Alaska Wilderness League

🚨 Applications extended! Established in 2022 in memory of the League’s late executive director, the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant is a $20,000 annual award to a professional storyteller with experience living in Alaska who tells a uniquely Alaskan story. Apply by Sep 8:

Adam Kolton Memorial Storytelling Grant | Alaska Wilderness League ADAM KOLTON ALASKA STORYTELLING GRANT Photo Credit: Florian Schulz Guidelines and Application 2024 Applications Now Open Established in 2022 in memory of

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 on to discover these otterly amazing skills, and be sure to sign our petitions to protect their homes.

Happy National Wildlife Day: Little-Known Talents of Well-Known Wildlife | Alaska Wilderness League 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

"Did you know that in 2022 Alaska experienced an unusual number of disasters? Fourteen disaster declarations were made in 2022. Going back to 1978, the state of Alaska averaged approximately four disaster events per year. About nine of the 2022 disasters – landslides, fires, flooding, storm – can be tied back to anticipated climate change impacts."

To respond to climate disasters, Alaska must address methane emissions • Alaska Beacon Though Alaska's emission contribution may be small on the global scale, its methane still makes a difference, a commentary author writes.

You really love to see it 👏 "Tribal consultation must be treated as a requirement—not an option—when the federal government is making decisions that could irrevocably affect tribal communities." -

'Historic Victory' as Biden BLM Restores Protections for 28 Million Acres in Alaska | Common Dreams "Tribal consultation must be treated as a requirement—not an option—when the federal government is making decisions that could irrevocably affect tribal communities," said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

Just a few days left to apply for this $20,000 grant award!

Apply now: https://alaskawild.org/support-us/adam-kolton-memorial-storytelling-grant/

Established in 2022 in memory of Alaska Wilderness League’s late executive director, the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant is a $20,000 annual award to a professional storyteller with experience living in Alaska who tells a uniquely Alaskan story.

Adam dedicated his career to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and led Alaska Wilderness League as its executive director from 2017 to 2021. The Storytelling Grant aims to acknowledge the memory of Adam, who recognized the power of promoting stories from Alaska, including those shared by Indigenous Gwich’in partners and members of Alaska’s Tribal nations. In particular, Adam believed in the power of storytelling to create a meaningful and lasting memory of Alaska and its environment. The grant is supported by contributions made to the Adam Kolton Memorial Fund.

“Continuing these essential protections, which have been in place for decades, will ensure continued access and use of these public lands now and in the future." Thank you 🙌

Biden administration will keep 28 million acres in Alaska closed to drilling and mining The Trump administration had taken steps to remove the protections, but the Biden administration found legal flaws in that process.

LET'S GO! This week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland protected 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska, saving them from extractive industrial development.

“Secretary Haaland’s decision today reflects an exceptional dedication to conservation on a scale as vast as Alaska itself. Alaska’s lands and waters at this magnitude offers one of our greatest chances to preserve biodiversity and essential subsistence resources from extractive industries for local communities and for generations to come.” - Kristen Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League

Thanks to you and your outpouring of support this year, these irreplaceable landscapes are now safeguarded for future generations. These public lands support fish and wildlife, local communities, clean water, healthy habitat, and food security. And they are some of the planet’s largest intact landscapes! Thank you for standing up for these places and for the values that we cherish in our public lands.

More info here: https://bit.ly/3T7vLse

Great news! Secretary Haaland just secured 28 million acres of land protections for Alaska!

“Secretary Haaland’s decision today reflects an exceptional dedication to conservation on a scale as vast as Alaska itself,” said Kristen Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League. “Protecting Alaska’s lands and waters at this magnitude offers one of our greatest chances to preserve biodiversity and essential subsistence resources from extractive industries for local communities and for generations to come.” https://bit.ly/3T7vLse

Secretary Haaland Secures 28 Million Acres of Land Protections for Alaska | Alaska Wilderness League FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: August 27, 2024  Contact: Anja Semanco | [email protected] | 724-967-2777    Secretary Haaland

In July 2023, Danica Carey traveled to the Arctic Refuge with four other women as part of a collaboration between Alaska Wilderness League and Love Is King. We caught up with her to chat more about her experience, both in the Arctic Refuge and then more recently advocating in D.C.

Read more about Danica’s full experience here: https://alaskawild.org/blog/from-arctic-village-to-advocacy-danica-careys-journey-to-protect-americas-arctic/

Alaska Wilderness League’s partnership with Love is King is made possible in part through the generous support of the John McComb Memorial Fund.

