Safeguarding the Gates of the Arctic

The mountain kingdom of the Gates of the Arctic is America’s second largest national park, which spans nearly 8.5 million acres. Straddling the heart of the 700-mile Brooks Range mountains, the Gates features soaring granite spires, lofty alpine peaks, and dozens of wild rivers. At the heart of the park lies the traditional Nunamiut village of Anaktuvuk Pass which relies on the annual passage of the Central Arctic caribou herd.

But this same park, which contains no roads or trails, is also deeply connected to the Native people who have stewarded the land since time immemorial — some of whom own Native allotments inside the park. Over the past four decades, The Conservation Fund has partnered with Native landowners of Anaktuvuk Pass to protect eight parcels in the Gates of the Arctic, safeguarding key locations where seasonal concentrations of caribou, Arctic char, and nesting birds occur.

The Deep Cultural Roots of Native Allotments

Beginning in 1906, Alaska Natives were able to claim lands where they had longstanding histories of traditional use through the Native Allotment Act. Often, these were places where fish and wildlife gathered — vital locations for subsistence hunting for the historically semi-nomadic people who called what is now Gates of the Arctic National Park home.

Two of the allotments we protected sit on Chandler Lake, just west of Anaktuvuk Pass. Reachable only by float plane, the lake is home to multiple species of native fish, which draw grizzlies to its shores.

Aerial landscape view of the town of Anaktuvuk Pass, located in Gates of the Arctic National Park in northern Alaska.

Why Small Places Matter in Big Landscapes

The Arctic may appear vast and uniform, but life concentrates in specific locations at specific times. Because allotments are often located in these strategic ecological hotspots — places where fish and wildlife naturally concentrate — they carry an outsized influence on surrounding landscapes. Protecting even a small tract can safeguard migration routes, subsistence resources, and wildlife gathering areas across vast regions.

Yet many original Native allotment holders are now elders. Some have no heirs who want to manage remote lands, while others see ownership becoming increasingly fragmented across generations, weakening personal connections to the property. As ties become more tenuous, parcels are more frequently being placed on the open market — where buyers may view them as prime locations for lodges, airstrips, hunting operations, or other commercial development.

Protecting a Legacy for Wildlife, Culture, and Community

The Conservation Fund is partnering with Alaska Native landowners looking to sell these critical Native allotments within the Arctic — protecting wildlife migration routes, preserving subsistence landscapes, and strengthening the integrity of this extraordinary national treasure.

In a region defined by vastness, these small but vital places demonstrate how targeted conservation can safeguard entire ecosystems and cultures. By protecting the sites where animals gather and people have relied on the land for generations, The Conservation Fund is helping ensure that the Arctic remains a living landscape — one where wildlife thrives, traditions endure, and the rhythms of the Arctic continue unchanged.

Safeguarding the Gates of the Arctic

The Deep Cultural Roots of Native Allotments

Why Small Places Matter in Big Landscapes

Protecting a Legacy for Wildlife, Culture, and Community

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