DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE E NEWS 6MAI11

THIS e mail newsletter offers you a chance to speak out on the government's plan for our National Forest, click the link to participate. Also updates on Yellowstone buffalo, sea turtles and renewable energy.

Take Action Seeing the Forest for the Trees -- And Wildlife! The Obama administration has a plan for managing our national forests -- and it leaves out key protections for the wildlife, clean water and recreational opportunities that make these places so special. So far, more than 87,000 Defenders supporters have given the administration an earful -- urging stronger rules to protect the more than 190 million acres of land and the imperiled lynx, marten and thousands of other species that depend on our national forests to survive. If you haven't already -- please take action today and help us reach our goal of 100,000 messages before the May 16th deadline for public comments. Feature 'Smart from the Start' Energy Federal plans for solar and other renewable energy could set us on a course for a clean energy future. But without proper planning, large-scale projects could doom threatened desert tortoises and other wildlife already struggling to survive. Defenders and our partners are working to ensure that renewable energy plans are smart from the start -- and won't harm our wildlife and wild places. Learn more from Defenders magazine. Learn how Solar Energy Zones are a smart move for renewables. Wins for Wildlife Room to Roam Thanks in part to more than 70,000 messages from Defenders supporters, Montana officials unveiled a breakthrough plan last month that could allow bison extra room to roam in the winter -- and avoid a senseless annual slaughter. >>Learn More Safer for Sea Turtles Palm Beach County Commissioners rejected a plan that would have harmed key nesting beaches for threatened and endangered sea turtles. Defenders played a key role in defeating the ill-advised project with testimony before the commission and more than 1,000 messages from Florida Defenders supporters. >>Learn More Closure for Killing of Rare Whooper An Indiana man and a juvenile have been convicted of killing a rare whooping crane, thanks to a citizen tip. The whooper -- the "matriarch" of the species' recovery in the wild -- was shot in 2009. Defenders and our conservation partners responded with a contribution to the reward fund. >>Learn More Defending Wildlife Fighting for Forests Since February, Defenders members and supporters have been helping to get the word out about how the proposed changes to the National Forest Management Act forest-planning rule (see Action of the Month story above) will weaken long-standing protections for wildlife. In an impressive showing of support, many advocates took time off from their everyday lives to attend public meetings held by the Forest Service, wrote letters to their congressional leaders, and voiced concern in their local newspapers. Learn More about Defenders' fight for our forests.

Polar bears need your help to survive. You can help ensure their future by including a designation to Defenders in your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement assets. Desert Tortoise The threatened desert tortoise is easily disturbed by human activities -- that's why Defenders is working to ensure renewable energy projects take these desert dwellers into account. Learn more about desert tortoises. Download our latest wallpaper for your computer desktop! Connect with Defenders! Defenders is on flickr! Join our group to share your wildlife photos Learn what Defenders' staff and supporters are doing to fight climate change. Then share your own video! Watch the video and get other simple steps to improve your WildLifeStyle. Whether you are an activist looking for ways to make your voice heard or a biologist seeking a conference where you can share your latest paper, Defenders has an event for you. Click here for the latest upcoming events.

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