Alaska Wilderness League

ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE GALVANIZES SUPPORT TO SECURE VITAL POLICIES THAT PROTECT AND DEFEND AMERICA'S LAST GREAT WILD PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS.

FEDERAL ADVOCACY - A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE AWL'S EFFORTS IS TO EDUCATE FEDERAL DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE VALUES AT STAKE AND BENEFITS OF PROTECTING ALASKA'S PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS INCLUDING ICONIC LANDSCAPES LIKE THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST. IN 2020-21, AWL'S EFFORTS WERE FOCUSED ON OPPOSING FEDERAL AGENCY ROLLBACKS FOR PROTECTIONS OF THESE AND OTHER LANDSCAPES AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ACTION TO PROVIDE CRITICAL, LASTING SAFEGUARDS. AS PART OF THESE EFFORTS AWL SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES INCLUDING ACTION TO END TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED CLEAR-CUT LOGGING IN THE TONGASS AND TO RESTORE THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAD EXISTED FOR THE ARCTIC REFUGE PRIOR TO THE 2017 TAX ACT. AWL'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE PRODUCING HIGH VALUE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, REPORTS, AND OTHER TIMELY INFORMATION USEFUL FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. MAJOR RECENT EFFORTS HAVE RANGED FROM COLLABORATIVE ALASKA PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS RECOMMENDATIONS DELIVERED TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO GETTING LANGUAGE ADDED TO MOVING BUDGET LEGISLATION. AWL HAS ALSO PROVIDED TESTIMONY TO THE HOUSE INTERIOR-EPA APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND PROVIDED IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO OTHER COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ADVANCE OF IMPORTANT HEARINGS ON MATTERS RELATED TO ALASKA LANDS. IN SERVICE OF OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN GOALS, AWL ALSO INITIATES AND ENGAGES IN LITIGATION TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE FOLLOWED AS FEDERAL AGENCIES SEEK TO FACILITATE OR OTHERWISE GREENLIGHT RESOURCE EXTRACTION EFFORTS. AWL RETAINS A LEAD OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL TO MANAGE OUR LITIGATION AND IS REPRESENTED BY SEVERAL PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION.

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT - CRITICAL TO ADVANCING AWL'S MISSION IS THE WORK THE ORGANIZATION DOES TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND MOBILIZE MEMBERS, DONORS AND ACTIVISTS WHO CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT ALASKA'S CHERISHED LANDSCAPES. THIS AREA OF WORK INCLUDES VIRTUAL LOBBY DAYS, WHERE ALASKA ADVOCATES CONNECT TO WASHINGTON, DC DECISION-MAKERS TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WILD ALASKA PROTECTIONS AND SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IN KEY STATES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, AND COMMUNITIES. MEMBERS OF AWL WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, SIGN PETITIONS, ATTEND EVENTS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND HELP RECRUIT NEW SUPPORTERS FOR THE CAUSE. MUCH OF THIS OUTREACH IS ALSO FOCUSED ON KEY CONSTITUENCIES AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A STAKE IN PROTECTING ALASKA'S NATIONAL TREASURES INCLUDING VETERANS, FAITH, HUNTING AND ANGLING, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, CLIMATE JUSTICE AND LOCAL CONSERVATION GROUPS. AWL MEMBERS SUBMITTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS OPPOSING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO ADVANCE DRILLING, MINING AND CLEARCUTTING PROPOSALS THAT WOULD UNDERMINE BIOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, AND OTHER VALUES AND TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REVERSE THESE ACTIONS. AWL ACTIVISTS ALSO PRESSURED COMPANIES INCLUDING MAJOR BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT PROVIDE LOANS FOR ARCTIC DRILLING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OIL COMPANIES THAT MIGHT CONSIDER BIDDING ON A FUTURE LEASE SALE.

