Dear friend,

On Friday, May 16—Endangered Species Day—we celebrate the incredible creatures that make our planet wild and wonderful: the gray wolf, the bald eagle, the monarch butterfly, and so many more. These animals owe their survival, in part, to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a landmark law that has protected wildlife for over 50 years.

But today, the ESA faces a serious threat.

The Trump administration has proposed a dangerous rule change that would weaken protections for endangered species by redefining “harm” so that habitat destruction is no longer included. This means critical habitats could be cleared, paved, or polluted—legally—even if it pushes species closer to extinction.

This change would undermine decades of conservation progress and could set a dangerous precedent. And it comes when we are in the midst of a global biodiversity crisis – scientists estimate one million species are currently at risk of extinction worldwide.

We can't let this stand, and your support has never been more important. Donate today to help us defend the ESA and protect vulnerable species. If you make a gift of $15 or more, we'll send you a Sierra Club 100% Cotton Hat – FREE.

Your gift will power urgent legal action, grassroots organizing, and advocacy from local statehouses to Congress to stop this rollback and keep the ESA strong for generations to come.

The ESA is one of the most important and effective conservation laws in history, preventing 99% of listed species from going extinct. With climate change and habitat loss accelerating, we must keep it strong.

Now is the time to rise in its defense.

Your donation today is more than a gift—it's a stand for life on Earth. The future of wolves, eagles, butterflies, and thousands of other species hinges on what we do today.

This Endangered Species Day, let's do more than remember what we've saved—let's fight for what still needs saving.

With hope and determination,

The Sierra Club