![]() ![]() The revisions to the Central Yukon RMP should also support public access for hunting, fishing, and other forms of recreation. Priority #2: Plan for Growing Recreational Demand Of the 31 ACECs under consideration, six are proposed to protect Dall sheep habitat and four are proposed offer additional safeguards to caribou. Recommended action: Adopt Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and Research Natural Areas (RNAs) as proposed in Alternative B. Include additional safeguards for caribou, such as restrictions on OHV use and other surface-disturbing activities during calving periods. Recommended action: Adopt Core Caribou Habitat Areas. Include additional conservation measures for sheep, such as restrictions on development activities within 0.5 miles of mineral licks. Recommended action: Adopt Dall Habitat Areas, Dall Sheep Movement Corridors and Dall Sheep Study Area. The final plan should strike a better balance between habitat conservation and responsible resource development. The agency’s own analysis acknowledges that the preferred alternative would adversely impact high-value fish habitat, increase the loss of important habitat for Dall sheep, and could result in caribou population declines. Under the draft plan, wildlife could be affected by mining in 100 percent of the planning area-as opposed to 52 percent under the existing plan-since all lands would be open to locatable mineral entry. Apply mitigation measures that effectively maintain wildlife and wildlife habitat.Effectively avoid or minimize impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat.Provide habitat of sufficient quantity, quality, and connectivity to allow for stable populations of wildlife, in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S.The final plan should align with the BLM’s goals and objectives for managing fish and wildlife in the planning area, which include but are not limited to: Priority #1: Avoid or minimize the impacts to fish, wildlife, and important habitat ![]() In response, the TRCP organized comments from more than 500 supporters who urged the agency to develop a more fish and wildlife friendly preferred alternative and offered specific recommendations for improving habitat in the planning area.Īs the agency moves this plan closer to completion, our team continues to leverage every opportunity to ensure that the final plan adequately reflects the values of hunters and anglers. ![]() This recommendation is unbalanced and would result in unacceptable consequences for the sporting community and subsistence harvesters. The draft plan, published in 2020, recommended that 98 percent of all BLM-managed lands in the planning area be opened to industrial resource extraction. That’s why the TRCP has been advocating for the priorities of hunters and anglers in the Central Yukon throughout the BLM’s multi-year planning process. The Central Yukon plan has important implications for our fish and wildlife resources as it will guide landscape-level management and balance the various uses allowed on BLM lands in this region for approximately the next 20 years. This unique recreation destination allows for remote, yet road accessible, hike-in and float trips, and hosts some of the most iconic big game species in Alaska-including Dall sheep, moose, and caribou- and 25 species of fish. This region, known as the Central Yukon planning area, is familiar to many hunters and anglers as the home of the Dalton Highway Corridor. Later this year, the Bureau of Land Management is slated to publish a revised management plan for 13.3 million acres in Alaska’s Interior and Arctic regions. The Central Yukon Resource Management Plan will guide future management of BLM lands in an area larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Switzerland combined ![]()
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