ARCTIC REFUGE DEFENSE CAMPAIGN - AWL HOUSES THE CENTRAL STAFF AND SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGN EFFORT INVOLVING NATIONAL AND STATE-BASED CONSERVATION GROUPS AS WELL AS THE GWICH'IN STEERING COMMITTEE. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS AIMED AT PREVENTING OIL AND GAS LEASING AND DRILLING IN AND RESTORING PROTECTIONS FOR THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

COMMUNICATIONS - AWL'S EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC OFTEN REVOLVE AROUND TELLING THE STORY OF WILD ALASKA IN PRINT, BROADCAST, AND DIGITAL MEDIA. AWL IS A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR REPORTERS SEEKING TO COVER THE THREATS TO ALASKA'S WILD PLACES AS WELL AS HOW WILDLIFE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, ECONOMIC AND OTHER INTERESTS COULD BE IMPACTED. THROUGH REGULAR PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH JOURNALISTS, BY AUTHORING OP-EDS AND BLOG POSTS, THROUGH OUR DYNAMIC SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND BY SUPPORTING KEY COALITION PARTNERS IN THEIR OUTREACH TO THE MEDIA, AWL AIMS TO TELL THAT MOST COMPELLING STORIES ABOUT THESE LANDSCAPES AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THEM. ALASKA - WITH OFFICES IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA AND WASHINGTON, DC, AWL SERVES AS A CRITICAL BRIDGE BETWEEN STATE-BASED CONSERVATION GROUPS AND ALLIED TRIBAL AND OTHER INTERESTS WITH NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND WITH DECISION-MAKERS. THIS BRIDGE ROLE INCLUDES ENGAGING INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN ALASKA, WHO CAN HELP ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE NATIONAL ARENA. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AWL'S WORK IN ALASKA HAS INCLUDED MOBILIZING TURNOUT FOR KEY PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MEETINGS ON LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS AS WELL AS FOR OTHER EVENTS AND RALLIES DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF ALASKANS WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC LANDS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. AMONG THEM ARE OUTFITTERS AND GUIDES AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LOVE TO HUNT, FISH, CLIMB, HIKE, AND OTHERWISE RECREATE IN PLACES LIKE THE TONGASS AND CHUGACH NATIONAL FORESTS, AND THE ARCTIC.

FEDERAL ADVOCACY - A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE AWL'S EFFORTS IS TO EDUCATE FEDERAL DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE VALUES AT STAKE AND BENEFITS OF PROTECTING ALASKA'S PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS INCLUDING ICONIC LANDSCAPES LIKE THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST. IN 2020-21, AWL'S EFFORTS WERE FOCUSED ON OPPOSING FEDERAL AGENCY ROLLBACKS FOR PROTECTIONS OF THESE AND OTHER LANDSCAPES AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ACTION TO PROVIDE CRITICAL, LASTING SAFEGUARDS. AS PART OF THESE EFFORTS AWL SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES INCLUDING ACTION TO END TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED CLEAR-CUT LOGGING IN THE TONGASS AND TO RESTORE THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAD EXISTED FOR THE ARCTIC REFUGE PRIOR TO THE 2017 TAX ACT. AWL'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE PRODUCING HIGH VALUE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, REPORTS, AND OTHER TIMELY INFORMATION USEFUL FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. MAJOR RECENT EFFORTS HAVE RANGED FROM COLLABORATIVE ALASKA PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS RECOMMENDATIONS DELIVERED TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO GETTING LANGUAGE ADDED TO MOVING BUDGET LEGISLATION. AWL HAS ALSO PROVIDED TESTIMONY TO THE HOUSE INTERIOR-EPA APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND PROVIDED IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO OTHER COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ADVANCE OF IMPORTANT HEARINGS ON MATTERS RELATED TO ALASKA LANDS. IN SERVICE OF OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN GOALS, AWL ALSO INITIATES AND ENGAGES IN LITIGATION TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE FOLLOWED AS FEDERAL AGENCIES SEEK TO FACILITATE OR OTHERWISE GREENLIGHT RESOURCE EXTRACTION EFFORTS. AWL RETAINS A LEAD OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL TO MANAGE OUR LITIGATION AND IS REPRESENTED BY SEVERAL PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION.

