The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the United States. It is also the biggest and wildest publicly owned land in our country. Located in Alaska's northeast corner, it is home to a wide variety of species, such as polar bears, caribou, and wolves. Millions of birds from around the world migrate to (or through) the Arctic Refuge each year.
Keep the Arctic Refuge Wild
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is an iconic American treasure. Birds migrate from across the United States and from six continents in order to feed, nest, and raise thier young in the Arctic Refuge. It is an ideal location where birds can take advantage of the burst of plant and insect life during the long days of the Arctic summer. It is often referred to as the world's bird nursery.
First set aside by Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Arctic National Wildlife Range in 1960, this is the United States' only conservation unit that encompasses an entire Arctic ecosystem. When President Eisenhower acted, he had the wisdom and foresight to include the entire ecosystem, both north and south of the Brooks Range, including the biologically rich Coastal Plain, which is essential to the integrity of this ecosystem. The Coastal Plain is the heart of this wild Arctic ecosystem, supporting the 197,000-animal Porcupine Caribou Herd, millions of migratory birds, and a full-complement of large predators, such as wolves, grizzly bears, and polar bears.
In 1980, Congress enlarged the original range to protect additional wildlife habitat and to establish the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In the same move, Congress closed the Coastal Plain to oil development, and any move to allow oil drilling activity would require a new act of Congress.
In 2017, President Trump signed a tax bill into law that included a provision that opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling to offset massive corporate tax cuts. And in January of 2021, a oil and gas lease sale was held with the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority emerging as the highest bidder.
On January 20, 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration put a temporary halt on oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There are also several lawsuits proceeding through the court system to stop oil and gas development in the Refuge, including National Audubon Society v. Bernhardt .
Pledge to continue fighting to protect the Arctic Refuge. The fight is not over until this special place is permantently protected!
The Arctic Refuge Needs Your Help!
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is under its most serious threat yet. Because of the passage of the tax bill in late 2017, the Arctic Refuge is no longer protected from oil and gas development. Now, the Trump administration is aggressively moving ahead with a plan to sell leases to oil companies on the pristine coastal plain in the next year. In the rush to sell out the Refuge, the administration has glossed over the impacts from oil development on birds, hundreds of thousands of caribou, polar bears, and more.
TAKE ACTION and pledge to defend the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Alaska Arctic Fund
Help protect the spectacular natural ecosystems of the Arctic. Donate to the Arctic Fund and support Arctic programs and policy work.
Related
Life in the Heart of the Arctic
Report series that highlights the value of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for wildlife and humans.
Public Hearing Tips
Audubon Alaska's Policy Director Susan Culliney shares tips to help you prepare for a public hearing.
Arctic Refuge Ramble Series: Part One
By Ben Sullender. This is a series of blog posts by Ben Sullender, Spatial Ecologist at Audubon Alaska who shares his experiences from a journey through the Arctic Refuge.
How you can help, right now
Stop the Toxic Pebble Mine from Destroying Alaska's Bristol Bay
Tell the EPA that it is time to protect this vibrant and vital ecosystem by using its authority under the Clean Water Act to veto the mine permit once and for all.
Donate to Audubon
Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