📸 Chad Brown, founder of Love is King and board member of Alaska Wilderness League

Applications open! Established in 2022 in memory of The League’s late executive director, the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant is a $20,000 annual award to a professional storyteller with experience living in Alaska who tells a uniquely Alaskan story.

Adam Kolton Memorial Storytelling Grant | Alaska Wilderness League ADAM KOLTON ALASKA STORYTELLING GRANT Photo Credit: Florian Schulz Guidelines and Application 2024 Applications Now Open Established in 2022 in memory of

You've got to listen to this! Every year, nearly 60,000 beluga whales make their annual migration from the Arctic to the warmer waters of Hudson Bay’s Churchill River estuary to feed, molt and give birth. 🥰

Beluga Whale Live Cams | Polar Bears International Take a look at our live beluga whale cams, coming to you from the Churchill River and Hudson Bay beluga whale summer migration

The Bureau of Land Management announced an essential next step toward ensuring maximum protection for ecologically significant areas in the Western Arctic. Congress called for the critical ecological values of Western Arctic to be protected decades ago, and with this announcement, we have the opportunity RIGHT NOW to tell the administration what we want. We look forward to the opportunity to solidify Special Area protections with strong science and public engagement to address the significant threats from climate change and biodiversity loss.

Protect caribou! Help lock in stronger protections for Arctic caribou and the migration corridors they need to survive. Sign the petition in favor of a new protected caribou migration corridor in America’s Arctic!

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the Biden administration’s embrace of Alaska-sized opportunities for land protection and conservation,” said Kristen Miller, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League. “Alaska’s lands and waters face the dual threat of climate change and biodiversity loss, and protecting these landscapes requires today’s foresight and large-scale protections. From the lush temperate rainforests of Southeast Alaska to the remote reaches beyond the Arctic Circle, this announcement marks a monumental step in preserving biodiversity and securing essential subsistence resources vital to countless communities.”

Biden Administration Secures Multiple Protections For Alaska | Alaska Wilderness League FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2024 Contact: Anja Semanco | [email protected] | 724-967-2777 Biden Administration Secures Multiple Protections For

Friday fun! Just in time for the weekend, read about top-notch towns to hike in Alaska!

7 Perfect Mountain Towns In Alaska For Hikers The United States is home to gorgeous mountain towns for avid hikers, including those in Alaska that unveil the states vast and untamed wilderness.

Happy Summer Solstice! So glad to spend a year around the sun with you...and hope you're getting outside doing something special to enjoy peak daylight. In Alaska, the day's barely going to end! Read more about one Alaska Wilderness League supporter's trip to the Arctic Refuge during this special time.

Summer Solstice in the Arctic Refuge | Alaska Wilderness League By Randy May As we stood on the gravel landing strip in Arctic Village, Alaska, my two new friends and I watched as the tiny tundra plane descended from

🌊 Happy World Oceans Day! Cheers to Alaska's amazing nutrient-dense waters, providing for otters, walruses, whales and more – the true ocean party animals! Let's keep Alaska wild and their festivities going strong! 🎉 Thanks for all you do to pitch in!

Photo Credit: Daniel Dietrich

On a sunny afternoon in DC last week, a group of friends celebrated the remarkable life of our dear friend John McComb who passed away in 2021. John was an avid cyclist and a constant in the League office for decades; it was only fitting for us to grab our bikes and explore the city to honor John’s life. Huge thanks to those who joined us in person (as well as those who joined us in spirit!). Check out a bit more about John's legacy -- which lives on at the League through the John McComb Memorial Fund – on our blog: https://bit.ly/4e1VzPA

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 🌍 🌏

This is our moment to celebrate strengthened protections for America's Arctic, a critical region that serves as the bedrock of conservation and climate action for the nation and the globe. Public comments are in, and the Biden administration is moving forward to make these protections durable. It’s time to celebrate this win!

Take action to thank the Biden administration for these historic protections at the link: https://bit.ly/3Umo7vi

"[The NPRA] is the largest single swath of public land in the United States. Despite having “petroleum” in its name, some of the most valuable fish and wildlife habitat in the Arctic Coastal Plain is found within the reserve.

Biden Shields Millions of Acres of Alaskan Wilderness From Drilling and Mining The administration has blocked a proposed industrial road needed to mine copper in the middle of the state, and has banned oil drilling on 13 million acres in the North Slope.

The Western Arctic is our nation’s largest single unit of public land, spanning nearly 23 million acres. To better protect these lands over time, five designated Special Areas were created — a collection of lands that contain critical ecosystems unlike anywhere else on earth, that serve as havens of global climate action and local resiliency.

