(Photos by Colton Stevens/Northeastern University)
The many lives of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge comprises more than 19 million acres of land in Northeastern Alaska. The debate over oil extraction in ANWR has flared for over 40 years, but development was finally authorized in 2017 with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Advocates argue that oil development would bring much needed revenue and jobs to the area, while others are concerned about the impacts on the landscape and vast amount of wildlife that call ANWR home.
This summer, I traveled to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to take photographs and learn more about the complex issues at hand. Please have a look at my story: