The protected roadless areas provide vital habitat for 1,500 wildlife species and drinking water supplies for 60 million Americans. United States. After years of collective advocacy, the Biden administration reinstated the Roadless Rule fully in January 2023. The Tongass National Forest extends through the panhandle of Southeast Alaska. And when returning salmon die in Tongass waters, the nutrients they carry from the ocean are embedded in the soil each salmon carcass contains 130 grams of nitrogen and 20 grams of phosphorus, concentrations that well exceed commercial fertilizer. We respect your privacy. Naveena Sadasivam is a contributing writer fromGrist.org. The analysis also found that 63 percent of the forest acreage razed between 2001 and 2014 had been transferred out of federal ownership. Nonpartisan forever. Tongass National Forest floatplanes. When it does snow, it melts in a few days, and drought conditions have allowed the hemlock sawfly, which feeds on the foliage, to thrive. The latest land conservation wins, action alerts, and more (monthly). As forests across the globe have fallen to the axe and other human-caused encroachments, wild salmon have suffered. Michael PEnn The exemption will allow logging on more than half of North America's largest . Ken Rait is a director for The Pew Charitable Trusts U.S. public lands and rivers conservation project. Hows the Biden Administration Doing on the Climate Crisis? The analysis also found that 63 percent of the forest acreage razed between 2001 and 2014 had been transferred out of federal ownership. We believe our approach to stewardship should be integrated and collaborative, with community involvement from development to implementation in order to meet the needs of our customers. Salmon are creatures of habit. Audubon Alaskas collaborative approach includes all key stakeholders: conservation groups, the timber industry, commercial fishing groups, tourism officials, Alaskas Native people, southeastern Alaska communities, the U.S. Forest Service, and Alaska Fish and Game. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Last week, the Biden administration restored protections for the worlds largest intact temperate rainforest, reversing a Trump-era initiative that opened up millions of acres to road-building and logging. Alaska Conservation Foundations long-time partners Southeast Alaska Conservation Council,Sitka Conservation Society, Renewable Energy Alaska Project and The Nature Conservancynow work together in meaningful ways with Alaska Native corporations, regional economic development organizations and local municipalities that have historically been focused more heavily on resource extraction. Salmon dont climb the Tongass trees, at least in the literal sense. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska covers 16.7 million acres an area larger than West Virginia and is home to old-growth Sitka spruce and cedars. Instead, we rely on our readers topitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. Understorynot only showcases the majestic,verdant landscape of the Tongass and the abundantwildlifethat live there, but the filmunveils thedestructivelogging of old-growth trees in one of thelast intact rainforests in the world. For more specific information related to the Tongass National Forest, please . The cold usually kills the little insects that feed on a tree, said Jackson. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Coast Mountains and Canadian border on the east, the lush greenery of the Tongass National Forest spans 500 miles of Southeast Alaska. Those protections were reinstated on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Telling people in Arizona they shouldnt care about the Tongass is like telling people in Alaska they shouldnt care about the Grand Canyon, says Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). Performance & security by Cloudflare. We believe this innovative and balanced approach represents the next phase of the environmental movement and may eventually be replicated across the globe in communities facing similar challenges. We arepushingCongress topass the Roadless Area Conservation Act. For joining the movement to save our lands. We know that the age of a forests trees is an importantfactorin how good it is at absorbing carbon pollution. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. (Mark Meyer / U.S. Forest Service), A stream runs through the ancient tress of the Tongass National Forest. Meanwhile, large areas that were clearcut are slowly growing back into dense thickets of young trees that are nearly impenetrable to wildlife. Last week, the Biden administration restored protections for the world's largest intact temperate rainforest, reversing a Trump-era initiative that opened up millions of acres to road-building and logging. Additionally, the Tongass is the ancestral homeland and current home of numerous Indigenous Alaskans. Restoring the Roadless Rule does little to prevent federal land swaps that can open up the Tongass to logging. A Monumental Win for Birds, Butterflies, and Other Imperiled Wildlife, Lo Que Usted Necesita Saber Sobre El Techo De La Deuda Y Sus Impactos En La Economa Y El Medio Ambiente, Agriculture, Climate, and 2023 Farm Bill (A 3-Part Blog Series), What You Need to Know About the Debt Ceiling and Its Impacts on the Economy and the Environment. It is a land where the forest meets the sea and as such, it supports some of the largest wild salmon populations left anywhere in the world. Farlows photographs have long educated and inspired followers of her Instagram feed. "The Tongass National Forest is the world's largest remaining temperate rainforest and the most intact forest in the U.S. The Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaskaone of the world's last intact temperate rainforestshelps feed Americans across the country, enriches the environment, and contributes to a tourism economy that surrounding communities depend on. We protect birds and the places they need. Opened in 1978, our Alaska regional office works to safeguard public lands, waters, and wildlife from destructive oil and gas drilling, mining, and logging, and to protect the region's marine and coastal ecosystems. Even with the Roadless Rule firmly back in place, however, threats to the Tongass remain. Western hemlock and Sitka spruce grow three times faster near salmon streams, and berry bushes will develop larger berries with more numerous seeds. