More Information About the Alaska Forum

About the Alaska Forum, Inc. - A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Our Organization:

The Alaska Forum, Inc was initially formed as an organization to support an annual educational event, The Alaska Forum on the Environment. This widely recognized event began in 1990 as the Alaska Federal Facility Environmental Roundtable as an annual conference focused on contaminants, hazardous waste cleanup, hazardous materials management, pollution prevention, etc. at federal facilities. It was expanded by an agreement, called the Statement of Cooperation, with the leadership of environmental regulators, military departments, and federal agencies. Since then, to operate and finance an event the size of the Alaska Forum on the Environment, the Alaska Forum, Inc. has become a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to support this annual educational event and our extended mission to promote effective cooperation, communication and education in Alaska.

The Alaska Forum Mission:

Alaskans working together to promote effective cooperation, communication and education.

Our Program and Project Missions:

Alaska Forum on the Environment Mission:

Alaskans working together to promote a clean, healthy environment through communication and education.

The Alaska Forum and our programs or projects will not take political or advocacy positions. The Alaska Forum works to promote a more productive and efficient relationship between government agencies, businesses, organizations, tribes and the public by:

developing a more common understanding and educational foundation;
providing opportunity for the exchange of information and experiences; and
understanding the diversity of opinions and concerns of others.

Our Process:

The Alaska Forum on the Environment results from the efforts of a diverse group of organizations that serve as our Planning Committee and seeks to provide an open exchange of ideas and information, in a respectful and courteous atmosphere. The structure of the event allows the opportunity to reach a greater understanding of the issues and of each other among the full range of participants, rural and urban; industry and private, agency and public, students and scholars ...and those who are just plain interested in the environment!

Our event is planned with the dedicated support of volunteers who work in a team approach and are respectful of the diversity of opinions and perspectives of all Alaskans. We actively seek agenda input throughout the planning process. While most topics are informational, others present more complex challenges and environmental issues. We actively work to best address all issues, including those that are complex, by structuring sessions to encourage problem solving and present the variety of perspectives and alternative viewpoints. We encourage the opportunity for an informed and respectful dialogue with all of our presenters.

The Alaska Forum on the Environment, and other Alaska Forum programs and projects do not take political or advocacy positions.

If you are interested in helping to shape the agenda of the Alaska Forum on the Environment, please feel free to contact us as your support is welcome!

The result is a hugely diverse agenda, with more than 160 Presenters, 80 Breakout Sessions, and 7 Keynote Events. Topics and the presenters range from Alaska's communities, to federal, state and tribal government agencies, international organizations and governments, to those most specialized in technical science and the environment.

Our Funding:

The Alaska Forum on the Environment is supported as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. Approximately 40% of our funding is provided by our leadership partners in voluntary contributions and sponsorships. Our leadership partners are organizations that have committed to invest both staff resources and funding to the Alaska Forum on the Environment. 8% of our funding is supported by Alaska industries and businesses and the remaining 52% of the event funding is directly supported by the event registration fees. We limit all organization or sponsor contributions to a maximum of $15,000 to ensure that our funding support sources represent the diversity we attempt to achieve within the Alaska Forum on the Environment.

Our Commitment:

The Alaska Forum on the Environment actively solicits partners that can provide constructive input in our team approach. We value the individuals and the organizations that work with us in a statewide spirit of cooperation to achieve this premier event. We believe that we can find positive ways to achieve environmental benefits though cooperative approaches, partnerships, listening and sharing information and ideas in a respectful forum. We believe that effective communication can provide the foundation for Alaska's environmental community. Our mission is to promote a healthy environment through communication and education and we welcome support from those who share in this goal.

General Information:

The Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) is a statewide gathering of environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit and for-profit businesses, community leaders, Alaskan youth, conservationists, biologists and community elders. The diversity of attendees sets this conference apart from any other.

Each year, over 1,300 people attended AFE to learn more about the environment and meet other Alaskans that work in the environmental field. The Planning Committee includes representatives from the: Environmental Protection Agency, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, US Navy, Mineral Management Service, Department of the Interior, Alaska Native Science Commission, ConocoPhillips, Ecology & Environment, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Alaska Department of Homeland Security and many others. The Committee contracts with The Coordinators, Inc. to help us manage conference logistics and registration. Please see our Leadership Page page for more information.

The Forum provides an opportunity for State, local, Federal, military, private, and Native leaders and professionals to come together and discuss the latest projects, processes, and issues that affect us here in Alaska.

The main Forum sessions will be Monday through Wednesday. Each of those days will feature a special keynote speaker. The last 2 days of the Forum are more focused sessions on topics that may take a full day or more.

What does Alaska Forum on the Environment offer?

AFE offers a broad range of plenary sessions with nationally recognized keynote speakers. There are over 80 breakout sessions which are organized by subject tracks including: climate change, emergency response, environmental regulations, fish and wildlife populations, rural issues, energy, military issues, business issues, pollution prevention, contaminants, and others. In the past five years, AFE has offered technical sessions on a diversity of environmental issues such as; alternative energy sources for rural villages, subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering on federal lands, biological studies, bioterrorism, cruise ship initiative update, effects of climate change, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, military environmental restoration, and tribal and federal government-to-government policies.

The Forum includes presentations and panels as well as a session on environmental career opportunities, a variety of organizational meetings, training classes, social events, vendor displays/information booths, and a "Talking Circle" with community leaders and tribal elders. Several keynote speakers are featured in plenary sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.