A Chilling Future? Alaskan Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas Drill Site

At the northeastern-most point of Alaska lies a vast and wild place: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Situated on the traditional lands of the Gwich'in and Iñupat (Inñpiaq) peoples, this roadless domain is rich in biodiversity and culturally strong. Within its bounds, a plethora of unique migratory and resident animals can be found. 

Its location at the northern tip of all North American flyways results in the presence of birds belonging to more than 200 species. These birds hail from all 50 United States, alongside much more distant parts of the world. They rely on the ANWR throughout their migrations. For some of these birds, the refuge is a permanent home. Several hawks, as well as eagles, harriers, goshawks, grebes, loons, ptarmigans, falcons, gulls, terns, are just a few examples of types of birds one can find at the ANWR. 

The land is also rich in mammals. These include polar, grizzly, and black bears, as well as multiple species of caribou, sheep, wolves, wolverine, Canada lynx, Arctic foxes, and muskox. Many fishes, such as char and large-sized salmon, flourish. This abundant refuge spans over 19,000,000 acres (or over 78,000 km^2). Adjacent to it, on the other side of the Canada/US border, are the Yukon's brilliant Ivvavik and Vuntut National Parks.

In North America, there are no longer many large swathes of land that have not been opened up to modern human amenities. The ANWR has maintained a truly wild state, with no roads or facilities. Those who enter without the services of a recreational guide must be thoroughly prepared to rely on their own skills, gear, and food while navigating the refuge. Many visitors rely on air taxis or flights leaving from nearby communities to enter. The refuge is used by local rural groups for subsistence hunting and fishing, and draws in visitors from afar for its extraordinary opportunities in birdwatching, backcountry camping, hiking, hunting, non-motorized boating, photography, and much more. 

Last Thursday, it was announced that the coastal plain of the ANWR has been opened for future oil and gas drilling plans. Oil and gas leases in the refuge had previously been unavailable at the behest of prior administration. 

Leaders from the Inupiak community Kaktovik, located inside the ANWR, have vocalized support for development, recognizing responsibly managed industrial operations to be critical to their economic livelihoods. Other leaders from local Gwich'in communities oppose the drilling. Specifically, they consider the coastal plain area to be sacred, and refer to the refuge's importance in maintaining a caribou herd that is crucial for their way of life. Other leaders from different parts of Alaska, such as Yup'ik communities in the west, are concerned with how building a road through the ANWR could impact their subsistence hunting. They rely on migratory birds that, in turn, depend on the refuge. 

With this shift in policy, whether the future of the ANWR is chilling or prosperous will depend on industrial management that is well informed, responsibly designed, and appropriately executed. What becomes of the ANWR can only be known in time, but it is clear that the land has many stakeholders who care deeply about its legacy, and will pay close attention to what comes next.