The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (Reserve), approximately 23.5 million acres of public land.  The Reserve harbors rich, vital wild lands and wildlife, including the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk Lake caribou herds.

The Western Arctic Herd (WAH) is the largest caribou herd in Alaska and one of the largest in the world, the 2009 population is estimated at 348,000 animals (ADF&G July 2009). The WAH includes an impressive range of over 140,000 square miles in northwestern Alaska – an area larger than the state of New Mexico. The Teshekpuk Lake Herd (TLH) 2008 population is estimated at about 64,100 animals (Parrett 2009).  Their range covers almost an incredible one-third of Alaska – nearly the area of the state of Texas.

The caribou herds are an incredibly important resource to the local people and the biodiversity of the region. The caribou herds’ migration corridors are seasonal and rely on different areas of the Reserve at different times of the year, to access their calving grounds, insect relief area and wintering grounds, which need permanent protection to ensure the future success of the caribou herds.  Last winter, during the BLM scoping phase of the planning process, the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) Working Group made recommendations to BLM supporting protection of caribou habitat within the Reserve (see map critical caribou habitat).  These recommendations, along with many others that were submitted, provide BLM guidance to develop the range of management options on a spectrum of full-scale development to complete conservation.  The array of management options will be proposed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.  This draft plan should be available in the late winter or early spring of 2012 (see timeline) for public comment.

Timeline: click to enlarge

WE HAVE TIME!  This is an opportunity to support the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) Working Group management recommendations made to BLM to ensure that vital habitat and waters that are used by the caribou herds are protected. By passing a resolution you will further strengthen the recommendations to BLM and protect resources that are vital to your community.

Two sample resolutions are available to use as a template: a tribal government resolution and a city/borough/corporation resolution:

Download the Sample Reserve Resolution – Tribal

Download the Sample Reserve Resolution – City, Borough or Corporation

PLEASE SHARE YOUR RESOLUTION!  We would love to be able to show your support to key decision makers.  Send your resolution to Darcie Warden at the Fairbanks office PO Box 74731 Fairbanks, Alaska 99707 or e-mail darcie(at)alaskawild.org.

For more information you can reach Darcie Warden at (907) 459-5539 or e-mail at darcie(at)alaskawild.org.

Map of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska