THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY'S ARCTIC REFUGE MIGRATORY BIRD INITIATIVE Background and Project Scope Introduction: A Local Issue The Wilderness Society's Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative represents a practical and necessary extension of a continuing commitment to protect the fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and its bounty of wildlife. The growing interest and enjoyment of migratory birds in the United States is stimulating increased action on behalf of the Arctic Refuge. And, as more people understand how the Arctic Refuge's natural treasures and environmental challenges impact all American communities, the Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative is increasing the awareness among bird enthusiasts, the general public and legislators - that preservation of the Alaskan wilderness is actually a backyard issue. As the crown jewel of America's wilderness, the Arctic Refuge represents a last frontier whose beauty and natural treasures could be compromised for the near-term profits and prospects of oil companies. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been a priority for The Wilderness Society for many years. To understand why we're showcasing migratory birds, it's important to connect the issues and our ongoing support of the Refuge. The Arctic Refuge is the only place in the United States where the full range of sub-arctic and arctic ecosystems are protected in one unbroken continuum. Saving the Arctic Refuge has been compared to the efforts to protect Yellowstone, whose 19th Century detractors considered too remote to have much value. Today, there's a lot more than migratory birds to consider when reviewing the challenges and needs of this arctic wilderness. Fortunately, the allure of migratory birds connects the Arctic Refuge to a common and beloved American wildlife experience. The Arctic Refuge's wilderness is one of a kind -- breathtaking vistas combined with a treasure of wildlife that defines this arctic wilderness of boreal forests, dramatic peaks and vast tundra. At 19.5 million acres, the Arctic Refuge is the nation's largest wildland, and is located in northeastern Alaska. Wildlife thrives across the Refuge's full spectrum of arctic and sub-arctic ecosystems. The North Slope The 1.5 million-acre Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain on the North Slope is the cradle - the biological heart - of the Arctic Refuge. This is the only portion of Alaska's coastal plain not available to the oil industry. The coastal plain extends west beyond the refuge across the North Slope of Alaska, where oil industry exploration and leasing is permissible on much of this great ecosystem - fully 95 percent of it, in fact. The assemblage of species in the remaining five percent of this remote and pristine environment is unique to the world, yet it too has been targeted by the oil and gas companies. Two hundred animal species use the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge, including snow geese, golden eagles, polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, snowy owls and the caribou. The Coastal Plain is the most significant on-shore polar bear denning habitat in the U.S. And, the 150,000-member Porcupine River Caribou herd has used it as a calving area for millennia, traveling hundreds of miles each spring from wintering grounds in Canada and the U.S. The People After calving season, the typical gathering of this caribou herd is a spectacle reminiscent of the enormous herds of buffalo that once thundered across the Great Plains of the U.S. As with the buffalo, caribou are integral to the subsistence and culture of native peoples. To the Gwich'in (Athabaskan) Indians, the Coastal Plain is sacred, with their relationship to the Porcupine River Caribou herd dating back to the Ice Age. Survival of the Gwich'in is dependent on the caribou's survival, for if the herd is diminished in size or its migratory patterns disrupted, it would deprive them of a major source of food, tools and clothing. In addition, the culture of the Gwich'in - their legends, music and crafts - depict the caribou and other Arctic Refuge wildlife. The U.S. Department of the Interior warns that oil drilling on the coastal plain could jeopardize up to 40% of the Porcupine River Caribou Herd, depriving the Gwich'in villages and native hunters of a primary resource and their ability to survive. The Birds The Wilderness Society is committed to sustaining the entire refuge, including the Coastal Plain and the habitat it provides to migratory birds, ensuring that all Americans can continue to enjoy their unsurpassed beauty. Over 125 species of these birds migrate back to the Arctic Refuge from distant wintering grounds around the world. These "air commuters" survive because the Arctic coast, with its astounding natural productivity, offers them important food, water and ideal shelter during the critical nesting and migration seasons. For example, in the spring, the American golden-plovers return to the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain from Argentina. These six-to-seven ounce birds can cover some 4,000 miles nonstop en route to their wintering grounds, while in the spring they cross the many states that encompass the plains and heartland of America to the delight of backyard birders and professional observers alike. By the time these birds return to the Arctic Refuge, they will have completed their annual roundtrip of more than 20,000 miles. Birdwatching remains one of the most popular of American pastimes. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 60 million Americans annually are actively involved in observing, studying, photographing, and the backyard feeding of birds. This widespread interest also contributes to the economy - with more than $29 billion spent each year by bird and wildlife watchers on animal food, binoculars and other equipment, and parks fees. It's also estimated that non-consumptive bird use supports about 191,000 jobs and generates close to one billion dollars in taxes. Clearly, even in a cultural climate that offers more diversions than any other time in our history, there is no shortage of support for, and appreciation of, birds and other wildlife. Legislative Action: An Uncertain Future In 1980, Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which enlarged the area to 19.5 million acres and renamed it, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It also designated 8 million acres of the Arctic Refuge as wilderness, but through a series of amendments offered by the Alaskan Congressional delegation, the 1.5 million acre area of the Arctic Refuge was not designated as wilderness. Conservationists, however, successfully defeated efforts to open the area to development at that time. In 1987, the Reagan Administration proposed opening the Arctic Refuge to oil and gas leasing. In November 1991, legislation that would have opened the Arctic Refuge for drilling reached the Senate floor but was defeated. An effort to add it to a Senate energy bill in February, 1992, was dropped due to limited support. In 1995, Congress attached a provision to the annual budget bill that would have opened the Arctic Refuge to drilling, but President Clinton vetoed it. Currently, the chairmen of the House and Senate natural resource committees support drilling and are determined to pass legislation to support petroleum industry exploration of the Arctic Refuge coastal plain. The Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative The millions of birds that migrate thousands of miles to the Arctic Refuge coastal plain follow ancient unmarked pathways, using guidance systems that rival or surpass man's most advanced navigational instruments. Equally amazing is their allure and everyday role in America's appreciation of nature and a burgeoning national nature-based tourism industry. The Wilderness Society and other organizations in Alaska, such as the Alaska Center for the Environment, are working to add new, powerful dimensions of support for the Arctic Refuge. The Society has established the Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative - a special educational and public awareness project to research and describe the major migratory pathways, stopover sites and wintering grounds for the birds that migrate to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain. There's no need to travel to the Arctic Refuge for inspiration to conserve this wilderness treasure; inspiration comes via the quiet delight Americans can experience when looking at photos of the pristine, majestic vistas of the Alaskan Coastal Plain, and in listening to the harmonies of migratory birds as they brighten our neighborhoods en route to and from Alaska each year. About The Wilderness Society Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society is dedicated to protecting America's wilderness and creating a network of wild lands through public education, advocacy and scientific analysis. The organization's goal is to ensure that future generations enjoy the clean air and water, wildlife, and opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal that pristine forests, rivers, deserts, canyonlands and mountains provide. The Wilderness Society is based in Washington D.C., with regional offices in Seattle/WA, San Franciso/CA, Bozeman/MT, Boise/ID, Denver/CO, Anchorage/AK, Boston/MA, and Atlanta/GA. Our Partners The Wilderness Society would like to express its appreciation to The Aspenwood Foundation of Sandpoint, Idaho for its generous support of the Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative and its commitment to protecting Alaska's Arctic Coastal Plain and the wildlife that depend on its environment. The Wilderness Society would also like to thank the following partners for their support of the Arctic Refuge Migratory Bird Initiative: The Alaska Coalition Alaska Wilderness League National Audubon Society Sierra Club U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. PIRG