Daniela Novoa
Protecting Endangered Species
Protecting Endangered Species Transcript
A two-page infographic. A green color palette with a cream background.
Page 1.
The title reads “Protecting Endangered Species” at the top of the page. A box centered below with the subtitle “What is the threat to these species?” The text centered inside the box reads, “Many species have become collateral damage of unsustainable human behaviors over the past few centuries. Legislation such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Clean Air Act have reduced this trend by protecting threatened species from direct and indirect forces respectively.Technological innovations like artificial intelligence and widespread population monitoring can be promoted as well as community involvement to try and reduce the strain on the environment that will soon reach a breaking point.”
Below, a new section starts with a centered box and text in all capital letters, “WHO IS AT RISK?” Below that, the first subsection focuses on the American Pika, with a picture of a small, mouse-like rodent on the left half, and a text box on the right. The box starts “01” and is titled “The American Pika”. The text below reads, “The Pika’s habitat is shrinking as the Earth warms. These rodents live high in the mountains, and they are getting stranded as they move higher and higher with no way down. While this issue seems straightforward, the cause is not easily halted.” Image reference ‘American Pika (Ochotona Princeps)’ by Marshal Hedin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0” is below the text. The next subsection focuses on the Monarch Butterfly. Directly below the picture of the Pika is a text box starting “02” and titled “The Monarch Butterfly”. Below text reads, “Monarch butterfly populations have seen a significant decline in the past few decades, from a high of 52 acres to just 2.94 in 2012. This is due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use in agriculture that has been killing their food - milkweeds, which eliminates their options for breeding grounds.” Below in small text, “‘Monarch butterfly at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge’ by Tom Koerner at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service licensed under CC PD 1.0” To the right are two images, on top a monarch butterfly, and below it a graph displaying decreasing monarch butterfly populations from 1993 to 2024. Reference “‘Total area of overwintering monarch butterflies in Mexico’ by Monarch Butterfly Fund licensed under CC” The final subsection has a picture of a wolverine on the left half and on the right a text box “03
The Wolverine” with text reading “Organizations like snowmobile associations and fossil fuel producers that profit off of the land and natural resources oppose movements to put the wolverine on the Endangered Species List because they know it will end up lowering their revenue.” Image reference below “‘The wolverine, Gulo gulo is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae (weasels).’ by William F. Wood licensed under CCASA 4.0”
Page 2.
At the top the centered title reads “Protecting Endangered Species” and below “Solutions” in a lighter font color.
The first text box is centered and the title reads “Why should we help?” The text below reads, “Citizens have a vital role to play in advocating for these measures, highlighting the importance of community engagement and informed voting. We must harness both our technological advancements and our collective resolve to ensure the survival of the planet’s biodiversity, because our fate is linked to the health of the ecosystems around us. Only through concerted action and commitment can we hope to create a sustainable coexistence with the natural world.” Below the first proposed solution is in a centered box with the number “01” titled “Legislation (Endangered Species Act).” The text reads, “Adopting a more aggressive approach to protecting endangered species will be necessary for their survival. Putting these animals on the protected list gives the Environmental Protection Agency legal power to stop anthropogenic forces, as well as preventative measures like monitoring declining species. Though species that have been placed on the Endangered species list have not returned to full health, their decline has stopped or slowed significantly.” Below extend three dotted lines, the first to a bubble containing “26 new species in 2023,” the second to a bubble saying “1300+ species protected,” and the last “16 new species in 2024.” A graphic of a piece of legislation.
The second proposed solution is in a box “02” titled “Technology (Artificial Intelligence).” The text below reads “New technology is being tested that is capable of monitoring the health and safety of protected animals. A new artificial intelligence model has also been created that is capable of mass data collection on physiological factors such as those being recorded on these animals. These two things put together have the potential to give scientists a clearer understanding of how populations are faring in conservation lands. Ultimately, this could be a comprehensive way to track the progress of endangered species.” A graphic of a circuit board.
Works Cited
“Ruhl, J. B. "Climate Change and the Endangered Species Act: Building Bridges to the No-Analog Future." Boston University Law Review, vol. 88, no. 1, February 2008, pp. 1-62. HeinOnline, https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/bulr88&i=12. Einhorn, Catrin. “Wolverines Get Protection in the Lower 48 States.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/climate/wolverines-endangered-species-act.html?searchResultPos ition=1.
Lichtman, Flora. “Monitoring the Monarchs.” NPR, NPR, 12 Apr. 2013, www.npr.org/2013/04/12/177029257/monitoring-the-monarchs.
Einhorn, Catrin. “Biden Administration Restores Wildlife Protections Weakened under Trump.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/03/28/climate/endangered-species-rules-regulations.html?searchResultP osition=2.
Congdon, Jenna V., et al. “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Monitoring Animal Identification, Health, and Behaviour.” Animals (2076-2615), vol. 12, no. 13, July 2022, p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131711. “U.S. Federal Endangered and Threatened Species by Calendar Year.” ECOS, 2024, ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/species-listings-by-year-totals.
“Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007).” Justia Law, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/549/497/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
“Population Status.” Monarch Butterfly Fund, monarchconservation.org/monarch-status/monarch-population-status. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.”
