267. Lynda Mapes: America's Arctic: Too Precious to Lose

 The northernmost stretches of Alaska host an environmental wonder that very few people will connect with in their lives — millions of acres of largely undisturbed public land along the Arctic Circle. This region contains pristine tundra landscapes, unrestricted rivers shaped only by nature, and unique wildlife like polar bears, the only caribou herds in the United States, and more aquatic birds than can be found in any other Arctic wetland. And while the features and roles of these lands may be foreign to many even within the United States, science writer Lynda Mapes is committed to the importance of preserving one of America's most significant wildlands against a newly emboldened push of political interference. Join veteran journalist Mapes alongside longtime Arctic defenders for a multifaceted presentation on the wonder of these lands and the risks they face under a new agenda under the Trump administration, angling for maximum oil, gas, and mineral extraction in Alaska. The evening will open with an excerpt from the film *The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness* — shot by *National Geographic* photographer Florian Schulz — showcasing the spectacular beauty of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and urgency of protecting it. Mapes will then present on her own reporting just completed in the Arctic, with photography from the field taken in the actively threatened National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Her findings will expand on the non-commercial value of these wildlands that act as home to ancient Native cultures and some of the most important bird, salmon, caribou, and polar bear habitats on the planet. Already vulnerable to rapid changes brought on by the climate crisis, Mapes emphasizes the critical nature of keeping these lands shielded from the lasting impacts of development, drilling, and the selling of public lands. Learn why everyone is connected to what happens next in America's Arctic—and what you can do to protect it. **Lynda Mapes** is an award-winning journalist and science writer. She is the author of six books on the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest, including *The Trees are Speaking* and *Orca: Shared Waters Shared Home*. She worked previously as an environment reporter for *The Seattle Times* — focusing on nature, Native cultures and governments, and environmental news throughout her 27 years with the *Times*. She was named a finalist for a team award for the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 2025 and serves on the board of the Northwest Science Writers Association. * * * *Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Braided River.* [**](https://www.braidedriver.org/)