Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Initiative
Southwest Alaska is the world’s last great stronghold of wild salmon, but we are protecting more than just salmon in this wild and pristine corner of the world. Brown bears, caribou, bald eagles, wolves, wolverines, osprey, beavers, rainbow trout, grayling—the roll call of wildlife is spectacular in and along the region’s hundreds of rivers and lakes. Development in this remote land threatens critical fish and wildlife habitat, world-class angling, and other opportunities for natural adventures.
Since 1998, the Fund has helped save more than 100,000 acres in the region as part of its Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Initiative. To protect these important salmon spawning and rearing waters, we work with a diverse set of partners, including Native communities, outdoor enthusiasts, and local businesses. When salmon flourish in southwestern Alaska, the benefits are far-reaching, says Glenn Elison, the Fund’s Alaska state director. “Salmon are the keystone of the region’s ecology, economy and culture,” he explains. “And if salmon are doing well, lots of other things thrive as well.”
Photo: Constantine Dimizas/iStockphoto.com