A volunteer Board of Directors consisting of scientists, lawyers, and representatives of local communities, fishing and Alaska Native organizations, and conservation groups governs Trustees for Alaska. The Board provides overall policy direction and expert advice, approves the annual budget and work plan, and approves all litigation. Trustees for Alaska was incorporated December 16, 1974 pursuant to the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

Trustees for Alaska's History

Trustees for Alaska was established in 1974 to provide support to environmental organizations and community groups concerned about the impacts of construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System on the environment of Arctic and Interior Alaska, including impacts to water quality and wildlife habitat.  Our mission has since grown to include legal advice and counsel on issues relating to oil and gas development, mining, hazardous waste management, air pollution, water pollution, land use management and protection of marine ecosystems.  While our successes have set significant legal precedent in environmental law on state and national levels, the primary focus of our work is to benefit Alaska's environment and human communities.

Over the last 33 years, Trustees for Alaska has taken on legal issues relating to an array of state and federal environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Magnusen Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act, and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.  Trustees for Alaska works in close partnerships with client groups to ensure that the legal strategies we employ are integrated with their grassroots organizing efforts, education and media campaigns, administrative actions, and legislative initiatives.  To this end, we advise coalitions and partner with increasingly diverse individuals and groups in the development of strategies and campaigns to achieve needed protection for Alaska’s wilderness and human communities. 

Our current initiatives include work throughout the state, and focus on: (1) Protecting America’s unique Arctic ecosystems; (2) Stopping the impacts of global warming on Alaska’s human communities and ecosystems; (3) Protecting Alaska’s vast marine ecosystems; (4) Protecting Alaska’s spectacular wilderness areas, parks and refuges; (5) Assuring clean air, clean water, and continued access to subsistence resources; and (6) Promoting biodiversity for Alaska’s wildlife.