WILD ALASKA BLOG
National Wildlife Refuge Week: The Meaning of Refuge
This National Wildlife Refuge Week, we’re celebrating Alaska’s Izembek, Kenai, and Arctic wildlife refuges and highlighting the need to protect them.
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Alaska Wilderness League Champions New Special Areas in the Western Arctic
In April 2024, the Biden administration made a bold move for conservation, protecting over 13 million acres of Special Areas in America’s Arctic. But they didn’t stop there; the administration also rolled out a new process to ramp up protections in the Western Arctic with even more Special Areas. This initiative kicked off with a comprehensive…
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A Timeline of a Shifting Political Landscape in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska
The National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (Western Arctic) is our nation’s largest single unit of public land, spanning nearly 23 million acres (roughly the size of Indiana) across Alaska’s North Slope. The Western Arctic is recognized for its globally significant habitat that sustains essential wildlife, like migratory birds, caribou, polar bears, walruses, beluga whales and…
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Alaska Wilderness League Urges Biden Administration to Establish Protections for New Special Areas in America’s Arctic
Following the completion of the Department of the Interior’s Request for Information (RFI) process on potential new and expanded Special Areas in the Western Arctic, Alaska Wilderness League Executive Director Kristen Miller released the following statement:
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Happy National Wildlife Day: Little-Known Talents of Well-Known Wildlife
Today, we’re giving a grrrrrrrrreat big shoutout to some of the lesser-known talents of well-known creatures relying on the landscapes in Alaska that you help protect. From the wetlands of the Western Arctic to the tips of the trees in the Tongass National Forest, these talon-ted wild wonders have what it takes to survive. Read…
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Secretary Haaland Secures 28 Million Acres of Land Protections for Alaska
Today, the Biden administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced an order to solidify protections for 28 million acres of Alaska.
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From Arctic Village to Advocacy: Danica Carey’s Journey to Protect America’s Arctic
In July of 2023, blog author Danica Carey traveled to the Arctic Refuge with four other women as part of a collaboration between Alaska Wilderness League and Love is King. This blog interview is an account of her experience, both in the Arctic Refuge and then more recently advocating in D.C. It’s been about a…
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What the Chevron Ruling Means for the League
Since 1984 – under what was known as the “Chevron doctrine” – courts in the United States deferred to agency interpretations of ambiguous laws passed by Congress. This gave federal agencies the leniency and power to interpret unclear laws, under the idea that agencies – with expertise in applicable science, public consultation, and a depth…
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Protecting America’s Arctic: Battling Backlash Against Conservation Efforts
In the wake of Earth Day, the Biden administration took a significant step forward for environmental conservation by announcing regulations safeguarding 13 million acres in the Western Arctic. This move not only signified a commitment to preserving vital ecosystems – especially around the Arctic’s five Special Areas – but also set the stage for future conservation efforts. However, the path to progress is not always straightforward, especially when political agendas clash with environmental stewardship.
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