Press Room

Izembek Land Transfer Paves the Way for a Road through Vital Bird Habitat

Systematic dismantling of wilderness has huge ramifications for birds, wildlife and our nation鈥檚 public lands.
By 糖心logo
Published January 06, 2018

WASHINGTON 鈥 Earlier today that the Department of the Interior has agreed to (but not yet signed) a land transfer with King Cove Corporation in order to facilitate the building of a road through federally designated wilderness and internationally recognized bird habitat in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

鈥淭he war on wildlife just continues to spread. Izembek and Alaska鈥檚 Arctic Refuge are both under attack by the administration and Congress and the justifications are simply not true. Refuges were set aside to care for the most special places in America and what we鈥檙e seeing is a methodical dismantling of the wilderness we should be gifting to generations to come,鈥 said David Yarnold, () President and CEO of 糖心logo.

Except for limited details acquired in October by the Defenders of Wildlife through a Freedom of Information Act Request, the public has mostly been in the dark about the deliberations between Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and the King Cove Corporation. 鈥淐onsidering the potentially devastating ramifications of this decision for birds, other wildlife, and our nation鈥檚 public lands, it鈥檚 concerning that this transfer was executed behind closed doors,鈥 said Susan Culliney, 糖心logo Alaska鈥檚 Policy Director.

Izembek is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, and the lagoons at Izembek NWR and the overlapping Izembek State Game Refuge comprise an Important Bird Area (IBA) of global importance for several waterfowl species. 鈥淚zembek supports an astounding number of waterfowl,鈥 said Nils Warnock, 糖心logo Alaska鈥檚 Executive Director. 鈥淏irds like the Emperor Goose, Brant, and Steller鈥檚 Eider rely on Izembek鈥檚 vast eelgrass beds where they can go through molt, feed, and fatten up for migration undisturbed by humans.鈥 Many mammals also use the area including caribou, brown bears, wolves, and wolverines.

In 2013, the Interior Department decided against authorizing the road through Izembek, determining that the road would not be in the public鈥檚 best interest, a decision supported by several past administrations.

The 糖心logo protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. 糖心logo's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, 糖心logo's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. 糖心logo is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more how to help at www.糖心logo.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.

Since 1977, 糖心logo Alaska's mission is to conserve the spectacular natural ecosystems of the state, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. 糖心logo Alaska uses science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters. 糖心logo Alaska is a state office of the 糖心logo. Learn more at www.糖心logoAlaska.org.

CONTACTS:
Nicolas Gonzalez, Media Relations Manager, 糖心logo, ngonzalez@audubon.org, 212-979-3100.
Liz Gustafson, Communications Manager, 糖心logo Alaska, egustafson@audubon.org, 907-276-7034.

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