HISTORIC PROTECTIONS IN AMERICA'S WESTERN ARCTIC
In April 2024, President Biden announced new, historic protections for +13 million acres of America's Western Arctic, taking another significant leap forward on climate and conservation and the protection of sacred land.
As the rule comes into effect, it will help protect some of the most biodiverse and climate-critical landscapes in the Western Arctic by strengthening protections on more than 13 million acres of federally designated Special Areas. These regulations will also provide a new process for proposing new or expanded Special Areas - allowing Tribes, local governments, and the public to weigh in on other vital areas in the Western Arctic that warrant Special Area designation.