In some ways it seems like we are pushing them closer and closer to the edge of the cliff and if we’re making that final push, they will be gone forever. I think now is the time to get our act together. Here’s how more construction could push the Chinese white dolphin closer to the edge of the cliff, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Hong Kong’s construction boom over the past two decades has already compromised 2,000 hectares of dolphin habitat, and a new runway “would firstly create a physical barrier in the water, disrupting dolphin activities and movement between these important habitats.” Undoubtedly, the airport’s expansion will increase the risk of dolphins getting hit and injured by marine vessels. Chinese white dolphins depend on echolocation for navigating and fishing, but more marine vessels and construction could disrupt that. In extreme cases, noise pollution can lead to behavioral changes and even death. While the debris and pollutants during the construction phase will directly impact the dolphins’ health — predators higher up on the food chain, like dolphins, tend to accumulate those toxins — water pollution will also impact the health of their prey. Reclamation work will “decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen.” Finally, construction will create “changes in water hydrology, decreasing the flow rate of seawater in the area and generally worsening water quality.” Sadly, Hong Kong locals who depend on keeping the dolphins around don’t see the airport’s expansion as a major threat. As you might imagine, ecological tours starring the rare dolphins are quite profitable and popular — it isn’t every day that you can see a pink dolphin. And despite the overwhelming evidence that construction is bad for dolphins, many locals in the industry, like boat operator Wong Yung-kan, believe that “if you are not actively eliminating them, then they won’t go away,” reports the AFP. But we know that it doesn’t take a lot to get rid of dolphins; they’re extremely intelligent and sensitive to changes in their environment. For instance, construction of a new dam is driving away the Irrawaddy dolphins of the Mekong River, and Myanmar’s Irrawaddy dolphins aren’t coming around because of electrofishing. If we ever want a chance of spotting one of these pink dolphins in the wild, we must take active steps now. Studies confirm that amphibians, especially poisonous ones, are at risk of extinction, and zoos worldwide are failing to protect them. We’re also seeing an alarming loss of amphibians across Latin America, particularly in Venezuela. Venezuela is not just rich in oil, the South American country has some of the world’s richest biodiversity. Traditionally, it’s also been one of the top 10 homes for amphibians — until now. As reported in Reuters, the harmful impacts of climate change are already playing out in Venezuela, and amphibians are paying the ultimate price. A warming world is complicating amphibian reproduction and facilitating the spread of a lethal (chytrid) fungus. Some amphibian species haven’t been seen in the Venezuelan landscape in 30 years. Veterinarian Luis Merlo, the man in charge of Venezuela’s first center dedicated to amphibian conservation, describes how dire the situation really is: “Some 60-70 percent of (amphibians) are in critical danger or almost extinct.” Unsurprisingly, the country’s amphibian decline didn’t happen overnight — it took decades. Now scientists are in full damage control mode and desperately trying to save the Sapito Acollarado Andino, Collared Poison Frog, Sapito Leopardo and Leptodactylus “meridensis” from sure doom, says Global Conservation Connections. Losing amphibians is more than losing another species. Amphibians are the “canaries in a coalmine” who warn us about trouble in our ecosystems — they are sensitive to the slightest changes in their environment. Like Jon Paul Rodriguez from the Species Conservation Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature points out: “If we do not stop it in time, we will all be losers.” There’s no denying that Venezuela is an oil dependent economy. “Venezuela’s oil revenues account for about 95 per cent of export earnings…The oil and gas sector is around 25 per cent of gross domestic product,” explains the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Unfortunately, these oil and gas revenues come at a cost — climate change. Oil Change International warns that climate change chaos will be inevitable if the world continues on the path of oil dependency. While we know that climate change is harming amphibians, emissions from oil also melt ice, raise sea levels and bring more droughts, floods and storms. Apart from the environmental impacts, “oil contributes heavily to decreased agricultural production, increased droughts, human health impacts, [and] environmentally related refugees.” Adding these issues to Venezuela’s current political and economic instability and slew of human rights violations is not a pretty picture. The current state of Venezuela’s amphibians is a clear warning that things need to change. Losing amphibians is more than losing another species — it means losing whatever is left of Venezuela’s climate, political, environmental, economic and social stability. Two cattle herders in Kenya were charged on December 8 with killing two lions and poisoning at least six others, all members of the Marsh pride, which had been featured in the BBC’s long-running Big Cat Diary series. “The dead lions are feared to have consumed poisoned meat,” said Pual Udoto, spokesman for Kenya’s Wildlife Service. “One of the dead lions was identified while the other one had been mauled by hyenas beyond recognition.” Simindei Naururi and Kulangash Toposat reportedly doused a cow carcass with poison at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in western Kenya. This was an act of retaliation: the lions had