Pictravels Actions On National Wildlife Refuges - 1084 Words

Our organization, PicTravel, is in full opposition of the recently passed House Joint Resolution 69 (HJR 69) that is now public law (P.L. 115-20)(H.J.Res.69 – Providing†¦2017). Through Congressional Review it overturned an original rule, Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participating and Close Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. This rule prohibited: hunting brown bears, wolves and coyotes (including pups and from within their den), expansion of season lengths or increases bag limits, same-day airborne take of bears and prevented loopholes for trapping and snaring of bears and selling their parts (Arctic National†¦2015). HJR 69 came about not from science, but rather the emotions of state politicians and hunting†¦show more content†¦Background and significance of the issue The state of Alaska spans 365.5 million acres of land with 28.8 million acres of freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. Although nearly 88% of this land is publicly owned, thus accessible for hunting and recreation (with some special restrictions on hunting in certain locations), a majority of this land is set aside for conservation purposes that still allow access and use (Conservation Areas 2011). There are currently 16 National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, totaling 76,774,327.98 acres and of that, there is 18,692,615.03 acres of land designated as Wilderness Areas (National Wildlife Refuge Alaska Region 2015). These wildlife refuges constitute only 21% of all land in Alaska. They range in size from 303,094 acres (Izembek Refuge) to 19.6 million acres (Arctic Refuge). Together this land represents over 50% of all the National Wildlife Refuge land in America (History 2016). The state itself has also designated an additional 32 areas for conservation, such as game refuges, critical habit at areas, and wildlife sanctuaries, totaling nearly 3.2 million acres (Conservation Areas 2011). National Wildlife Refuges are critical lands for conserving plant and animal species in our rapidly expanding society, protecting more than 280 endangered and threatened species. This valuable commodity makes up only 4% of all land in the U.S. yet still provides economic benefit via hunting and other ecotourism (America’s Public Lands 2013).