Partnership Provides Cooperative Solutions

Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership:
Working Cooperatively to Conserve Private Lands

The Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership is one of several Alaska-based partnerships recognized as part of the National Fish Habitat Plan. The National Fish Habitat Action Plan promotes locally-driven efforts that build private and public partnerships to improve fish habitat. Fish Habitat Action Plan partnerships are self-identified, self-organized, and self-directed communities of interest formed around geographic areas, keystone species, or system types.

This partnership is...
Locally and regionally based, driven by grassroots partners
Focused on protection, restoration and enhancement in key watersheds
Non-regulatory and voluntary
Science based
Linked nationally
Sustainable and accountable
Non-allocative

The Partnership offers landowners an alternative buyer for their lands in the event they decide to sell.

The Partnership works with foundations, corporations, governments, and individuals to raise support and funds to be used by agencies, land trusts and others to conserve private lands in cooperation with willing owners. The Partnership itself does not own land, hold easements or otherwise manage land.

The Partnership uses an ecosystem perspective that considers the biological requirements of fish and wildlife, along with their historic uses by local people, communities and others.

Conserving inholdings perpetuates the existing wild character of much of Southwest Alaska, which enhances the stability of fish and wildlife populations and in turn the regional economy, culture and life style.

Commercial fishing, subsistence, sport fishing and hunting, wilderness touring, and wildlife viewing all benefit from the Partnership’s private lands conservation focus.

Land management across the region will be enhanced within conservation units and on private and state lands as inholdings potentially subject to incompatible development are conserved. Trespass on Native corporation lands will be reduced. The land will remain natural and provide customary and traditional uses for the present and future generations.

By attaining the Partnership’s vision, the partners will not only ensure the natural health of Southwest Alaska, but will help sustain and enhance the economic and social health of the communities that share this special place.