Eco. Art Awareness: The Center for Biological Diversity News Letter highlights for Legal action to save protected species.

 Eac-Art Awareness is understanding that the beauty of our environment enhances our quality of life. Wildlife habitat engenders peace ad joy. Viewing the Seals or Whales along the shore line is an ancient understanding of how to unite within the surroundings  of our beautiful blue planet. I hope you enjoy this nature update from the CBDm, and the Endangered Erat OnLine News . Jamie Forbes, environmental advocate, Publisher FineArtMagazineBlog.bogspot.com , and SunStormFineartmagazine.com  

No. 1,344, April 9, 2026

Suit Filed to Save Northern Fur Seals  The Center for Biological Diversity just sued NOAA Fisheries for failing to protect northern fur seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska, from decline due to prey competition with the Bering Sea’s massive pollock trawl fishery.   Every summer northern fur seals bear and nurse their pups on St. Paul Island, primarily eating local pollock. But their main feeding areas overlap with the summer fishing grounds of the industrial fleet. Fur seals on the island have declined by 70% since the 1970s, with new science showing competition from the fishery is a key reason.   “We’re asking for sensible safeguards to ensure northern fur seal mothers can find the food they need to raise healthy pups and rebuild this declining population,” said the Center’s Alaska Director Cooper Freeman. “The federal government is legally required to ensure industrial fishing doesn’t devastate these seals — yet it’s failed to take action for decades.”   Help us defend northern fur seals and other Alaska wildlife with a gift to the Future for the Wild Fund.

Win: Court Voids Bad North Carolina Forest Plan In a major victory for endangered species and nature lovers in North Carolina, a court ruled April 1 that federal agencies erred in creating a controversial plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests.   In 2024 the Center and allies sued the U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service over the plan, which would’ve quintupled logging in the forests, including in habitat for Indiana bats.   “This is a massive win for wildlife and the millions of people who visit these cherished forests,” said Will Harlan, our Southeast director. “The Forest Service’s aggressive and illegal logging plans completely ignored science and the public, who overwhelmingly support protecting these forests.”

Help Uncle Pappy — and Us — Fight Extinction By now you’ve probably heard: Last week the Trump administration’s Extinction Committee excused all oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico from complying with the Endangered Species Act — which could wipe out iconic and endangered species like Rice's whales, down to a population of only 51.   Lots of folks heard about it from Instagram and TikTok influencer Uncle Pappy, who’s been spreading the word to his million-plus followers. We want to thank him for uplifting the issue — while perfectly explaining its implications and importance.   Do you have a big audience and want to raise awareness on important environmental topics and Center work? Email us to get matched with an expert to help you nail the nuances.   And no matter who you are, if you live in the United States and haven’t yet taken action against the Extinction Committee, join 12,000 others in telling Congress to stand against this unprecedented threat to endangered species.

Legal Victory Protects Florida Wetlands We’re celebrating for wood storks, panthers, crocodiles, and other wetlands wildlife: A federal appeals court just declared that permits to build in Florida wetlands should stay in the hands of federal regulators. Florida had been trying for years to grab control of the permitting process, which would’ve let it take shortcuts around federal environmental law — namely, the Endangered Species Act — when approving destructive developments. So the Center and allies sued to stop it.   “I’m glad the court rejected Florida’s attempt to put industry over treasured wildlife and wild places,” said the Center’s Jason Totoiu. “Florida’s wetlands and wildlife deserve all the protection they can get.”

Suit Filed to Protect Rare Alabama Fish Freshwater fish called coal darters, in Alabama’s Mobile River basin, are threatened by dams, pollution, coal mining, logging, and climate change — so on Tuesday we sued the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to finalize their protection under the Endangered Species Act.   In 2023 the Service finally responded to our 2010 petition by proposing to protect the darters, but it never made good on that proposal. Our lawsuit aims to right that wrong.   “The presence of these small but mighty fish is a sign that a river is healthy,” said Danny Waltz, a senior Center attorney. “Safeguarding them will help protect all the people, animals, and plants who depend on clean water.”

Revelator: How Crypto Threatens South America A law signed by the Trump administration could boost global cryptocurrency demand, increasing pressure on hydropower-rich countries like Brazil and Paraguay and threatening forests and biodiversity.   Read more in The Revelator.     And if you haven’t yet, make sure you’re subscribed to The Revelator’s free weekly newsletter.

That's Wild: Ravens Do Meal Planning A new study of 69 common ravens in Yellowstone National Park shows these highly intelligent birds, with their excellent spatial memory, don’t simply follow predators like wolves around to dine on their leftovers but instead keep mental maps of where wolves frequently hunt and make their scavenging rounds accordingly.   Rather than simply being opportunistic, the ravens seem to plan based on remembered historical patterns — one individual, for example, spent a week at a landfill before flying more than 90 miles to dine on a wolf-killed elk carcass.   Read more and watch a raven-wolf video at BBC Wildlife. #centerforbiologicaldiverisity#endangeredeartonline#fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.com#sunstormfineartmagazine#happyearthmonth#artenviornmentalfun