America’s Arctic contains some of the best intact ecosystems left in the U.S. Nowhere else on the continent can we find such unique biodiversity on such large swaths of undeveloped land. This place has long deserved the highest level of protection. From polar bears to snowy owls, our distinct Arctic wildlife depends on it.

There is an incredibly strong appetite among millions of Americans to protect America’s Arctic and through that passion, we will find durable solutions to ensure this wild landscape is around for generations to come. Moving forward, there can be in this landscape – which is why we’re incredibly thankful that the Biden administration has strengthened protections for Special Areas and taken the next step to ensure America’s Arctic receives lasting, durable protections.

THANK YOU, President Biden for your historic conservation action to protect America’s Arctic! Want to send a ‘thank you’ letter to the administration as well? Head to the link below to easily send out your note!

https://bit.ly/3Umo7vi

First step in making sure there are no more Willows in America’s Arctic Celebrate a huge win for America's Arctic! The Biden administration has released its final regulations for the region that prioritize protections for millions of acres.

Want the inside scoop on a floundering, publicly-funded Alaska corporation?

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority — known as AIDEA — was created in 1967 and is a public corporation of the State of Alaska with a supposed mission to, “provide financing for Alaska’s business community, to expand the economy of the state, and to provide jobs for Alaskans.”

On paper, it sounds like a great idea, right? In practice, it’s been a disaster.

Alaskans are taking action right now to stop AIDEA from moving forward with anymore terrible ideas. Not living in Alaska? Head to the link below to learn more about AIDEA and how you can support our work.

What the Heck is AIDEA | Alaska Wilderness League The inside scoop on a floundering, publicly-funded Alaska corporation The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority — known as AIDEA — was

The Colville River Special Area has its headwaters in the Brooks Range and runs for more than 300 miles, opening in a massive alluvial fan and delta plain stretching to the Beaufort Sea – the largest and most productive river delta in northern Alaska.

Oil and gas development, which includes drilling pads, pipelines, roads, energy generation, hazardous chemicals & wastes, human wastes & gravel pits, are having measurable negative impacts on Arctic wildlife, particularly to caribou and nesting bird populations. Our Special Areas deserve the strongest protections from these threats.

In the heart of northern Alaska, the threat of a devastating development project has hung over wild landscapes for decades. The proposed Ambler Road would be a new, 211-mile industrial corridor on the south side of the Brooks Range, extending west from the Dalton Highway to the south bank of the Ambler River. Learn more and take action at the link below.

What to Know About the Ambler Road Project | Alaska Wilderness League In the heart of northern Alaska, the threat of a devastating development project has hung over wild landscapes for decades. The proposed Ambler Road would be a new, 211-mile industrial corridor on the south side of the Brooks Range, extending west from the Dalton Highway to the south bank of the Amb...

100s of spotted seals and walruses haul out along the barrier islands in Kasegaluk Lagoon. However, offshore oil leases in the nearby Chukchi Sea pose major threats to this region. It’s time to strengthen protections for

There have already been at least two oil spills into wetlands near Kasegaluk Lagoon, which in this extremely sensitive Arctic tundra can devastating impacts of fish, wildlife, and downstream water users. Spills in this region are especially likely to be magnified by ocean currents which can easily move oil and other chemicals extremely far distances. We must defend America’s Arctic by strengthening protections for our Special Areas.

Climate change is having a profound effect on Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area. Rising temperatures and the disappearance of sea ice is causing more and more marine mammals, such as seals and walrus, to haul-out on the mainland, resulting in greater vulnerability to predators and hunters. We can’t risk more destruction in this critical region. It’s time to strengthen protections for our Special Areas and

Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area is one of the largest, undiminished coastal lagoon systems in the world, spanning nearly 125 miles of the Chukchi Sea coast. This sheltered, shallow lagoon is a critical habitat for calving and molting beluga whales. We must ensure this important place receives the strongest protections possible. It’s time to do more for America’s Arctic.

While this news on Arctic warming is dire, we also have an unprecedented opportunity to move away from fossil fuels towards a more sustainable future. Letʻs put people before profits & .

Ice-free summers in Arctic possible within next decade, scientists say Home of polar bears, seals and walruses could be mostly water for months as early as 2035 due to fossil fuel emissions

“I can’t recall a time when it’s been more important to protect caribou and their habitat than right now.” A key factor in the survival of caribou – and their recent declines – is development and habitat loss. Removing protections from healthy habitat is a loss for us all and will only increase caribou declines AND contribute to climate change.

Caribou declines causing angst for Alaska hunters are part of wider North America trend • Alaska Beacon There are signs that climate change is depressing caribou herds across the north, and looming development could be an obstacle to recovery.