The goal for global conservation is Half, inspired by E.O. Wilson’s call to protect half of our precious planet for the rest of nature. At this time, the US currently has about 15% of its land under formal protection for biodiversity, which matches the global percentage. Half-Earth’s goal of 50% is not reachable in the US through state and federal action alone. Conservation by non-profits, NGOs, and individuals—including the forever-wild lands Northeast Wilderness Trust protects—is necessary. The wildlands safeguarded by Northeast Wilderness Trust encompasses more than 76,000 forever-wild acres across New England and New York, and are fully protected from future development. Dennis Liu, VP of Education at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s Half-Earth Project shared stories of charismatic creatures like hummingbirds and dragonflies, and discussed how protecting one species often benefits others for the Northeast Wilderness Trust earlier this month. Liu shared about what each of us can do as individuals and as communities to support all of the miraculous species we love and need.