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska covers 16.7 million acres an area larger than West Virginia and is home to old-growth Sitka spruce and cedars. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Private interests, having already logged their own portion of this ancient forest, constantly lobby Congress to put more of the Tongass in private hands. These salmon provide a hearty meal for grizzlies, black bears, bald eagles, and other wildlife that thrive in the Tongass. Wolves. Explore, renew, and refresh among the islands and along the coastline and take home exciting memories of adventures in Alaska. Bald eagles swoop low over the forests dense canopy. Mining is a serious threat to the Tongass National Forest streams, too, particularly . Bald eagles swoop low over. Humpback whales. The Tongass National Forest accounts for nearly one-third of all the temperate rainforest left on earth. Born in freshwater streams, where they mature into adulthood, they then seek out life in the ocean for one to seven years. Jackson said that in recent years the region has received very little rain and has experienced drought an unusual phenomenon for a rainforest. Deer, moose, and black bears roam wild, and salmon swim in the forests streams. January 25, 2023 This Dreamy Alaskan Rainforest is a Buffer Against Climate Change Thanks to collective advocacy, 9 million acres of Tongass National Forest are no longer threatened by new clear-cut logging. Forest Service photo by Jon Gellings. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Its just too warm.. Instead, we rely on our readers topitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. Its vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. But the Tongass is under a threat encompassing more than just the trees in this distinctive ecosystem. When youre walking through old-growth, its like walking in one of the greatest cathedrals in the world.. Audubons goal is to conserve intact, ecologically significant watersheds in the Tongass and support the transition of forest management from the harvest of old-growth trees to more diversified uses. Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, Phone:907-225-3101
In 2001, the Roadless Ruleprotectedthe wildest parts of the Tongass and other national forests fromlogging and other industrialdevelopment. TTY:907-228-6222
The old-growth forests of the Tongass are well-suited to absorbing and trapping greenhouse gas pollution that drives climate change. Most recently, the Trump administration repealed the Roadless Rule for more than 9 million acres of the Tongass. Without it, we dont have a business, says Cameo Padilla, who runs Equinox, a business offering private adventure cruises in Sitka, Alaska. All rights reserved. The rule has been weakened by legal challenges and the revisions of subsequent presidential administrations some of them more friendly to logging interests. Your contribution is tax-deductible. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska covers 16.7 million acres an area larger than West Virginia and is home to old-growth Sitka spruce and cedars. But for that to continue, the Tongassmustremainintact. The U.S. Forest Service continues to offer large tracts of this old-growth forest for intensive logging. Tongass National Forest, sometimes referred to as America's Salmon Forest, is 17 million acres of relatively pristine habitat for fish and wildlife, extending from Yakutat in the north to the Canadian border in the southa distance of over 500 miles. When it does snow, it melts in a few days, and drought conditions have allowed the hemlock sawfly, which feeds on the foliage, to thrive. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Share sensitive information only
Watch Understory below For two decades, the wildest parts of the Tongasswereprotected from logging and otherextractive industries. The Tongass has a high density of black and brown bears, which thrive on the abundant salmon in the Alaskan creeks. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. During the period studied,Tongass timbersalerevenue covered just 5.4% of the cost of administeringthosesamesales. Your IP: The Tongass now faces as great athreat as ever, which is why its criticalweact now. Fax:907-228-6215, https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tongass/home, Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS), Proposed Recreation Fees Information and Comment Page, Staying Safe on the Tongass National Forest, Tongass 5-Year Timber Sale Schedule - December 2021, Tongass National Forest - Forest Plan Amendment, Tongass National Forest Sustainable Cabin Strategy. Audubons approach protects biodiversity while supporting sustainable economic development. Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. The Roadless Rule is "central to making sure that these remote areas are managed in a way that is smart, that's forward looking, and that's responsive to the economic values in the region," he added. Here, Sitka spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar, some standing 200 feet tall, play ancient stewards to a teeming ecosystem where grizzly bear, moose and river otter roam and salmon surge upstream. (Carlos Rojas / Getty Images), exempted the Tongass from the Roadless Rules protection, roughly a quarter of Alaskas commercial salmon catch, each salmon carcass contains 130 grams of nitrogen and 20 grams of phosphorus, ancient forests like the Tongass are transformed into carbon emitters, decade left before the damage from climate change becomes irreversible. Questions and comments regarding projects listed in the SOPA should be directed to the Project Contact shown in the SOPA. The recreation fees charged at Forest Service managed sites contribute to the stewardship of these special places. It provides a deep-rooted sanctuary for some of the world's densest concentrations of bears, and is under threat. Thereis an opportunity to return roadlessprotectionsto theTongass aspart of effortsto protectall undeveloped national forestspermanently. Unfortunately,once those old trees are gone, its not as simple asjust growing a new forest. Belowyoull find some facts andfigures,cited in the film andelsewhere, about what makes old-growth forests like the Tongass so special and why its critical we protect it from wholescale logging and development. Years from now, it may look very different. Weve never moved. Katherine Prussian. Protecting freshwater in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for birds and people. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Earthjustice celebrates this huge victory for the climate, wildlife, and local Indigenous communities. A humpback whale breaches in Seymour Canal with a backdrop of Mt. The Tongass is one of the biggest carbon sinks in the country. It took hundreds of years for those old-growth trees to be there, theres no comparison to what the old-growth brings to us. The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule designates about a third of our national forests as roadless.. The Tongass old-growth treesabsorb andstore more carbon than any other national forest, making them one of the best solutions to the climate crisis. This will help mitigate threats from legislation, including the recently passed omnibus defense bill, that will make a substantial portion of the last remaining large-tree old-growth forest . Now you can spend 40 minutes on a journey through the Tongass NationalForest,learningabout its 800-year-old trees and thepolicies and people that threatenitssurvival. Click to reveal Situated in the southeast corner of Alaska, the 17 million-acre temperate rainforest is unparalleled in its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Elsa Sebastian, a commercial anglerand Alaskapanhandlenative, setsoutonaground-truthing expeditionwithNatalie Dawson, a field biologist, and Mara Menahan, a botanical illustrator,in an effort tobetter understandthe threats to theold-growthforest. All rights reserved. Stop the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Extinction Act, Help Save America's Birds & Other Wildlife. As we celebrate our anniversary and look ahead to our next 75 years, achieving measurable, meaningful change will continue to be at the heart of our mission. The authors looked at 48 big forest plots around the worldand found thatthe largest 1% of treescomprise50% of liveforestbiomass. Amid the lush ferns and mossy remnants of fallen trees, one might see a brown bear ambling its way to a salmon stream, in search of its next meal. Along the southern reaches of Alaska's coast, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Canada, lies the Tongass, America's largest national forest. Nearly half a million people submitted public comments on the Trump administrations decision, with the vast majority calling for the Roadless Rule to remain in place. Porpoises. Its the least you can do. (
Audubon members protect birds. Oct 28, 2020. Congress can approve the exchange of federally-protected lands for private tracts. Facebook, Follow us on Thanks to the diligence of Alaska conservation groups, the timber sale was blocked by a federal judge in September 2019. And timber jobs represent just under 1% of jobs in the region, according to data from the regional development corporation Southeast Conference. Protecting shorebirds in habitats especially vulnerable to development and climate threats. The Tongass is also reeling from the effects of a warming planet. If these massive carbon sticks are cut down, ancient forests like the Tongass are transformed into carbon emitters. It was a privilege to observe bears in the wild, Farlow writes on @PewEnvironment, although I admit I was relieved when the floatplane that dropped me off returned.. Plan to Lift Roadless Rule in Alaska's Tongass National Forest Threatens Economy and More. YouTube. In conjunction with our additional collaborative conservation initiatives, this unique partnership is helping lead the way to Alaskas future by figuring out how conserving and protecting the natural environment happens alongside community development and healthy local economies. Help us fight back. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 51.222.43.14 Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress. The Tongass is the nation's largest national forest and covers most of Southeast Alaska, surrounding the famous Inside Passage and offers unique chances to view eagles, bears, spawning salmon, and the breath-taking vistas of "wild" Alaska.
