ENDANGERED WORLD

Adopt-a-Species

Step 1: Pick an endangered animal to adopt

Look through our featured endangered species and learn about the ones that you like the most – then pick your your favorite!

Step 2: Pledge an "Eco-Action"

Pledge an “eco-action” as a commitment to your chosen animal. Below is an exercise you can do to figure out what your unique eco-action should be, along with a list of 15 general eco-actions for anyone.

“What are you good at? What solutions do you want to work on? What brings you joy? Figure out where those three overlap and be in the epicenter of that Venn Diagram for as many minutes of your life as you can.”
– Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

15 GENERAL ECO-ACTIONS

  1. Devote time to learning about our climate & ecological crises

  2. Urge your elected officials to protect the environment

  3. Attend environmental protests & rallies

  4. Join local organizations fighting for environmental justice

  5. Bike, carpool, or use public transportation when possible

  6. Start composting your food scraps

  7. Plant native trees in your neighborhood

  8. Get politically active & vote

  9. Lessen the number of flights you take per year

  10. Give a small monthly donation to an environmental non-profit

  11. Use reusable items instead of single-use plastics

  12. Create art to raise awareness about environmental issues

  13. Save energy & water at home

  14. Reduce your meat & dairy consumption

  15. Teach your friends & family about our climate & ecological crises

Step 3: Upcycling clothes and/or rock painting

Adopt-a-Species: Upcycling Clothing
Take a well-worn piece of clothing and give it a new look by screen printing it with one of Cortada’s Endangered World drawings. These clothes will spark conversations with friends and family, as well as remind you of your eco-action.

Adopt-a-Species: Rock Painting
Find a small stone and mark it (using paint, markers, etc.) with the longitudinal degree (e.g., 86E) where your animal lives. Place the stone in a visible location at home to serve as a daily reminder of your pledge.

Step 4: Share online and inspire others

Take a picture of your upcycled shirt or new stone and share it on social media to inspire others to participate! Make sure to write a bit about your adopted animal and the eco-action that you committed to on its behalf.

Please tag @cortadafoundation and @xcortada when you post so we can share your work on our page!