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT - CRITICAL TO ADVANCING AWL'S MISSION IS THE WORK THE ORGANIZATION DOES TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND MOBILIZE MEMBERS, DONORS AND ACTIVISTS WHO CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT ALASKA'S CHERISHED LANDSCAPES. THIS AREA OF WORK INCLUDES VIRTUAL LOBBY DAYS, WHERE ALASKA ADVOCATES CONNECT TO WASHINGTON, DC DECISION-MAKERS TO MAKE THE CASE FOR WILD ALASKA PROTECTIONS AND SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IN KEY STATES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, AND COMMUNITIES. MEMBERS OF AWL WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, SIGN PETITIONS, ATTEND EVENTS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND HELP RECRUIT NEW SUPPORTERS FOR THE CAUSE. MUCH OF THIS OUTREACH IS ALSO FOCUSED ON KEY CONSTITUENCIES AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A STAKE IN PROTECTING ALASKA'S NATIONAL TREASURES INCLUDING VETERANS, FAITH, HUNTING AND ANGLING, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, CLIMATE JUSTICE AND LOCAL CONSERVATION GROUPS. AWL MEMBERS SUBMITTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS OPPOSING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO ADVANCE DRILLING, MINING AND CLEARCUTTING PROPOSALS THAT WOULD UNDERMINE BIOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, AND OTHER VALUES AND TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REVERSE THESE ACTIONS. AWL ACTIVISTS ALSO PRESSURED COMPANIES INCLUDING MAJOR BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT PROVIDE LOANS FOR ARCTIC DRILLING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OIL COMPANIES THAT MIGHT CONSIDER BIDDING ON A FUTURE LEASE SALE.

ARCTIC REFUGE DEFENSE CAMPAIGN - AWL HOUSES THE CENTRAL STAFF AND SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGN EFFORT INVOLVING NATIONAL AND STATE-BASED CONSERVATION GROUPS AS WELL AS THE GWICH'IN STEERING COMMITTEE. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS AIMED AT PREVENTING OIL AND GAS LEASING AND DRILLING IN AND RESTORING PROTECTIONS FOR THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

COMMUNICATIONS - AWL'S EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC OFTEN REVOLVE AROUND TELLING THE STORY OF WILD ALASKA IN PRINT, BROADCAST, AND DIGITAL MEDIA. AWL IS A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR REPORTERS SEEKING TO COVER THE THREATS TO ALASKA'S WILD PLACES AS WELL AS HOW WILDLIFE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, ECONOMIC AND OTHER INTERESTS COULD BE IMPACTED. THROUGH REGULAR PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH JOURNALISTS, BY AUTHORING OP-EDS AND BLOG POSTS, THROUGH OUR DYNAMIC SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND BY SUPPORTING KEY COALITION PARTNERS IN THEIR OUTREACH TO THE MEDIA, AWL AIMS TO TELL THAT MOST COMPELLING STORIES ABOUT THESE LANDSCAPES AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THEM. ALASKA - WITH OFFICES IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA AND WASHINGTON, DC, AWL SERVES AS A CRITICAL BRIDGE BETWEEN STATE-BASED CONSERVATION GROUPS AND ALLIED TRIBAL AND OTHER INTERESTS WITH NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND WITH DECISION-MAKERS. THIS BRIDGE ROLE INCLUDES ENGAGING INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN ALASKA, WHO CAN HELP ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE NATIONAL ARENA. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AWL'S WORK IN ALASKA HAS INCLUDED MOBILIZING TURNOUT FOR KEY PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MEETINGS ON LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS AS WELL AS FOR OTHER EVENTS AND RALLIES DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF ALASKANS WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC LANDS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. AMONG THEM ARE OUTFITTERS AND GUIDES AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LOVE TO HUNT, FISH, CLIMB, HIKE, AND OTHERWISE RECREATE IN PLACES LIKE THE TONGASS AND CHUGACH NATIONAL FORESTS, AND THE ARCTIC.