[email protected], 1227 W. 9th Ave., Suite 300 Yet further clearcutting will come at the expense of those who rely on the intact forest to support the regions healthy fishing and tourism industries. The Tongass in its natural state has inherently more value on all fronts., Storing nearly a billion tons of climate-warming carbon, Scientists have described the Tongass as the lungs of the country. This is because the Tongass has stored close to a billion tons of climate-warming carbon keeping it from being released into the atmosphere. Sumdum in Southeast Alaska. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Although 96% of the public support keeping the Roadless Rule in the Tongass, the government is working to remove this protection, putting people, birds, and the planet at risk. The Tongass National Forest ( / ts /) in Southeast Alaska is the largest U.S. National Forest at 16.7 million acres (26,100 sq mi; 6,800,000 ha; 68,000 km 2 ). We fileda federal lawsuitchallenging the rollback of protections on behalf of five Alaska Native Tribes, Southeast Alaska small businesses, and conservation organizations. Showcasingthe majestic landscape of the Tongass,Understorychronicles anexpeditiontobetter understandthe threats to theold-growthforest. The rule has been weakened by legal challenges and the revisions of subsequent presidential administrations some of them more friendly to logging interests. At Grist, we dont believe in paywalls. SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. (Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images), ------------------------------------------, reinstated on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vast swaths of the forest continue to be logged, Department of Agriculture announced a four-pronged plan, federal government's obligation to consult with tribes. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. A videohighlighting how nature, people, and tradition come together on the Tongass National Forest. The plan also prioritizes engaging in meaningful consultation with tribes a marked departure from the practices under the Trump administration, according to Jackson. Alternative Six would, devastatingly, fully exempt the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 National Roadless Rule. And for thousands of years, people have made their home there as well. As a result, 88,000 acres have been transferred out of the Tongass National Forest to groups with logging interests since 2015. They breathe in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which helps counter greenhouse gas emissions and shrinks our carbon footprint. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska covers 16.7 million acres an area larger than West Virginia and is home to old-growth Sitka spruce and cedars. We take on many of the biggest environmental and health challenges of our time and stick with them. Our business is about experiencing the beauty of the Tongass and the ecosystem it supports. A controversial Clinton-era policy called the Roadless Rule banned logging, roadbuilding, and other extractive industrial activity in the Tongass and other national forests. The Tongass National Forest is one of the planet's truly exceptional landscapesthe largest temperate rainforest on Earth. This will help mitigate threats from legislation, including the recently passed omnibus defense bill, that will make a substantial portion of the last remaining large-tree old-growth forest vulnerable to timber cutting. We quantified biomass and soil organic carbon (C) by land use designation, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs), young and productive old-growth forests (POGs . It is a land where the forest meets the sea and as such, it supports some of the largest wild salmon populations left anywhere in the world. More than 200 species of birds, including bald eagles. And time is running out for Americans to urge the White House to shelve that plan. The Roadless Rule protects our nations forests from clear-cut logging and roadbuilding. Additionally, up until recently the forests on Prince of Wales Island were under threat from the largest old-growth timber sale on the Tongass in nearly 30 years. In 2021, Sealaska and the Tongass National Forest both announced intentions to transition away from large-scale old-growth logging. But Alaska Conservation Foundation believes it will only remain this way if we continue to support both the advocacy efforts of our partners who are vigilant to immediate threats, alongside long-term, big picture, proactive approaches where communities and a healthy environment co-exist. Old logging roads fall into disrepair, filling salmon streams with erosion and blocking the way for fish. Bears. Changing or repealing this rule will lead to nothing but environmental degradation in these vital forest ecosystems. "It's just very important that we keep [the forest] intact," said Joel Jackson, president of the Organized Village of Kake, a federally recognized tribe located on the forest's edge. When old-growth trees are logged, theyreleasecarbonback into the