allegedly killed three of the herdsmen’s cattle when they entered the game reserve on the night of December 5. It was on the next morning that conservationists noticed something was wrong when some of the lions, “were acting strangely collapsing and suffering from spasms,” according to a statement from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which funds a mobile veterinary unit in the reserve. “We worked round the clock to save them but unfortunately they succumbed to poisoning. Others are still on treatment and are in stable condition,” said Dr Campaign Limo, the head of KWS veterinary team in Maasai Mara. The poisoning was confirmed on the pride’s Facebook page on December 7. In addition to the two dead lions, another lioness, Sienna, is missing, according to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Her two-year-old cub is reportedly being treated by vets. The African lion is an awesome creature when viewed in its natural habitat. This king of the safari can defend itself against other animals, but it seems it cannot protect itself against human interference. As reported in Scientific American, new data from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) paints a grim picture for our beloved lions. According to the data, over the course of 21 years, African lions have declined by a whopping 42 percent. They have also now entirely disappeared from 16 African countries. Loss of habitat is one main reason for this: research published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation reveals that the savannah habitat that is the home of African lions has shrunk by 75 percent over the past 50 years, and this dramatic loss could threaten the survival of the species: in the same time period, the population of lions has dropped from 100,000 to roughly 32,000. This is precisely what is happening in Kenya. The BBC’s Alastair Leithead in Nairobi says there is conflict between the big cats and Maasai herdsmen. Local cattle herders have poisoned lions in the past to stop them eating their cattle. In 2010 more than a dozen lions were poisoned, and subsequently died, in the Maasai Park. Killing lions is illegal, but poisoning also wreaks havoc down the food chain; in this case, at least six black-and-white-backed vultures have been found dead after feeding on the toxic carcasses. Maasai herdsmen didn’t always need to bring their cattle into the Reserve. The lands surrounding this protected area used to be just as lush, but over time that has changed, as locals traded restricted grazing rights for money, schools, clinics, wells, and other community development projects, mostly linked to the development of tourism. The herdsmen have watched as their traditional grazing lands have gradually been subdivided and sold off, leaving them with little option but to rely on the Reserve in order to feed their animals. This is of course illegal, and so it is under cover of night that they sneak thousands of cows into the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, an expanse of rolling hills covered in long grasses. The two herdsmen who have been charged did just that, and when a few of their cows were eaten by lions inside the Reserve, the men apparently reacted in anger and set out to poison some lions. They knew that they could not report their losses, since they would have been prosecuted for trespassing. Unlike in Zimbabwe, where Cecil was lured out of a protected area earlier this year, and shot by Walter Palmer on a legal permit, so that no charges were brought against Palmer, in Kenya it is always against the law to kill a lion, and the crime carries with it a big fine and a jail sentence. But this is clearly a complicated issue. As the National Geographic suggests: Much of the outrage already voiced over the tragedy also calls for more proactive enforcement of the extant laws. Primarily, people are asking why cows are not being consistently kept out of the Reserve, and why the revenue from the Reserve – the incentive that makes conservation in the Mara worthwhile to the Maasai – is not properly trickling down to the community members. There are not yet any satisfactory answers to these questions. While conservationists are mourning the tragic loss of a well-known pride of lions who were poisoned in Kenya last week, they’re now also drawing attention to the overlooked victims in this incident and the trouble with using poison in general. The lions involved, made famous by the BBC’s series Big Cat Diary, were poisoned in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in western Kenya by herders in retaliation for preying on livestock. While the impact on the lions grabbed national headlines, an equally important, but less glamorous species, also paid the price. According to BirdLife International and its partner Nature Kenya, eleven white-backed vultures were also killed as a result of feeding on the poison-laced cow carcass that sickened and killed the lions. For this species of vulture, who were uplisted this year to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, so many deaths is a big loss. While their populations are suffering from habitat loss, a loss of prey and the use of their parts in traditional medicine, poisoning is believed to be their number one threat – whether done accidentally by herders or intentionally by poachers trying to prevent vultures from giving away their location. According to BirdLife International, in Masai Mara alone, vultures have declined by 50 percent over just the past 30 years, while many species across Africa now face a very real threat of extinction, with four of 11 species now listed as critically endangered. BirdLife International and Nature Kenya are now calling on the local Maasai community to keep livestock out of protected areas to avoid conflict, in addition to calling on the public and private sectors to better control the availability and use of