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Vol.
XXIV, No. 2—March/April, 1999
During
the last great ice age, wooly mammoths, wild horses, musk oxen, caribou,
and a host of other creatures migrated from Asia across the Bering Land
Bridge to the place we now know as Alaska. Following this rich resource
came nomadic hunters, among the first humans to inhabit the New World.
The wildlife these people sought provided not only food, shelter, and
clothing, but also a spiritual link with nature. Today, modern nomads-tourists-travel
from every corner of the globe to enjoy Alaska's wildlife treasures. At
the same time, Alaskans continue to depend on fish and wildlife for subsistence,
commerce, and quality of life. Balancing the needs of people and wildlife
in a fragile environment requires taking an ecosystem approach to resource
management. |
