Today is Endangered Species Day! Earth Day Network has chosen today to announce that Earth Day 2019 will focus on the need to protect and save all species.

We are asking for your input! Everyone has an animal or plant species that they love, and we want to know yours. Nominate a species here. Also, tell us why and share a photo.

At the end of the year – we will pick 52 species (one for every week) to profile on our 2019 Earth Day Poster. Yours might be included!

Many of us have seen images of enormous flocks of birds congregating in marshes, herds of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelle migrating through Africa, along with our most iconic species--tigers, elephants, giraffes, and rhinos. All of these species are imperiled. But it’s not just endangered species we should care about -- land animals, sea creatures, and plants around the world have seen their numbers severely reduced.

Did you know that?

• Land-dwelling wildlife species have declined by 40% since 1970.
• Marine animal populations have fallen by 40% overall.
• Birds populations have been reduced by about 20-25%.
• Freshwater animal populations have plummeted by 75% since 1970.
• Insect populations have also declined dramatically. In Germany alone, insects have declined by 75% in the last 30 years.
• Almost fifty percent of the world's coral reefs have died in the last 30 years.

All of our plants and animals have value in themselves and are part of the web of life! Our lives and theirs are linked together inextricably. Without them, our own species might not survive.

We need to do better! That is why Earth Day Network is undertaking a campaign to elevate understanding and foster action to stop the decimation of species around the globe.

We would love to hear from you!

To nominate a species click here.

To Learn more about this problem read here and check our fact sheet.