WCS President and CEO Dr. Cristián Samper issues statement on oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

WASHINGTON (April 19, 2018) – WCS remains adamant that no oil and gas development should occur in one of America’s most unspoiled, treasured landscapes. 

A new report released today by WCS shows real world examples of how conservationists in the U.S. have successfully changed their conservation strategies to adapt to climate change.

December 19, 2017 -- The following statement is by WCS Senior Conservation Scientist George Schaller on allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is part of the tax bill expected to pass Congress and be signed into law this week. Schaller was part of the original scientific expedition in 1956 that led to the Refuge’s creation:

WASHINGTON (Nov. 13, 2017) – WCS today released a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), urging a rejection of pending legislation to open portions of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. 

WASHINGTON (October 19, 2017) – Today, an amendment was offered to the Senate’s budget resolution that would have stopped the effort to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling as a means to fund other priorities, including tax cuts. That amendment failed, and the budget subsequently passed, signifying one step closer to irreparable damage to one of America’s last remaining pristine places. 

WASHINGTON (September 29, 2017) – Allowing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would be an unnecessary and harmful despoiling of a place of great natural value to wildlife, to the people who rely on this land, and for the American public – both now and in the future.

Fairbanks, Alaska (June 2, 2017) – WCS released a statement in response to the Department of the Interior’s announcement that it will reopen a 2013 comprehensive management plan on the future of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.