Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

The U.S. is faced with uncertainty about the future, but in light of the president elect’s recent cabinet appointments one thing is clear. We will be governed by an administration that appears to be actively hostile to science and environmental responsibility.

The work the Xerces Society has been engaged in for the last several decades has never been more important. Their mission statement describes work that I imagine few people have thought is needed.

 The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. We take our name from the now extinct Xerces Blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche xerces), the first butterfly known to go extinct in North America as a result of human activities.

The scope of their activities is far reaching . Their publications, books, and community outreach are effective education strategies and their political advocacy has been instrumental in helping pass legislation that helps to protect invertebrates. Their web page describes the wide range of activities they pursue.

The Xerces Society is a science-based conservation organization, working with diverse partners including scientists, land managers, educators, policymakers, farmers, and citizens.  By using applied research, engaging in advocacy, providing educational resources, and addressing policy implications, we endeavor to make meaningful long-term conservation a reality.

Our core programs focus on habitat conservation and restoration, species conservation, protecting pollinators, contributing to watershed health, and reducing harm to invertebrates from pesticide use.

Their work is life affirming and will become more critical as the political climate around scientific research changes in potentially catastrophic ways. I buy their books and support their cause in hopes that they will continue what they do.