Aleut International Association ABSI/the US Fish and Wildlife Service have a shared interest in conservation efforts that benefit communities and the natural and cultural resources they depend on in the Aleutians and Bering Sea region. The following proposed joint venture would leverage expertise, resources and the regional credibility of both entities to achieve mutually beneficial and outcomes over two years (2017-2019). It would expand upon current AIA efforts to gather input from all stakeholders in the region including: communities, tribal entities, and governmental in order to better inform resource management in the region. It would also improve communication between all the stakeholders, especially regional tribal organizations and neighboring communities and government agencies who are working in partnership with the ABSI.
The central objective of the proposed work is to increase community engagement and promote the integration of socio-cultural and economic values into landscape conservation planning efforts with special focus on stressors identified in the ABSI LCC’s Strategic Science Plan including climate change, invasive species, vessel traffic, and contaminants.
