Tell DOI to Stop the Destruction of Alaska Wildlife Refuge

The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is one of the most important migratory bird staging and wintering habitats in the world—and it is under threat.  

A pending land exchange would allow the construction of a privatized 19-mile road through the heart of the Refuge, undermining public land laws and putting Wilderness and wetlands at risk of permanent damage. 

There are better, more reliable alternatives to building this road. Sign our petition today to tell the U.S. Department of the Interior to reject the road and support proven, win-win solutions for people and wildlife.

Note: Audubon will send your comment, along with your name, city, state, and zip code, to the U.S. Department of Interior as part of the official comment period, and it will become part of the public record.

Steller's Eider. Photo: Mick Tompson.

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As someone who cares deeply about bird conservation and our public lands, I urge you to uphold one of our nation's most important legislative conservation achievements, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Please reject the proposed federal land exchange that would trade away, privatize, and degrade Congressionally designated Wilderness lands in Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.   

ANILCA protects more than 150 million acres of irreplaceable federal land in Alaska as national parks, refuges, forests, Wilderness areas, and wild and scenic rivers. The law does not allow for the Secretary of the Interior to privatize those lands. A land exchange to enable the construction of a road would set a dangerous precedent and endanger refuges, parks, and Wilderness areas across the region. Such an action would also undermine multiple bedrock environmental and conservation laws including the Wilderness Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and ANILCA.  

There are better, more reliable alternatives to building the road that will not irreparably harm the Izembek Refuge or undermine the integrity of our nation's most important conservation and public land laws. Please reject the land exchange and protect the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and the people, wildlife, and birds that depend on it.  

Thank you for your consideration.