pesticides and, possibly most importantly, they are calling on us to look at vultures in a different, and far more flattering, light. BirdLife International said in a statement: The importance of vultures is often overlooked because of their perceived character as greedy and bringers of death and decay. In popular culture, politicians, land grabbers and corrupt officials are often portrayed as vultures, meant as an insult formed out of this negative perception held by society. In reality, however, vultures play a critical role in keeping the environment clean. They are also an important part of the food web on which all living things – including people – depend. The organization adds that the services a single vulture provides as a member of “nature’s clean-up crew” are estimated to be worth $11,000 and while they work to keep the landscape clean, they also help prevent the spread of disease, which keeps everyone healthier. While conservationists work to protect vultures from this dire threat, this tragedy also serves as a harsh reminder that the problem isn’t limited to Africa. The use of poison is a sickeningly cruel way to deal with any unwelcome creatures that continues to take a heavy toll on victims and cause widespread problems for non-target animals, including endangered species. While many of us associate the mountains with our favorite outdoor pursuits and scenic vistas, they constitute much more than that. Mountain habitats produce a majority of our drinking water and contain roughly a quarter of the planet’s land animals and plants. And that’s not to mention the nearly one billion people who call the mountains home. This year’s theme, “promoting mountain products for better livelihoods,” calls attention to the challenges that many mountain dwellers face, such as poverty, isolation and food insecurity. Climate change and resource extraction impact the agricultural systems and other small-scale enterprises that local communities rely on for a source of income. And they can wreak havoc on the health of the mountains themselves. After all, we’ve watched snow disappear from the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas and witnessed the St. Elias mountains erode into the sea. Here are a few more of the world’s major mountain ranges and the threats currently endangering them. While some claim that no real problem exists, the Indian army seems to disagree. Maj. Ranveer Singh Jamval, the leader of a recent garbage removal expedition explained to India Today, “Mount Everest is now…called the world’s highest junkyard.” And that doesn’t even begin to cover another stinky issue: human waste. One mountaineer describes “pyramids of human excrement befouling the high camps.” This poses obvious problems for villages and cities located at lower elevations. The potential for widespread disease worries locals, especially when water contamination has been well documented. Foreign trekkers and climbers, those responsible for most of the waste, won’t be around to experience the long term effects of their impact, leaving mountain communities to bear the brunt of environmental injustice. With glacier retreat in full effect, we can’t afford to contaminate the few reliable water sources that remain. The Appalachians (likely) claim the title of oldest mountains in the world. They’re perhaps best recognized for the eponymous long trail–the Appalachian Trail–that winds from Georgia all the way to Maine. Unfortunately, mountaintop removal has drastically altered the region’s landscape in recent years. This type of coal mining leads to flooding, water contamination and habitat loss, impacting humans and wildlife alike. And while rates of surface mining have declined across the U.S., the practices are taking place even closer to communities in states like West Virginia. In light of some horrifying human health outcomes, like higher rates of lung cancer, birth defects and heart disease in mountaintop removal communities, activists are pushing for politicians to enact a moratorium on the mining operations. Organizations like Appalachian Voices and iLoveMountains continue to take the lead in advocating for Appalachia’s mountains and people. Composing the world’s longest mountain chain, the Andes also harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity found anywhere. These mountains provide refuge to a variety of fascinating creatures, including the spectacled bear, the Andean condor and ‘mini-Godzillas’. But climate change and wildlife trafficking are pushing animals-and plants-to the edge. Similar to those in the Himalayas, Andean glaciers are quickly disappearing. And if that isn’t pressure enough, traffickers are poaching vicunas for their wool and targeting endangered frogs for supposed medical benefits. A member of Peru’s ecological police describes the extent of the illegal wildlife trade: “Everyday we find five or six listed [by CITES] animals in local markets. Last week at the airport six drugged toucans were discovered. They had been put in a tube, and were being sent abroad.” Last month the government made an important step towards conserving wildlife by designating an additional 3.3 million acres in the Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor as a national park. The hills might be alive, but the mountains are struggling to hold on. We’re talking about the Alps here, as this famous mountain chain is under huge threat from climate change. Are you sensing a pattern here? Glacier retreat, invasive species and avalanches all stem from a shifting climate. The tourism industry has certainly taken note: “Compared with destinations where natural snow is plentiful, many Austrian ski areas are threatened by the increasing costs of snowmaking,” says one scientist from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Some ski resorts even attempted to remedy the situation by covering snow with blankets. But another scientist