FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2024
Contact: Mary Glaves, 415-246-5329, [email protected]
BLM to Maintain Conservation Status for 28 Million Acres in Alaska
Washington, D.C. — Earlier this week, the Bureau of Land Management announced a Record of Decision that would maintain ANCSA D1 Land Withdrawals for 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers applauded the BLM’s Record of Decision and the associated Public Land Order to advance the preferred "No Action" alternative, as outlined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
These wild public lands have been withdrawn from mineral and energy development since the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. In the final days of the outgoing Trump Administration, then Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed five Public Land Orders (PLOs) that would have revoked this conservation status. The move by the BLM to put this decision on hold following the determination that these orders were legally deficient was a crucial step to ensure that the full range of potential impacts could be thoroughly considered. This review allowed for a more robust public engagement process, ensuring that the voices of Alaskans, and all Americans, were represented. During the public comment period, the BLM received strong support for retaining the land withdrawals that protect critical areas from development. Out of approximately 15,000 public comments submitted on the draft EIS, the overwhelming majority favored keeping these protections in place. This widespread public support reflects the deep concern for conserving fish and wildlife habitat as well as the cultural integrity of the region.
“Continued conservation of these places simultaneously protects vital fish and wildlife habitat and Alaska's growing recreation economy, which includes hunting and fishing, as well as rural subsistence lifestyle use. We thank the BLM for selecting the preferred alternative, which ensures future generations can enjoy these wild public lands.” said Cody Strathe, BHA Alaska chapter board member
The "No Action" alternative aligns with the overwhelming public support received during the comment period and serves to protect opportunities for hunters and anglers as well as subsistence lifestyles and the natural environment in critical areas for salmon, caribou, and waterfowl.
A map of Alaska's D-1 Lands from the BLM
This decision means the continued conservation of more than 10% of all lands managed by the agency. These landscapes ensure intact pathways for migratory species like anadromous fish, caribou, and waterfowl, the continuation of traditions of hunters and anglers, and the future for those who rely on such species as a part of their way of life.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife.
About Thomas Plank