News Release
Date: August 8, 2023
Contact: Peter Christian, 907-644-3512
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska’s national parks have received millions of dollars to conduct climate change and infrastructure work in parks across the state. In fiscal year 2023, President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act will provide $52 million to the National Park Service (NPS) to fund projects throughout the country related to ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.
Specifically, Alaska parks will receive $750,000 to study at-risk cultural resources in order to provide critical care to those threatened from climate change. Five other Alaskan parks have been funded up to $793,000 to enhance the resilience of NPS ecosystems in the state through food security and co-stewardship capacity building. Twelve parks in Alaska will conduct climate change vulnerability assessments that will develop climate change informed plans for fire management and fuel treatments. Nine parks will receive nearly $900,000 to assess and restore aquatic ecosystems and improve resiliency. Additional funds will go toward increasing youth action volunteers through the Community Volunteer Ambassador Program.
The projects announced today infuse much-needed funding to put people to work addressing critical ecosystem needs to restore healthy and resilient park lands while benefiting communities surrounding parks. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the National Park Service is working to address the impacts of the climate crisis, including intensifying drought, wildfires, flooding and legacy pollution in national parks and other public lands. Resources are making significant strategic investments to repair critical facilities and infrastructure and enhance conservation through ecosystem restoration and recreation opportunities.
One example is at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve which received over half a million dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act to evaluate the Upper Tanana River watershed as a possible candidate site for the establishment of a new, wild herd of wood bison, a subspecies listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The lead agencies for this effort, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Alaska, will partner with NPS and important stakeholders such as local and regional tribal entities and local communities, to assess ecological suitability and local support for potential reintroduction of wood bison. This project is part of a nationwide effort to restore natural habitats and address climate change impacts.
“As the climate continues to change the landscapes of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, it is important to explore all options to maintaining these landscapes for future generations,” said Wrangell superintendent Ben Bobowski. “This project will assist in our understanding of options that may be available to us in the future.”
The full lists of fiscal year 2023 projects are available online: IRA Restoration and Resilience projects and BIL Ecosystem Resilience projects.
Last updated: August 8, 2023