The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to protect 200,541 square miles of land in the north of Alaska as critical habitat for polar bears.

The polar bear was listed as threatened in May of 2008 due to loss of its sea ice habitat caused by climate change.

"Proposing critical habitat designation for this iconic species is one step in the right direction to help this species stave off extinction," said Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland.

The move comes a day after the State of Alaska filed a lawsuit trying to get polar bears de-listed from the Endangered Species Act. The act requires that "to the maximum extent possible" the government must designate critical habitat for listed species.

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell said some were "attempting to use the Endangered Species Act to shut down resource development."

The critical habitat designation doesn't create any new park, reserve, refuge, wilderness or other conservation area. But it would force federal agencies to make sure any activity - like oil and gas development - that they fund, carry out, or authorize doesn't impact polar bears.

The proposed critical habitat designation is now under a 60-day public comment period.

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