Dear Audubon Advocate,

The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is one of the most important migratory bird staging and wintering habitats in the world—and it is under threat.

Take action today: Urge the Department of the Interior to uphold the integrity of our public land laws, and reject a land trade that privatizes and degrades part of the refuge.

Izembek is a crucial migration stopover for many birds migrating to and from Arctic breeding grounds. The area regularly supports virtually all the world’s Pacific Brant, more than half the world population of Emperor Geese, and a tremendous portion of the world’s Steller's Eiders and Taverner's Cackling Geese. In addition, the Refuge provides a migration corridor for caribou, foraging grounds for brown bears, and vital habitat for a host of other wildlife. 

Audubon joined eight other groups in a lawsuit challenging the land swap made by the previous Administration, which will allow the construction of an 11-mile gravel road through the heart of the refuge. The land deal blatantly disregards the Wilderness Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act—a law established to protect federal land jewels in Alaska like Izembek—and could cause long-term degradation to the refuge’s wilderness and wetlands. It’s time for Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to reject this.

Access to services and economic development does not need to come at the expense of irreplaceable habitat. There are better, more reliable alternatives to building this road that will not irreparably harm Izembek or undermine the integrity of our nation’s most important conservation and public land laws.

Please tell the Department of the Interior to reject the privatized road and support proven, win-win solutions for people and wildlife.