atmosphere,exacerbatingtheclimate crisis rather than helping it. The Tongass is the nation's largest national forest and covers most of Southeast Alaska, surrounding the famous Inside Passage and offers unique chances to view eagles, bears, spawning salmon, and the breath-taking vistas of "wild" Alaska. Those protections were reinstated on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Residents of Southeast Alaska are speaking out to protect this special place. Instagram, Follow us on Then theTrump administration removed those protections. vast swaths of the forest continue to be logged, Department of Agriculture announced a four-pronged plan, federal governments obligation to consult with tribes, The unexpected barrier preventing American small towns from accessing federal climate funds, Louisianas landmark climate adaptation program is running out of time, Experts sound the alarm on toxic chemicals ahead of plastic treaty negotiations, Montanas new anti-climate law may be the most aggressive in the nation, This LA teen is suing her school district and the USDA to promote nondairy milk, The landmark trial that could determine who pays to rid Americas drinking water of PFAS, The global plastics treaty can fight climate change if it reduces plastic production, Another climate tipping point to worry about: Plankton, Grist teams up with Here & Now on weekly radio partnership. Even with the Roadless Rule firmly back in place, however, threats to the Tongass remain. In the Tongass National Forest these roadless areas provide nesting trees for birds like the Queen Charlotte Goshawk and Red-breasted Sapsucker. Facebook, Follow us on The Forest Service accepted public comments on the project until December 17, 2019.They are now in the process of developing the final Environmental Impact Statement, which is expected to be released in mid 2020, after which they will make a decision. Alaska Natives have made a home among its meandering streams and lush vegetation for thousands of years. By reinstating roadless protections to the Tongass National Forest, the U.S. can avert damage to the forest, honor Indigenous peoples, support local economies, fight climate change, and help ensure that the Tongass serves the interests of all Americans far into the future. Join The Pew Charitable Trusts in encouraging the U.S. Forest Service to protect the Tongass. Here,Sitka spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar, somestanding 200feet tall,play ancient stewards to a teeming ecosystem where grizzly bear, moose and river otter roam and salmon surge upstream. We wander the same course they did, he says. This has been our ancestors homes. Seaotters. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. They protect a network of salmon-rich rivers and streams that are an important resource for local communities. Federal Building
Copyright 1996-2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Sincetree size is closely correlated with carbon capacity,thatmeans thebiggest, oldest trees are doing more than their fair shareofcarbon pollution absorption. Spread the word. Its just very important that we keep [the forest] intact, said Joel Jackson, president of the Organized Village of Kake, a federally recognized tribe located on the forests edge. Help get Tongass National Forest protections across the finish line, How much more carbon pollution forests absorb if theyre left intact, Amount of time it takes for new trees to recoup carbon-sequestration capacity from old, felled trees, Share of carbon absorbed by the largest 1% of trees, How much logging in the Tongass has cost taxpayers since 1999, Margin by which tourism jobs outnumber timber jobs in Southeast Alaska, 3 reasons ramped-up logging in our biggest national forest could be a disaster, Why its important to keep the wildest forests free of roads and logging, 5 reasons Tongass National Forest is worth fighting for, Tongass accounts forabout8%of thecarbon sequestered, carbon density in unmanaged forests is 60% higher, unable to store large amounts of carbon withouta population oflarge trees, tree size is closely correlated with carbon capacity, biggest, oldest trees are doing more than their fair share, the federal governmenthas lostnearly$600 million, an economic development board focused on Southeast Alaska, WATCH: New film documents threats to Tongass National Forest, need for protection. On August 2, 2018 the U.S. Forest Service announced that it signed an agreement with the State of Alaska to roll back the Roadless Rule, opening the Tongass National Forest to new road construction that would allow for increased resource extraction in the form of old-growth timber logging. The smells, the sights, everything about it. The forest influences . So its not surprising that two-thirds of voters in the area around the forest oppose logging these lands or allowing it only in areas where logging roads already exist. An increasingly rare global treasure, it contains the largest intact stands of coastal temperate rainforest left on the planet. ". Reader support helps sustain our work. Saline lakes and their associated wetlands throughout Intermountain West create a network of critical habitat that millions of birds depend on for breeding, resting and feeding during migration, and wintering. Tracy and Endicott are two long and narrow arms of saltwater that are Juneau Ranger District bordered by steep rock walls and glacier-covered mountains. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The Tongass is also reeling from the effects of a warming planet. An official website of the
