The arid lands of the American Southwest are crisscrossed with lush ribbons of rivers, springs and wetlands supporting a rich diversity of aquatic and riparian species now facing an extinction crisis.
It's not just climate change that's driving extinctions: Wetland mismanagement is endangering 40,000 small but vital plant and animal species, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).
Earth Matters: Extinction is forever - Opinions theislandnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theislandnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
23 Species From 19 States Lost to Extinction biologicaldiversity.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from biologicaldiversity.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.