Biden-Harris administration preserves 28 million acres of Alaska public lands, prioritizing Tribal rights and environmental conservation

The Biden-Harris administration’s recent decision to retain protections for 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska marks a significant victory for environmental conservation and the preservation of Alaska Native communities’ subsistence rights. This decision, announced by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, reverses a controversial move by the previous administration to open these lands to oil, gas, and mining development.

The lands in question, protected under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), have long been safeguarded for their natural, cultural, and subsistence value. These protections, known as “withdrawals,” have been crucial in maintaining the ecological balance of the region, as well as upholding the rights of Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal entities, and Native Corporations. However, in its final days, the previous administration attempted to revoke these protections without sufficient analysis of the potential impacts on subsistence resources or proper consultation with Alaska Native communities.

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