All of us here at Sky Island Alliance already miss you! You power our conservation work with your hard work and your donations. The last week continued to bring rapid change to our lives. I hope this message finds you well, adapting as you can, and that you’ve been able to enjoy some smells and sights of springtime.
Sky Island Alliance staff and I are right here, continuing our work to keep wildlife thriving and connected. And, Arizona Gives Day, a 24-hour campaign of giving, is just two weeks away.
As our communities shut down to slow the spread of coronavirus, the federal government is accelerating environmental destruction on our southern border. Last week the Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of laws to construct 30-foot high border wall through the last remaining open pathways for wildlife in the Sky Islands, which would cut the region in two. The wall will stop wildlife in their tracks, putting animals like box turtles, pronghorn, butterflies, pygmy owls, and black bear at risk – and ending the recovery of iconic species such as jaguar, wolves and ocelots in the U.S.
We cannot let this happen. We’ve started an ambitious study to document the rich diversity of wildlife in harm’s way. Now, we need your support. You can give these remarkable animals a voice in the decisions that are being made in Washington D.C.
When you make a donation on Arizona gives day, you are protecting vital pathways for wildlife and our quality of life.
We were looking forward to sharing this project with you in person at our Arizona Gives Day happy hour at Westbound. Instead we hope you will join us for a virtual happy hour on Tuesday April 7, at 5:30 PM. Emily Burns, Program Director and lead scientist, will share an inside look at our new study and the diverse wildlife our cameras are detecting. Join us and toast the amazing diversity of life in the Sky Islands!
We can’t gather at Westbound as we had planned, but you can still get your adult beverage of choice through their online store via curbside pick-up or delivery. We’re thankful for their amazing support of conservation in the Sky Islands for many years.
I’m also thankful for you, our supporters who have stood up for wildlife and keeping the Sky Islands connected for so many years! I hope you can join us to learn about our border wildlife study on Tuesday April 7. Until then, take good care.
In community,
Louise Misztal
Executive Director