Why Protecting Alaska’s Western Arctic Matters Now More Than Ever

Alaska’s Western Arctic—home to millions of migratory birds and vital ecosystems—offers an incredible opportunity for lasting protection. Maintaining the progress we have made ensures a future where wildlife thrives and Indigenous rights are respected.  Last spring, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) updated the regulations for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR–A)—an area known as the Western Arctic that is roughly the size of Indiana—to better reflect our modern understanding of mitigating climate challenges, wildlife habitat, and community needs. This rule was the first significant update in over 40 years, and it was crafted to protect both the natural environment and the people who depend on it.

That progress faces new challenges, with a proposal that would roll back the updated rule and advance extractive development in the Western Arctic. The National Audubon Society opposes this move. During a recent 60-day comment period, 19,265 Audubon supporters urged the Department of the Interior to uphold the 2024 rule that protects these critical Arctic lands. Additionally, 154 Audubon chapters signed a letter in support of the existing rule, and 40 pages of technical comments were submitted.

Because these landscapes aren’t just stunning—they’re essential for biodiversity, climate stability, and cultural survival. 

A Vital Ecological Treasure

The NPR-A provides critical habitat for millions of migratory birds from six continents. It’s a refuge for threatened species like the Spectacled and Steller’s eiders, and is home to the Teshekpuk Lake Caribou Herd, whose survival is vital to both ecosystem health and the subsistence needs of five Indigenous communities.

The reserve’s coastal areas also offer crucial denning grounds for polar bears and resting areas for walruses and seals. Its rivers and lakes support key fish species like Arctic char and whitefish—foundational parts of both the natural food web and the diets of subsistence users.

Legal Foundations for Protection

When Congress created the bipartisan framework for managing the 23 million-acre NPR–A in 1976, it mandated a balance: Development could not come at the expense of surface resources like wildlife, scenery, and cultural heritage. This was reaffirmed in 1980, when additional protections were built into the law to avoid foreseeable impacts to the land and its surrounding communities.

The 2024 rule followed that mandate. It modernized how we protect the reserve by identifying new Special Areas (five regions with significant subsistence, recreational, fish and wildlife, or historical or scenic value, that cover more than 13 million acres within the Reserve), improving conservation safeguards, and incorporating Indigenous knowledge and Tribal co-stewardship. It struck a balance between development and protection.

A Chance to Uphold Conservation Progress

Upholding this rule is essential to protecting both the wildlife that depend on these lands and the people and cultures who have stewarded them for generations. Indigenous communities would lose critical protections for subsistence resources, and collaborative decision-making processes risk being undermined.

Bird populations, already in serious decline—with North America having lost 3 billion birds since 1970—would face further threats. Habitat loss is the number one driver of these declines. Maintaining protections in the NPR–A offers a vital opportunity to safeguard one of the last intact Arctic ecosystems on Earth and help stabilize bird populations for future generations.

Americans Want These Protections

During public comment periods on the 2024 rule, 92% of comments supported stronger protections for the NPR–A. The public has spoken clearly: We value these lands and the wildlife they support. Upholding the rule honors public sentiment and builds on decades of collaborative conservation work.

The Western Arctic is truly a haven for conservation and biodiversity. We have an opportunity to uphold policies that prioritize balance and sustainability. For the birds, wildlife, communities, and future generations,  we want to thank the thousands of Audubon supporters and hundreds of chapters who urged the Department of the Interior to maintain the 2024 rule.