Sustainability

Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest national park in the country, is committed to being a green park. The park's goals are to reduce energy and water consumption, create and maintain environmentally-friendly buildings, reuse or recycle waste, reduce pollution, make green purchases, and promote a better understanding of the effects of climate change on natural and cultural resources.

Being Green also means recognizing the community's needs and deep connection to the land. Large in-tact ecosystems are vital to sustain the local Alaska Native and rural cultures. Relationships to the land are what lend a unique sense of place to Wrangell-St. Elias. Sustainability in culture, well functioning ecosystems, and minimal development are all central themes in the park's mandate as a National Park and Preserve as well as a designated World Heritage Site. Wrangell-St. Elias partners with ROAR, Recycle Our Area Resources in Glennallen, to help recycle items and organize the recycling facility.

The park has created a Green Team and developed a Recycling Plan with a phased approach to be implemented over the next few years. Other goals the Green Team is working on include the following: upgrades and plans involving sustainable facilities, installation of low flush toilets, LED lighting, water heaters, heating systems, cogeneration generator systems, water filling stations at several visitor centers/ranger stations and installing solar panels.