Bristol Bay is Safe!

We are so grateful that the EPA has blocked Pebble Mine under the Clean Water Act so that Bristol Bay can remain a biologically and culturally thriving place for generations to come. Since 2009 alone, Alaska Conservation Foundation has given over 4.2 million dollars in grants to protect Bristol Bay. It was a coalition effort to get here and we're so grateful for the Tribes, commercial fishermen, and people across the world who have contributed to this win. We couldn't have gotten to this point without your support and we are so grateful to have you on our team.

2023 Conservation Achievement Awards

Each year, we look forward to celebrating the professionals, volunteers, organizations, and educators who work hard to protect Alaska. Do you know an individual or organization that deserves recognition? Consider nominating them for one of our eight unique awards! The nomination form is quick and easy. Nominations are due April 16th.

Introducing Our Newest Cohort of Arctic Youth Ambassadors

The fourth cohort of Arctic Youth Ambassadors launched virtually in December and ambassadors gathered in-person for the first time at a summit in January. The current cohort consists of 16 members between 18 to 22 years old from communities all across Alaska, many of whom are Indigenous. Ambassadors bring a wealth of experience and expertise and work in fields such as health care, media, Tribal-led conservation, STEM fields, food security, and more. The summit in January allowed the new ambassadors an opportunity to begin sharing and documenting their stories, interests, and priorities for conferences, internships, and projects throughout the duration of the program.

Grantee Highlight:
Cook Inletkeeper

Cook Inletkeeper was a recipient of a Rapid Response Grant to oppose and mobilize support against an oil and gas lease sale of nearly a million offshore acres in Cook Inlet, known as Lease Sale 258. On December 30, 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management oversaw the bidding process for Lease Sale 258 and the sale was a failure with only one bidder, Hilcorp Alaska, bidding on less than one percent of the total area offered. Cook Inletkeeper is continuing to advocate against any new oil and gas lease sales and mobilizing public support to protect Cook Inlet’s waters, wildlife, and communities.

Northern Latitudes Partnerships:
Food Security & Resilience

The Northern Latitudes Partnerships is working to address rapid climate changes in Alaska and the resulting rural and urban food insecurity issues with the Alaska Resilience Farms project. Recent accomplishments include adding a new staff position at the Native Village of Eklutna and another at Alaska Pacific University, collaborations between Stickleback Farm in downtown Anchorage with APU’s 800-acre Kellogg Farm Campus in Palmer, and hosting trainings and knowledge exchange events. This project also helps Tribal Conservation Districts supplement shortages of subsistence foods caused by climate change and connects Seeds of Change with Alaska Village Initiatives to help address food security for Tribes.

Protections for the
Tongass National Forest

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reinstated Roadless Rule protections for Tongass National Forest! The reinstatement of these protections makes it illegal for logging companies to build roads and remove timber throughout more than 9.3 million acres of the Tongass. It’s heartening to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledge the importance of the Tongass to Alaska Native peoples and the communities who have relentlessly advocated for these protections to be restored.

Biden Administration Approves Willow Project

On Monday, the Biden administration approved the Willow project, allowing ConocoPhillips to conduct the single largest drilling effort on federal land by extracting more than 160,000 barrels of oil per day for the next 30 years. The project would emit more than 260 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, making it the biggest producer of greenhouse gases of any project proposed on public lands. We stand with the Indigenous communities that have advocated against this project due to its dire impact on their subsistence way of life, food security, and on their communities' long-term health and well-being. Alaska Conservation Foundation will continue to support the elevation of Alaska Indigenous voices striving to ensure their ancestral lands remain intact for generations to come.