Reflections

Friends, Indeed!

A new public voice for Alaska’s national wildlife refuges celebrates its first year.

By Sarah Ford

It’s been quite a year for the non-profit Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, a state-wide group representing all 16 of Alaska’s refuges. Since its first organizational meeting at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in November 2005, this dynamic group, whose vision is “Nurturing Refuges beyond Our Own Time,” has covered a lot of ground.

Much of that activity took place on six of Alaska’s refuges this past summer, as Friends volunteers removed invasive weeds from Izembek, Kanuti, Kenai, Kodiak, Tetlin, and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuges. These weeds have had a huge negative impact, second only to that of habitat loss, on fish and wildlife in the Lower 48. Problems that are directly related to invasive plants include the reduction of wildlife populations, a decrease in wildlife-related recreational opportunities, and economic loss. Alaska still has time to prevent much of the destruction of natural habitat that can occur when invasive plant species take over.

In a remarkable display of dedication by any standard, let alone for such a fledgling organizational effort, Friends volunteers traveled hundreds of miles (from the Arctic Circle to Unalaska,) and spent many long hours bent to the back-breaking work of pulling noxious plants. Canada thistle was targeted at Izembek and in Unalaska, white sweet clover at Tetlin and Kanuti, orange hawkweed in Kodiak, and the common dandelion at Kenai. Weed pulls ranged from day-long community events to a 6-day project along the Dalton Highway, where more than a ton of white sweet clover was removed.

As impressive as these efforts are, however, stubborn exotics will demand long-term and aggressive attention if we’re to prevent them from spreading from Alaska’s towns and roadways into our national wildlife refuges. The hope is that, through education and the example of volunteers such as the Friends group, nearby communities will be motivated to take up the cause by organizing weed pulls of their own. Funding for the efforts this past summer was provided by “Volunteers with Invasives,” a national U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service program. Federal, state, and local agencies joined ranks in the communities that participated; as did local citizens who stepped up to supply volunteer support, equipment, and food.

More impressive still, this hard work was accomplished by a group of individuals who, a month earlier, had already shown they meant business by rapidly completing the tasks required to form a new non-profit organization. Thanks to a gift from the Friends of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, and a start-up grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the Friends group has embarked upon a campaign to build membership, develop the skills of its board members, and educate the public about Alaska’s national wildlife refuges.

An eight-member board of directors, working with zone representatives from nine different Alaska regions, guides the activities of the organization. At this time, in fact, the board is still seeking several zone representatives (visit www.alaskarefugefriends.org to learn more). There are currently more than 75 Friends, including volunteers who had contributed to Service efforts in the past, retirees who care about the environment, commercial resource users, rural subsistence resource users, teachers, and individuals whose careers are tied to the natural world. Most, but not all, of the Friends live in Alaska; those living “outside” share the desire to stay connected with, and to promote the well-being of, Alaska’s refuges.

In September of 2006, the Friends held their first Annual Meeting at the Islands & Oceans Visitor Center in Homer, where some of the members met face-to-face for the first time after a year-and-a-half of monthly teleconferences. Along with reviewing their remarkable first year, and structuring the year ahead, the group previewed its new website and first newsletter.

The fledgling organization’s goals for 2007 are already taking shape, including a commitment to continue the campaign to eradicate invasive weeds. New projects include establishing a visitor contact station in Unalaska and a gateway to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; manning outreach booths at events around the state (including the Kodiak Crab Fest); helping organize the Far North Conservation Film Festival in Fairbanks; participating in the Alaska State Fair in Palmer; and delivering increased outreach to rural areas in Alaska. The Friends will also attend the November Refuge Manager’s meeting in Anchorage to discuss how to best meet current refuge needs.

The group’s future looks both challenging and rewarding, and new projects and opportunities continue to unfold. The Friends look forward to becoming both a public voice for Alaska’s refuges and providing a vehicle which will allow citizens to become actively involved in refuge stewardship. Now is a great time to join. To learn how, visit the website at www.alaskarefugefriends.org .

Sarah Ford is a founding member of the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and is currently the Development Chair.

Last updated: June 20, 2008
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