Climate Curve

Alaska Future Ecology Institute

Org Type

Nonprofit

Year Founded

2023

Link: LinkedIn:

Primary Project Category:

Secondary Project Category:

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)', 'Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Arctic rewilding directly affects communities that are often underrepresented in climate policy—Indigenous peoples, rural Alaskans, and youth. A core pillar of AFEI’s work is co-production of knowledge, where research questions and design decisions are shaped collaboratively with local Tribal members and rural residents. Early conversations are already informing priorities related to food security, subsistence species, culturally important plants, and land access.

Our research site is intentionally located in an accessible region so community members can visit, observe results, provide feedback, and participate in long-term monitoring. This approach ensures that Arctic rewilding is guided not only by scientific needs but by the lived realities of the people who depend on these ecosystems.

We also invest in youth education and career pathways, partnering with local schools and the University of Alaska to create hands-on opportunities in ecology, wildlife science, and climate research—resources that are scarce in rural Alaska.

Our team includes Indigenous and rural collaborators as well as social scientists who center community perspectives throughout the project. Our goal is a climate solution that is equitable, culturally grounded, and shaped by those most affected.

Website:

http://alaskafutureecology.org

Mission Statement:

AFEI advances Arctic rewilding as a climate solution by combining field experiments, ecosystem modeling, and public engagement to demonstrate how restoring large herbivores can cool the planet, protect permafrost carbon, and support biodiversity and local communities.