Ever wonder what it feels like to hug an 800-year-old tree? We were unable to process your request. Comprised of thousands of mist-covered islands, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers and ethereal muskegs, the Tongass is an ideal home for wild salmon. Seeking Auwo: Inside the Search to Find a Secretive Tropical Bird Lost to Science, This Wave Theory of Spring Migration Will Prepare You for Your Next Birding Outing, Get a full year of Audubon Magazine delivered, Access a free guide of more than 800 species of North American birds, Discover the impacts of climate change on birds and their habitats, Learn more about the birds you love through audio clips, stunning photography, and in-depth text. If you take the forest away from us, youre basically taking our food, Jackson says. The Tongass is our nations largest National Forestthe Crown Jewel. Other economic development, including tourism projects, is permitted. website belongs to an official government organization in the
In 2020, the Trump administrationexempted the Tongass from the Roadless Rules protectionand opened areas to logging, including centuries-old stands of old-growth trees. Alaskas Tongass National Forest, nearly 17 million acres, includes a significant portion of the worlds last remaining temperate rainforest. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. The Tongass National Forest (Modified) Tongass Rain forest 08 . The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is our nation's largest national forest, nearly 17 million acres in size. They're taking more time and trying to listen.". Oneofthe worldslastintact temperate rainforestsisinjeopardy. Audubon has analyzed, mapped, and described the Tongasss coastal forests to identify areas of greatest ecological value. It's also a place of significance for Indigenous communities and key to providing sources of clean water and food. A young grizzly bear stands tall on Admiralty Island in the Tongass National Forest. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. Inother words, forests like the Tongassaremost effectiveinhelpingthe climate crisiswhenleft standing. As a result, 88,000 acres have been transferred out of the Tongass National Forest to groups with logging interests since 2015. On the other hand, tourism and commercial fishing are booming representing close to 12,000 jobs and nearly $500 million in workforce earnings. Additionally, our national forests, includingthe Tongass, face major threats from climate change. Release Date: May 26, 2023Ketchikan, Alaska, Release Date: May 25, 2023Yakutat, Alaska, Release Date: May 23, 2023Juneau, Alaska. Most of its area is temperate rain forest and is remote enough to be home to many species of endangered and rare flora and fauna. The final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Forest Service on its plan to lift protections from the roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest ignores threats to diverse wildlife habitat, old-growth forests, and the rural economies of Southeast Alaska. Unfortunately, the Tongass towering trees came under attack during the Trump administration. Logging in southeast Alaska is far from profitable. It also invests money in local communities to identify ways to conserve natural resources while increasing economic opportunities in the region. When we dont protect those places we start eroding our ability to save our climate.. We'reasking theBiden administration to reinstate the Roadless Ruleonthe Tongass National Forest, which would restoreprotections againstloggingand other industrialdevelopment. Water stored in glaciers creeps out to the sea. With a decade left before the damage from climate change becomes irreversible, we need those trees now more than ever. The agency plans to allow logging more than half of North America's largest intact rainforest. The draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project was released on October 19th. (Kenneth J. Gill / CC BY 2.0), Wanda Culp, who lives in the Tongass, traveled to Washington, D.C., in 2019 to advocate for the forest. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Sealaska is shifting toward an approach focused on healthy communities, healthy oceans and a sustainable future while supporting the carbon sequestration projects of smaller Alaska Native corporations. Don't miss our latest facts, findings, and survey results in The Rundown. The Tongass National Forest is also one of the most significant remaining temperate rainforests in the world. Between then and October 2020, the Roadless Rule shielded the most sensitive parts of the Tongass. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, and the Forest Service have chosen Alternative Six as their preferred option. United States government. Tongass National Forest has been calledour last climate sanctuary, a key weapon"for fighting climate changeand eventhenationspremierclimateinsurance policy.The reason:big,old-growth trees are highly effective at trapping climate-warming greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing(or sequestering)itand no forestin the U.S. has more of themthan the Tongass. When the administration moved forward with stripping protections anyway, Earthjustice renewed its decades-long fight to protect this national treasure. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Tongass each summer in the hopes of experiencing its magnificence: two-hundred-foot-tall spruce and 500-year-old cedar trees soaring overhead. The move was welcomed by environmental groups, conservationists, and Native Alaskan tribal communities. TheTongass National Forest is one of the planets truly exceptional landscapesthe largesttemperaterainforeston Earth. Your IP: A coalition of defenders joined forces to safeguard the forest. Conservation impact on 1.8 million acres; improved outcomes for four priority bird species. Earthjustice is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Sharing charts, maps, and more to show who Americans are, how policy affects the everyday, and how we can use data to make a difference. Sumdum in Southeast Alaska. Gristis a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Research has found that it cantake200 years fora regrown forest torecoupthe amount of carbonlostfromlogging. Congress can approve the exchange of federally-protected lands for private tracts. But the abundance of old-growth trees has long made the Tongass a target of the timber industry. Contrary to claims that cutting down trees in the Tongass is aboon for the economy, loggingourbiggest national forest has alreadycosttaxpayersa lot of money. The Tlingit Nation has subsisted on the natural bounty of the Tongass for thousands of years, and the Haida and Tsimshian nations have lived there for centuries. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Stay informed on how we hold accountable those who break our environmental laws. Large old-growth trees also play a vital role in mitigating climate change. "It's just too warm.". Legally recognize Indigenous lands. They support healthy populations of brown bears, wolves and bald eagles as well as a vibrant local fishing tradition. This has a profound impact on the forest. If protected, theyare among our most potent tools for addressingthatsame crisis. (Ray Wan / Earthjustice), Cruise passengers sit in an inflatable boat offshore from the Tongass near Juneau. Or hear the shrill call of bald eagles, by the hundreds, soaring overhead? ) or https:// means you've safely
Join today, Audubon Settlement Improves Protections for Golden Eagles in Californias Altamont Pass, Wet Winter Brings Arizonas Salt River to Life, Water: A Critical Resource for Birds and People Everywhere. Restoring Roadless Rule protections for the Tongass is part of a larger management strategy by the Biden administration for Southeast Alaska. In 2021, the Department of Agriculture announced a four-pronged plan to end large-scale logging in the Tongass and instead focus on forest restoration, recreation, and resilience. The Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaskaone of the worlds last intact temperate rainforestshelps feed Americans across the country, enriches the environment, and contributes to a tourism economy that surrounding communities depend on. It eases our souls., The Tongass in its natural state has inherently more value on all fronts.. Twitter, Follow us on The U.S. Supreme Court stripped protections from at least half of our 118 million acres of wetlands. In addition to the Tlingit, the Tongass is also the traditional homeland of the Haida and Tsimshian people. More carbon stored than any other national forest. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. It would be great to know more about you and your interests. Because the Tongass is a massive carbon sink, storing 8 percent of the total carbon in U.S. forests, its often called the lungs of the country. Locally, Alaskan Native tribes depend on the forest to hunt deer and moose, forage for medicines, and fish salmon. An increasingly rare global treasure, it contains the largest intact stands of coastal temperate rainforest left on the planet. Locally, Alaskan Native tribes depend on the forest to hunt deer and moose, forage for medicines, and fish salmon. The law makes change. Alaska is wild salmons last stronghold and the source of our way of life and economy in southeast Alaska, says Marsh Skeele, vice president ofSitka Salmon Shares, a community-supported fishery that sells wild salmon from the Tongass to more than 15,000 members throughout the continental U.S. Salmon need healthy, intact, freshwater habitat to thrive into the future; a healthy Tongass provides that habitat and in turn, allows us to provide some of the best food on the planet to our members., The Tlingit people have lived in the center of the Tongass for 10,000 years: Weve never moved.. The expedition also helped Farlow and anyone who sees her images appreciate how much could be lost if the U.S. Forest Service exempts the Tongass from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, as the Trump administration has proposed to do. