08/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/29/2024 13:00
Alaska is the largest state in the nation. Its land area measures roughly 586,000 square miles and it boasts an immense coastal area that stretches over 33,900 miles. It is also the only U.S. state with a coastline north of the Arctic Circle. The state offers a tremendous conservation opportunity - much of the habitat remains intact and wildlife resources are abundant. For approximately 65,000 Alaskan Natives, subsistence harvest of natural resources is their primary food source. At the same time, species populations are rapidly shifting in abundance and distribution forcing local communities to adapt to a changing way of life.
The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund aims to achieve and lead to measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes for fish and wildlife populations, and fill key information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring. The program also works to conduct outreach to Alaska Native communities to broaden engagement and conservation stewardship of natural resources, and to foster traditional ecological knowledge sharing that develops proactive management strategies.