Public Comment

We Published! Impact of Climate Change on Alaska Natives in December 2023 Journal of Environmental Health

We Published! Impact of Climate Change on Alaska Natives in December 2023 Journal of Environmental Health

From the abstract: Alaska, with its unique geographical and ecological characteristics, is experiencing the detrimental effects of climate change at an alarming rate. The Alaska Native (AN) population, deeply connected to the land and its resources, faces disproportionate vulnerability to these impacts. We call attention to climate change impacts on AN food sovereignty, mental and behavioral health, cultural and spiritual practices, resiliency and adaptation, and how local Alaskan organizations are addressing climate change impacts.

This article also highlights the urgent need for environmental public health professionals to engage with AN and Native American communities, address health inequities, and participate in mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the environmental public health threats and consequences of climate change. Increasing awareness of climate- related health impacts on these communities is crucial and immediate actions are needed to support safer, healthier, and more sustainable and climate-resilient communities. Government agencies at all levels should also seek to integrate perspectives from Indigenous Peoples, engage in co-management strategies, and provide equitable funding and support for Indigenous communities. Unity, resilience, and adaptation become attainable goals by joining communities in caring for the environment. This message resonates not only in Alaska but also globally, highlighting the need for collective action in the face of climate change.

AWA in the news: One of the Largest Caribou Herds in Alaska is Careening Towards Extinction

AWA in the news: One of the Largest Caribou Herds in Alaska is Careening Towards Extinction

“In the past three decades, the Mulchatna caribou herd of southwestern Alaska has gone from nearly 200,000 to 12,000. Last year, the state wildlife agency’s Board of Game started to explore ways to help the struggling population. It landed on a controversial solution called "intensive management," also called predator control, which directs wildlife officials to indiscriminately kill predators. It was the first time the state included bears in the hunt, a decision that had no public process and was conducted without bear population estimates.”

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of the Southcentral Board of Game meeting

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of the Southcentral Board of Game meeting

Over 200 regulatory proposals were considered - here are the results.

Overview of Trap Setback Proposals on the Kenai Peninsula

Overview of Trap Setback Proposals on the Kenai Peninsula

Learn about trap setback proposals on the Kenai Peninsula, and how you can get involved!

Action Alert! Comment to support a new National Park Service Rule that protects bears, wolves and people

Action Alert! Comment to support a new National Park Service Rule that protects bears, wolves and people

Submit your comment by March 10th to protect wildlife and people in Alaska’s National Preserves!

Wildlife crossings, trap setbacks, and more: Get involved in the Southcentral Board of Game process

Wildlife crossings, trap setbacks, and more: Get involved in the Southcentral Board of Game process

Protect new highway wildlife crossings, secure trap setbacks from trails, and more!

Southeast Board of Game meeting summary

Southeast Board of Game meeting summary

Bears, wolves, public trails: Summary of 2023 Southeast Board of Game meeting

Victory! Reducing halibut trawl bycatch in the Bering Sea

Victory! Reducing halibut trawl bycatch in the Bering Sea

Never before have Alaskans from all regions and sectors come together in this way to support unified action to protect our fisheries and communities. On Monday, the council voted to tie trawl fleet bycatch limits to the halibut population, and caps bycatch by as much as 35 percent.

Petition to Protect Lower Cook Inlet Wildlife

Petition to Protect Lower Cook Inlet Wildlife

Sign the petition to protect Lower Cook Inlet!

What happened at the Special Board of Game meeting, March 2021

What happened at the Special Board of Game meeting, March 2021

Everything you need to know about the March 2021 special Board of Game meeting, including changes to wolf hunting and trapping on Prince of Wales island.

Action Alert! Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for Ringed and Bearded Seals in Alaska

Action Alert! Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for Ringed and Bearded Seals in Alaska

Learn how you can help protect critical habitat for ringed and bearded seals in Alaska!

Comment to support critical habitat designations for ringed and bearded seals

Comment to support critical habitat designations for ringed and bearded seals

NOAA Fisheries is proposing to designate critical habitat in U.S. waters off the coast of Alaska for Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia distinct population of bearded seals. Both species are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

VICTORY! Court upholds prohibition of brown bear baiting in the Kenai Refuge

VICTORY! Court upholds prohibition of brown bear baiting in the Kenai Refuge

“We believe that the Fish and Wildlife Service is obligated to protect Kenai brown bears on the refuge and this opinion recognizes the agency’s authority to do just that,” said Nicole Schmitt, executive director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. “At a time when so many of Alaska’s wildlife protections are being rolled back, this ruling comes as a sigh of relief for all those who enjoy the Refuge and its wildlife.”

FACTSHEET: What are the proposed regulations for Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

FACTSHEET: What are the proposed regulations for Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

Everything you need to know about the proposed rules facing Kenai Wildlife Refuge, including brown bear baiting and trapping along roads and trailheads.