from the University of Innsbruck sums up the larger problem at hand: “You can’t wrap a whole mountain range in a blanket. But with so much riding on Alpine ice and snow-skiing, tourism, service industries, and the livelihoods of probably millions of workers-it’s easy to see why some people might want to. Yet it will take more than blankets to shield the Alps from the environmental and human pressures facing them today.” Even if you live far from a mountain range, there are a few simple actions you can take to protect these incredible ecosystems. When you leave your lights on unnecessarily, even for only a minute, at least 39 percent of the electricity being generated comes from coal. So picture these devastating images of mountaintop removal next time you’re inclined to keep your laptop plugged in over night. While purchasing local products is always ideal, if you’re tempted for some exotic tea or coffee, choose labels that support small-scale, sustainable agriculture. Look for labels like Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certified. No certifications are perfect, so become educated, read labels and make thoughtful purchases that consider your social and environmental impacts. Seek out news and information about mountain ecosystems, products and communities. A great (and less intimidating) way to begin? Social media. Check out these hashtags on Twitter #InternationalMountainDay #mountainsmatter to read a global conversation about our planet’s mountains and potential solutions to the aforementioned challenges. Next time you’re embarking on a family ski trip or a trek to Machu Picchu, think about where your money is going. Are your guides receiving livable wages? Opt to stay in smaller, locally-managed hostels and lodges. Purchase souvenirs and crafts from individuals at street markets instead of the airport. Engage in conversation with the people you meet–ask them what they love about the mountains and what serves as a daily struggle. Use your time or money, ideally both, to support groups that conduct research and act for mountains. The Mountain Institute, The Mountain Pact, Mountain Partnership and the Integrated Centre for Integrated Mountain Development are just a few organizations you should know. Who doesn’t love watching a good movie? Check out the selections from Mountainfilm and Banff Mountain Film Festival. These festivals host screenings around the U.S. and the world, so check the calendar and purchase a ticket. And if you are lucky enough to live close to the mountains, get outside and remind yourself why they’re worth saving. Humans, and animals both need earth’s forests, jungles oceans, and mountains, their homes are being destroyed because of irresponsible humans!!!! Please, stop the deforestation that is threatening your ecosystems and causing your wildlife to go extinct, because once they’re gone, we’ll be the next to suffer!!!! Please, PLEASE stop this deforestation. You have the key to the future… the most amazing, unique wilderness in the world!!!! Don’t destroy it, save it for future generations, you cannot let these animals, and plants become extinct in this time period!!!! This is your future also economically, many countries have lost theirs…Africa is losing it’s wilderness and wildlife at an alarming rate… DON’T LOSE YOURS!!!!!!!! Save them now before it’s too late, the world is losing too many animals, please help save them, and their forests!!!! These animals are so beautiful, and they deserve to be treated humanely. these are an asset to your country!!!! It brings money in as visitors come to see these beautiful animals are also needed for ecology!!!! This is to stop the world reacting to human interference!!!! You wouldn’t take the sun out of the sky because you need it!!!! Well we need these animals to survive to keep the world livable for all of us!!!! Stop killing our precious creatures!!!!! It is our job to protect and keep them alive, so that future generations can see them!!!! We have to save the animals, and the ranforests to save this planet, and all of humanity!!!! Why can’t you see that destroying natural resources is wrong?! It is putting our lives in danger, as well as it’s putting our wildlife in danger!!!! The human race can’t survive without the earth’s natural resources!!!! They can’t live without forests, oceans, mountains, and all the animals and plants that inhabit them!!!! It is our legacy to future generations to preserve wildlife!!!! We must find a way to keep them from becoming extinct!!!! If we don’t protect what is left, then one day our children/grandchildren will look around and wonder what happened to the lions, tigers, bears, elephants, wolves, and all other wildlife?! WE KILLED THEM!!!!! That is what happened to them!!! Is this how you want future generations to remember you?! Please implement urgent measures to stop the loss of forest cover by halting all new logging concessions, cracking down on illegal logging, drilling, overfishing, poaching, whaling, trophy hunting, and increasing penalties to deter loggers and work towards RESTORING lost forest cover!!!! Please make this HIGHEST priority (it can’t bare delay anymore), in order to avoid your unique wildlife now go extinct!! Your wildlife is your treasure, so please don’t risk them going extinct and intervene NOW – as it is an emergency case meanwhile!!!! We need to save our wild life and conserve their natural habitats if we are to all survive on this planet!!!! The more we damage the earth, the closer we are to our own demise!!!! People who kill/destroy for no reason, are nothing but worthless, ruthless, mindless, heartless, careless, gutless, pathetic, selfish, greedy, filthy, loathsome, repulsive, disgusting, ugly, and parasitic savages!!!!!

Would someone like to do everyone (including the planet) a favour, edit that, put some paragraph breaks in and I can put it back up again for all the world to see?