Outdoorwild.com

Our planet’s nearing a milestone: There are now a staggering 7 billion people on the planet. By the end of the century, it’ll top 10 billion. Overpopulation and overconsumption are the root causes of environmental destruction. They’re driving species extinct, destroying wildlife habitat, and undermining the basic nee...ds of all life at an unprecedented rate. It has to stop. That’s why the Center for Biological Diversity has launched an ambitious new national campaign, 7 Billion and Counting. And we need your help. By hosting local events, handing out Endangered Species Condoms, writing letters to the editor and taking this discussion online, you can play an important role in highlighting the connection between overpopulation, overconsumption and the extinction of plants and animals around the globe. The world’s human population has doubled since 1970 and shows no signs of letting up. We’ve already witnessed the devastating effects of overpopulation on biodiversity: Species abundant in North America just two centuries ago — from the woodland bison of West Virginia and Arizona’s Merriam’s elk to the Rocky Mountain grasshopper and Puerto Rico’s Culebra parrot — have been wiped out by growing human numbers. The Center for Biological Diversity is the world’s only environmental group working full-time to raise awareness about the link between booming human population growth and wildlife extinctions happening around the world. In 2010, the Center — working through a network of more than 5,000 volunteers — gave away 350,000 Endangered Species Condoms. The colorfully packaged condoms are a lively way to get conversations started about how overpopulation is crowding out other forms of life — and reducing the quality of our own. Through our 7 Billion and Counting campaign, we’re giving away 100,000 more condoms as a way to keep the conversation going about overpopulation. Join our growing movement of people committed to elevating awareness of this ecological and human crisis. Talking about overpopulation means talking about saving species around the planet, whether it’s polar bears, wolves or bluefin tuna, penguins or the Miami blue butterfly. All of them — and all of us — are counting on you. See More