Last night the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, an Endangered Species Resolution declaring May 11, 2006 as Endangered Species Day. Although it’s largely symbolic, of course, it’s still good news, and pro-conservation symbolism is important in its own right. The purpose of “Endangered Species Day” is to encourage schools to set aside a few hours for students to learn about what endangered and threatened species live in their state, why they are endangered and what can be done to help. It will also encourage organizations, businesses and agencies to collaborate on educational information and appropriate ceremonies and celebrations of endangered wildlife recovery success stories. We’ll be giving some thought over the next few weeks as to what we might do to support Endangered Species Day in Colorado and welcome any suggestions.

The resolution’s bipartisan cosponsors included:

Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE)
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI)
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)