Alaska Conservation Foundation

ACF handles two programs called the Sustainable Southeast Partnership and Alaska’s Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. ACF also provides major support for Stand for Salmon, Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, and other affiliate environmental groups. ¹

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska (SAA) is a project of the Alaska Conservation Foundation. As an umbrella of the ACF, SAA’s primary focus is public policy related to the Tongass National Forest, Teshekpuk Lake, and Bristol Bay. ²

Scott Hed has worked for Alaska Conservation Foundation since 2001³ and has assisted ACF on Alaska environmental issues since that time. He was named Angler of the Year by Fly Rod & Reel magazine in 2014. ⁴ In 2006, Hed was placed in charge of the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska while working at ACF. ⁵ Despite living full time in Nicaragua,⁶ Hed continues to remain active on issues like the Pebble Mine, even offering to meet with the Governor of Alaska and the mine’s possible reopening. ⁷

Hed, who is also a contributor to the online site, Today Nicaragua, provides tips on retirement locations in the country of Nicaragua since living in the country. Hed moved to Nicaragua and sought, “a respite from northern winters, with a low cost of living and a bit of adventure,” he said. ⁸

Stand for Salmon

In 2018, ACF contributed $60,000 towards the campaign called Stand for Salmon. ⁹

In 2018, the ‘Stand for Salmon’ introduced a ballot initiative that would have “significantly toughened the environmental permitting process for mines, dams, and oil developments in salmon habitat.” Alaska voters overwhelmingly rejected the ballot proposal for tougher restrictions on mineral extraction in the state in 2018. ¹⁰

Funding

Alaska Conservation Foundation receives funding from a number of left-of-center environmentalist funder groups, including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,¹¹ the True North Foundation, ¹²the Wildlife Conservation Society,¹³ the Alaska Native Fund¹⁴ and EARTHSHARE. ¹⁵

Groups supported by ACF

ACF also supports, through grants, the Yukon River Intertribal Watershed, Alaska Center Education Fund, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Wilderness League, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Center for Alaska Coastal Studies, Cook Inletkeeper, Discovery Southeast, Earthjustice, Hoonah Indian Association, Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Kenai Watershed Forum, Klawock Cooperative Association, Native American Rights Fund, New Venture Fund, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Organized Village of Kake, Organized Village Kasaan, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Sitka Conservation Society, Southeast Alaska Consevation Council, Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, Sprute Root, Inc., the Nature Conservancy Alaska, Trout Unlimited, Trustees for Alaska, and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe. ¹⁶