More than three weeks after an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico there is no reliable estimate of how much oil is spilling into the ocean nor when the leak might be sealed.

Last month, the Deepwater Horizon, an ultra-deepwater drilling rig leased by BP, sank, leading to what may become one of the greatest environmental disasters in United States history. While the potential short- and long-term environmental costs are unknown, it is clear that the oil-slicked sea will soon come ashore on the Alabama and Mississippi coastline. And as the oil continues gushing from under the sea at volumes estimated anywhere between 5,000 and 70,000 barrels per day, it's anyone's guess as to how long it might take to clean up the mess with hurricane season just weeks away.

Our friends at OrganicNation.tv are on the Gulf Coast and they recently filed this video report featuring Mike Murphy of the Nature Conservancy on why wildlife in the region is so important.

Video produced by: Dorothee Royal-Hedinger & Mark Andrew Boyer for OrganicNation.tv

Find out how you can help at www.nature.org.