Biden Administration Takes Next Step to Advance Statutory Protections for America’s Arctic

Request for information could result in stronger protections for most vulnerable places in Alaska’s Western Arctic

Washington, D.C. — Following the announcement of a Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential new and expanded Special Areas and protections for the Western Arctic, Alaska Wilderness League Executive Director Kristen Miller released the following statement:

“Today’s announcement is an essential next step toward ensuring maximum protection for ecologically significant areas in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (Western Arctic), signaling that President Biden continues to prioritize America’s Arctic. In April, we applauded the Biden administration’s work to ensure these critical Special Area protections rose to the level required by the law. Traditional and western science has long shown us the benefit of protected lands in the Arctic. These ecosystems sustain critical habitat for caribou, migratory birds, brown bears, polar bears, walruses, endangered beluga whales, and the communities that rely on these resources. Congress called for protective management of the ecological values of Western Arctic decades ago, and we look forward to the opportunity to solidify this directive with strong, science- and Traditional Knowledge-backed Special Area protections to address the significant threat from climate change and biodiversity loss.”

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