Over 8 million tons of plastic pollute our oceans annually, devastating wildlife, beaches, and ecosystems. The facilities producing this plastic, often in low-income areas, also poison local air and water.

This week's conversation will address fighting plastic pollution at its source. We'll discuss the industry's planned production increase, our strategies to stop it, and why recycling isn't a viable solution.

The presentation features Julie Teel Simmonds, Senior Attorney, and Delia Ridge Creamer, Oceans Campaigner, from the Center.

Giant water bugs are exceptional fathers. After mating, females of some species cement their eggs to the male's back, then depart, leaving him to parent alone.

For over two weeks, the male diligently cleans, aerates, and fiercely defends the eggs from predators until they hatch.

Research indicates that female giant water bugs prefer males already carrying eggs, suggesting that strong paternal care is a highly valued trait in sexual selection.

The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have sparked a crucial reckoning with systemic racism, police violence, and inequality in America. These racist ideologies fuel not only social injustices like income disparity, poor housing, and pollution in vulnerable communities, but also hinder the environmental movement by suppressing vital voices.

This "Saving Life on Earth" webinar will explore justice, police brutality, diversity, and biodiversity, emphasizing the critical need to align environmental efforts with the fight against racism. We all share a personal and institutional responsibility to drive lasting change.

The Trump administration plans to construct a 30-foot steel border wall through the rugged Huachuca Mountains, specifically at the terminus of the 800-mile federally protected Arizona Trail. This barrier threatens to disrupt the natural habitat of migrating jaguars and ocelots.

Such a wall would also permanently alter the experience for thousands of hikers who utilize the Arizona Trail. Matthew Nelson of the Arizona Trail Association has detailed the significant environmental and recreational consequences of this proposed construction.

Agriculture accounts for nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with over half originating from meat and dairy production. Our food choices profoundly impact climate, habitat, water use, and wildlife. Adopting more plant-based foods and less meat can significantly reduce diet-related emissions, conserve land and water, and help mitigate the extinction crisis.

This week’s discussion will focus on shifting towards sustainable, Earth-friendly diets. Topics include new research on the climate impact of American diets, strategies for dietary change, how individual choices influence food policy, and why grass-fed beef isn't a complete solution. The event features Jennifer Molidor, Stephanie Feldstein, and a vegan cooking demonstration by J.P. Rose.

Meat and dairy production significantly contributes to global wildlife extinctions and the climate crisis. This industry consumes 30% of the Earth’s surface and 80% of U.S. agricultural land, while also being a major source of air and water pollution.

This week's conversation will explore our efforts to protect human health and the environment from this powerful industry. Topics will include COVID-19 in slaughterhouses, policy impacts, dangers to wildlife and workers, dietary choices, and the rise of meatless alternatives. Senior attorney Hannah Connor, population and sustainability director Stephanie Feldstein, and environmental health director Lori Ann Burd will lead the discussion.

This discussion explores the history, biology, and recovery of wolves across the American West, including the West Coast and Southwest. Once nearly extinct, wolves have returned to states like California, Oregon, Washington, and the Southwest. However, their future remains uncertain, standing at a critical crossroads.

The presentation features Amaroq Weiss, a senior West Coast wolf advocate, and Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate. Attendees will gain valuable insights and be inspired to contribute to conservation efforts.

A remote camera in the Arizona borderlands captured javelinas foraging and snorting.

This footage was provided by Russ McSpadden for the Center for Biological Diversity.

Observe a red bat as it captures a moth during its nocturnal flight.

These bats are incredibly efficient predators, capable of consuming 500 to 1,000 insects in just one hour.

The Western Ghats of India are home to 24 species of "dancing frogs" from the Micrixalidae family. These amphibians earned their name because males perform a unique foot-waving display, known as foot-flagging, to attract females during the breeding season.

This distinctive gesture likely compensates for their quiet croaks. Their calls are often too faint to compete with the surrounding environmental noise, making the visual foot-flagging crucial for successful mating.

The endangered Sonoyta mud turtle, an aquatic species, thrives in one of the Sonoran Desert's driest regions. This unique adaptation allows it to survive in extreme conditions.

Its habitat is severely restricted: a single spring on the U.S.-Mexico border within Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona, and a small section of Mexico's Rio Sonoyta.

This video showcases a unique bobcat "Valentine's Day" negotiation, where communication is key. Two bobcats engage in a date via head-bobbing yowls, rapid tail twitching, and awkward pauses. The gray cat is the female, and the red (rufus) one is the male.

We extend our thanks to Robyn Sloan for sharing this fascinating footage. Explore more of her wildlife videos here.

The proposed border wall poses a significant threat to the San Pedro River, a vital ecosystem.

Its construction risks triggering an extinction crisis, eliminating the diverse life that depends on the river for survival.

Filmed at the new border wall construction within Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, this poem addresses the complex struggles unfolding along the border.

It powerfully conveys the challenges faced by migrants seeking refuge, the fragmentation of wildlife populations and ecosystems, and the militarization impacting indigenous communities.

Border Patrol is consuming millions of gallons of groundwater for wall construction in southeastern Arizona. This practice imperils rare desert springs and the endangered species that depend on them.

We visited the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge on the border to observe the impact firsthand.

Palmyra Atoll, a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge, is one of the most remote locations under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's care. Situated halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa, it offers unparalleled tranquility.

Experience this incredibly peaceful place through new footage, including unique scenes of underwater rain. Take a micro-vacation to discover its serene beauty.

In a BorderViews video, campaigner Laiken Jordahl highlights ongoing border wall construction at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

This development immediately threatens endangered species, Native American sacred sites, and protected wilderness areas.

Watch our new time-lapse video showcasing the latest addition to the #EndangeredSpeciesMural project!

This 105-foot mural, located in Seward, Alaska, features the endangered North Pacific right whale and spectacled eider. We extend our thanks to artists Roger Peet and Tricia Tripp for their work.

Despite their name meaning "thousand feet," millipedes actually have varying leg counts, from under a hundred to several hundred, depending on their body segments. They are born with just three pairs of legs, growing more throughout their lives.

Fossil evidence suggests millipedes were among the first air-breathing animals to transition from ocean to land. Male millipedes possess specialized "gonopods"—modified legs used for sperm transfer.

Florida Key deer, tiny creatures about the size of a medium dog, face a critical threat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to remove their Endangered Species Act protection.

The Center is committed to fighting this decision. You can learn more and see these deer in our new video on Facebook or YouTube.