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5 December 2020.
Introduction:
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in the Alaskan region in the USA. It is the largest wildlife reserve in the USA. USA holds oil rights in an area called ‘1002 area’ in the coastal plains. The Arctic oil is a source of new rivalries among the countries and this has been termed ‘New Cold War’. The US administration is set to sell its oil drilling rights in the controversial oil deposit site before the next US president takes office. On the other hand, Biden has opened doors to protect the Arctic Refuge.
About Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States.
- It is located along the coastal plains of the Beaurfort Sea.
What is the issue in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge?
- There has been political controversies going on in the region about drilling for oil.
- Apart from rivalries between countries, oil drilling in the region will affect the natural wildlife in the region terribly.
- The Porcupine Caribou will be the most affected.
- It will also affect the lives of the indigenous tribes in the region.
- The drilling will destroy the permafrost causing extensive damages to the lands.
- Apart from Porcupine Caribou, the region is also home to the travelling polar bears that reach the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to den and give birth.
- In all around 200 species of migrating birds and animals use the region as breeding and birthing spots.
Porcupine Caribou.
- The region is the breeding grounds of Porcupine caribou.
- They are migrating animals.
- They are named after their breeding and birthing grounds, the Porcupine river.
- The Porcupine Caribou is a type of reindeer.
- The IUCN lists it as “Vulnerable”. There
Legislation
- In 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 2017 that opened the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.