Act Now to Save the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program at Padre Island National Seashore!

Photo by Donna Shaver

Sierra Club and allies are very concerned about recent changes to the critical Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program managed by the National Park Service. We believe these changes will be bad for the future of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, and are already having a large negative impact on the local economy, as public sea turtle releases have been drastically reduced. The program budget cuts also had a negative impact on thousands of individual PAIS visitors, as well, including the dismantling of an excellent education program.

Send a message NOW to show your support for endangered sea turtles and help Sierra Club and our allies deliver a clear message to Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Shannon Estenoz.

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Don’t dismantle the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery program at Padre Island National Seashore!

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Thank you for your service. The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter and allies in Texas need your help. I am concerned about recent changes and budget cuts to the National Park Service’s (NPS) Sea Turtle Science and Recovery (STSR) program at Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS). I believe the drastic changes to the program will be bad for the future of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, and are already having a large negative impact on the local economy, as well as on thousands of individual park visitors. There is a stakeholder group, led by the Sierra Club, which has been asking to meet with you about this important issue for 6 months. Considering what is at stake, the damage that has already been done to the program, and what we believe is a need for greater community engagement and transparency about these changes, I believe a meeting with you, scheduled as soon as possible, is in the best interests of everyone. We are running out of time to make the best decision, with public input, about this program. Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. It is so iconic in Texas that a petition initiated by school children led to it being declared the State Turtle of Texas, the state with the largest turtle biodiversity in the USA. Public sea turtle releases as a part of the STSR program at PAIS have inspired many thousands of children to become better stewards of the Texas coast, a coastline that is increasingly imperiled by human activity. Texans strongly support a fully funded STSR program! Please meet with stakeholders as soon as possible to chart a better future for Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

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