The Blueprint for Saving Great Places in the Great Land



Working Answers for Working Landscapes



Across the state, Alaskans face the difficult but rewarding task of planning a healthy future for the people and communities of Alaska. The decisions we make today—or fail to make today—about the use of our lands and waters have important consequences for the future of our economy and our environment.



A powerful question is inherent in all these decisions—how much is enough? Not only how much economic development is enough, but how much conservation is enough? What is the minimum we need to do to ensure healthy and abundant populations of our wildlife far into the future? What places are most important? What natural processes?



These questions are among the most difficult—and most important—scientific questions in conservation. In the vast majority of cases, definitive answers are elusive. Conservation biology is a young science and our understanding of the ecology and interactions of most species and ecological systems remains limited. Yet as we attempt to make the best land use decisions for the future of our Alaskan economy and communities, we understand that a credible set of “working” answers is necessary and critical now. We cannot make sound decisions without them, and at the rate species are disappearing and becoming endangered in the world around us, we simply cannot wait.



The Nature Conservancy’s ecoregional assessments are designed to provide those working answers, based on the best scientific information available. Through these assessments, the Conservancy attempts to identify the most important areas for biological diversity in ecoregions. Collectively these areas of biological significance are referred to as a portfolio. If the portfolio is managed wisely with an eye to its biological importance, then the ecoregion’s diversity will likely be conserved over the long term.



A great opportunity exists in Alaska to balance our economic and ecological values, to have vibrant human communities and thriving fish and wildlife, to in effect “do things right the first time.” By working in partnership, we can seize that opportunity. The Conservancy hopes that these ecoregional assessments will provide a working "blueprint" for such action now.



Taking Action



The ultimate goal of the assessments is to conserve the plants, animals and natural communities of these ecoregions over the long term. Achieving that goal will require the work of many: private landowners, government agencies, land use planners, civic leaders, concerned citizens and non-governmental organizations. The Nature Conservancy looks forward to working with these and other partners to put the assessment into action.



Potential uses include:



* Providing a conservation context for borough and community land use planning

* Informing state and federal agency land use policies and habitat protection efforts

* Prioritizing important habitat and providing background for species assessments

* Supporting the work of local conservation organizations

* Driving research priorities

* Guiding Donors in directing their philanthropy toward the most effective and urgent conservation priorities in the region.