Alaska’s ‘Voice’ to Protect Wildlife

David Raskin Named NWRA’s 2022 Refuge Advocate Awardee; Event Sept. 14

Washington D.C.— July 20th, 2022

In Alaska, there may be no bigger voice than David Raskin when it comes to ensuring thriving wildlife populations and protection for the places they call home. For David’s passion and years of service in his role as co-founder, Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, a group that supports all 16 of Alaska’s national wildlife refuges, he has recently been named the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s 2022 Refuge Advocate Awardee. 

The Wildlife Refuge Awards dinner will take place on Wednesday, September 14 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC at 6 p.m. Media is welcome to attend and cover the program.

“David has developed strong relationships with refuge managers and other refuge staff throughout Alaska and has successfully developed many connections with the public and influencers to help alleviate threats to refuges,” said Nicole Whittington-Evans, Alaska Program Director, Defenders of Wildlife. “He provides timely and pertinent updates to colleagues and partners regarding refuge issues and has also published knowledgeable opinion pieces with key information that helped him and the Friends become trusted resources for refuge issues.”

Some of David’s major accomplishments include:

  • Development and serving as chair of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges’ Advocacy Committee, influencing programming and policies for Alaska’s refuges.

  • Engagement on the Arctic, Izembek, and Kenai National Wildlife Refuges.  These refuges have endured many significant and ongoing threats, and the past few years have been critical for all three.

  • Through David’s oral and written comments, opinion pieces, Congressional testimony, litigation activities, declarations, volunteer organizing, media communications and other activities, David has significantly contributed to the numerous wins experienced over the years for many of Alaska’s refuges.  These include repeatedly staving off Arctic Refuge oil and gas drilling for many years and achieving a 12-million-acre wilderness recommendation for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

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The National Wildlife Refuge Association is a non-profit exclusively focused on protecting, promoting, and enhancing the 850-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation.

For all media inquiries and questions please contact Eden Taylor, Communications Associate at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.