The United States House of Representatives today approved resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to remove Biden-era protections from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The actions nullify the prior management plans for both landscapes and are consistent with the Trump administration’s efforts to open even more of these sensitive habitats to oil and gas development.
“These resolutions continue an indefensible sell-out of our public lands and precious wildlife by the Trump administration and its allies in Congress,” said Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations at Defenders of Wildlife. “Millions of acres are already leased or available for lease in Alaska’s Arctic. These actions are intended to turn even more irreplaceable habitat for wildlife like polar bears, caribou and 200 species of migratory birds over to the oil industry.”
For decades, Defenders has been a champion in protecting wildlife and habitat in the Arctic Refuge and Western Arctic. Using CRA resolutions to weaken conservation protections through land planning sets a dangerous precedent that further harms the region’s biodiversity and undermines years of bipartisan support for Arctic conservation.
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For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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