May 21st is Endangered Species Day, a day when people recognize the species that are in danger of extinction and learn how to help remove them from the endangered species list.
Endangered Species Day is recognized annually on the third Friday of May, this year it is May 21st.
“If you live on earth, you are part of the ecosystem and your actions play a big role in the health of the environment,” the president of the Environmental Club, Grace Filson, said.
Endangered Species Day is extremely important, as it recognizes and helps species that are in risk of dying out. Extinct species can harm the surrounding ecosystem or environment. If a new equilibrium isn’t found then it will collapse.
“With humans’ impact on the earth being one of the biggest contributors to endangered species, it’s important that people recognize that the loss of even one species can have major effects on an entire ecosystem,” Filson said. “In recent years, especially, the losses of these species have been specifically linked to climate change, which is another huge issue.”
If a producer or consumer in an ecosystem dies out, the whole ecosystem can be greatly damaged. Each species is a link in the ecosystem chain, if one species goes extinct there is a risk of the system collapsing due to imbalance.
“Ecosystems work like a chain, and when our actions cause a species to go extinct, we throw off an entire ecosystem,” Filson said.
The goal is to remove as many species from the endangered list as possible.
Participating in Endangered Species Day is as easy as learning about the impact of human actions on the surrounding area. Once informed, a person can then take action to help the endangered organisms.
“Many people during this day contribute to helping the environment and habitats that are endangered,” an environmental leadership team officer, freshman, Grace Pak, said.
According to an article from the National Day Calendar about Endangered Species Day, a person can aid the survival of endangered species by avoiding the purchasing of illegal wildlife products and unsustainable food products, donating to conservation groups, and learning about the Endangered Species Act.
“One can do as little by raising awareness, simply learning more about endangered animals or donating to officially approved endangered animal funding websites,” Pak said. The day is meant to remind people of their impact on the environment and the organisms that live there. It helps the species that have died and the species that are struggling to remain alive.
“It’s a combination of shining light on the species that have gone extinct and bringing awareness to the ones who are currently threatened,” Filson said.
The day is an opportunity to enlighten oneself about protecting threatened species.
“This day recognizes the endangered animals and plants from around the world, and it signifies the need for further support,” Pak said.
This year, the Environmental Club participated in Endangered Species Day.
“We will be talking about the endangered species in Maryland and providing some tips for what members can do to help,” Filson said. “We also recently had a volunteer event where members helped remove invasive species, which can outcompete some native species.”
As every species counts and matters, everyone’s actions matter and help; it is important that people take action to help their ecosystem and environment stay balanced and healthy.