"Special Areas" refer to ADF&G’s State Game Refuges, State Game Sanctuaries, and Critical Habitat Areas . These areas are designated by the Legislature when it passes a statute describing the legal boundaries of the area, the purpose of the area, and any other specific management considerations for that particular area. Each of the different types of special area has a different general purpose although all provide habitat protection.

The Habitat Division implements a statewide special areas permitting program to manage land and water use activities within a special area. By regulation, permits are required for construction, placement, or continuing use of any improvement, structure, or real property within a special area; destruction of vegetation; detonation of an explosive other than a firearm; excavation, surface or shoreline altering activity, dredging, filling, draining, or flooding; natural resource or energy exploration, development, production, or associated activities; water diversion or withdrawal; off-road use of wheeled or tracked equipment unless the commissioner has issued a general permit under 5 AAC 95.770; waste disposal, placement, or use of a toxic substance; grazing or animal husbandry; and any other activity that is likely to have a significant effect on vegetation, drainage, water quality, soil stability, fish, wildlife, or their habitat, or which disturbs fish or wildlife other than lawful hunting, trapping, fishing, viewing, and photography. Contact the Habitat Division with questions about legal activities in Special Areas.

The Division of Wildlife Conservation manages visitor facilities, sanctuary access, and other management operations.

Each of the Special Areas has individual statutes; many of the areas also have management plans that have been adopted into regulation to guide permitting.