Coalition begins developing caribou management plan

Frontiersman staff

ANCHORAGE — A coalition of hunters, reindeer herders, guides, conservationists and resource management agencies has begun a process to develop a new management plan for Alaska's largest caribou herd. Representatives of the western Arctic caribou herd working group met in Anchorage recently to kick off the planning effort.

"This will be a collaborative effort involving representatives of the various users of the herd and state and federal resource management agencies," said Randy Rogers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game planner guiding the project.

"Everyone I've talked to agrees long-term conservation of the herd is paramount. But to be successful, the plan needs to address related issues important to users of the herd," Rogers said.

Other concerns expressed at the recent meeting included possible development in Northwest Alaska, protection of subsistence hunting opportunities, and the need for cooperation among the many agencies and users involved in management of the herd.

The new plan will replace one written mostly by ADF&G biologists in 1984. The western Arctic herd has more than 400,000 caribou and supports subsistence hunters from about 50 small communities. It is affecting a struggling reindeer herding industry in western Alaska. Recreational hunters, guides, transporters and wilderness travelers are other important "stake holders" in the western Arctic herd.

Later this spring an initial list of issues and other information will be distributed for public review and comment.

A draft plan will be available for public review later in the year. For more information about the western Arctic caribou herd planning process contact Randy Rogers at (907) 459-7335 or John Trent at (907) 267-2191.