Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said Sunday he would recommend a large swath of Alaska be designated as wilderness, the highest level of federal protection, in a move angering state oil proponents.
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By setting aside 12.28 million acres (five million hectares) of public land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, as wilderness, the oil-rich area would be sealed off from roads and development, including drilling.
"I'm going to be calling on Congress to make sure they take it one step forward, designating it as a wilderness so we can make sure that this amazing wonder is preserved for future generations," Obama said in a video posted online.
If Congress approves the measure, it would mark the largest wilderness designation since the classification was created more than 50 years ago.