Alaska Conservation Foundation joins the world in mourning the passing of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024. Today we honor the life and enduring legacy of our honorary Board of Trustees Chair, an unparalleled advocate for conservation, whose influence has profoundly shaped our commitment to preserving Alaska’s natural wonders.
Former President Jimmy Carter affirms the importance of preserving wilderness lands while fielding questions about the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during a press conference at the ANILCA 25th Anniversary Celebration, Hilton Anchorage Hotel
President Carter’s pivotal role in enacting the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication to safeguarding our planet’s irreplaceable treasures. Through ANILCA, over 100 million acres of Alaska’s wild landscapes were protected — establishing the two largest national forests in Alaska, a network of national parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves that have become the pride of our nation’s conservation efforts. During the 25th Anniversary of ANILCA celebration in 2005, President Carter was asked about the significance of ANILCA in his list of accomplishments. In response, he stated that it is “among the top three or four things of which I am most proud of in my entire life.”
ANILCA’s passage was also pivotal in addressing Aboriginal hunting and fishing rights. It served as an initial measure to safeguard the customary and traditional utilization of fish and wildlife for Native Alaskans. This practice of subsistence extends beyond sustenance; it embodies generational bonding through passed-down knowledge and shared experiences. President Carter’s vision, reflected in this law, helped to facilitate the continuation of traditions and heritage, recognizing the inherent connection between Indigenous communities and the natural world.
Alaska Conservation Foundation owes its very inception to the historic passage of ANILCA. Born in the same year as this landmark legislation, our foundation emerged as a direct response to the critical need for financial support and advocacy for Alaskan conservation efforts.
We have been privileged to witness President Carter’s steadfast commitment firsthand during his tenure as the Honorary Chair of our Board of Trustees. His impassioned advocacy served as a guiding force to continue protecting our state’s ecological diversity and cultural richness.
As we mourn his passing, we commit to future generations to uphold his legacy by protecting Alaska’s unmatched, intact, large landscapes.