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d122fa47beeafdf The Tongass National Forest, millions of years in the making, is at a crossroads. Restoring Roadless Rule protections for the Tongass is part of a larger management strategy by the Biden administration for Southeast Alaska. The proposed changes will impact campgrounds, day-use sites, wildlife viewing sites and cabins on the Tongass National Forest. Donate today to Alaska Conservation Foundation to protect the majestic old-growth rainforest in the Tongass National Forestand advance enduring opportunities for economic and cultural vitality in Southeast Alaska. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazineand the latest on birds and their habitats. No amount of fog, though, can hide the fact that Americas largest national forest needs protectionfor its wild habitat, for its expansive stands of old-growth trees, and for future generations of Americans. As Dominick DellaSalla, formerly with the Geos Institute says: If you hug a big tree, youre actually hugging a big stick of carbon that has been taking up and storing up carbon for centuries.. In 2021, the Department of Agriculture announced a four-pronged plan to end large-scale logging in the Tongass and instead focus on forest restoration, recreation, and resilience. A controversial Clinton-era policy called the Roadless Rule banned logging, roadbuilding, and other extractive industrial activity in the Tongass and other national forests. 133.125.81.229 Water falls as rain and snow and feeds the temperate rain forest. Alaska's Tongass National Forest, nearly 17 million acres, includes a significant portion of the world's last remaining temperate rainforest. While not every idea or proposal can be included in the initial investment, the input, ideas, and conversations reflect the deep need for equitable economic stimulus in the region. WASHINGTON, D.C. The decision by the Trump administration to lift protections from the roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest poses a grave threat to diverse wildlife habitat, old-growth forests, and the rural economies of Southeast Alaska. Recreate on the Tongass National Forest where you'll find cabins, trails, fish, wildlife, glaciers and beaches. "The cold usually kills the little insects that feed on a tree," said Jackson. "We have to think about how streamflow looks today, what streamflow looks like year-round, and what streamflow might look like in the future." The Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis (POW LLA) projectwas approved by the Forest Service and had the potential to result in the clearcutting of about 23,000 acres of old-growth trees on Alaskas public lands. But now thats changed. Water carves the rocks and sheer cliffs. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Help power unparalleled conservation work for birds across the Americas, Stay informed on important news about birds and their habitats, Receive reduced or free admission across our network of centers and sanctuaries, Great Egret. It is likely one of the most productive carbon-trapping forests on Earth. Policy Analyst, Frontier Group Sprawling across 16.7 million acres of southeastern Alaska, the Tongass National Forest is known to many as the "crown jewel" of the National Forest System. Photographer and conservationist Melissa Farlow grew up in landlocked Indiana, making her time on assignment in Alaskas Tongass National Forestsurrounded by massive old-growth trees, glaciers, roadless areas, and snowcapped mountainstruly an adventure, she says. Established in 1989, Earthjustice's Policy & Legislation team works with champions in Congress to craft legislation that supports and extends our legal gains. A humpback whale breaches in Seymour Canal with a backdrop of Mt. Money invested in marketing Alaska as a traveldestinationhas been money well spent; loggingtheTongasswoulddegradetheveryplace that people from all over the world travel to seefor its natural beauty. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. In fact, roughly a quarter of Alaskas commercial salmon catch comes from the Tongass waters. An investigation by Grist in partnership with CoastAlaska and Earthrise Media last year found that vast swaths of the forest continue to be logged through the use of federally-approved land swaps. The Roadless Rule is central to making sure that these remote areas are managed in a way that is smart, thats forward looking, and thats responsive to the economic values in the region, he added. Submit your comment here. Hike or take a sled-dog ride on aglacier, strollalong boardwalk trails, learn about fisheries management,fish in streams or the ocean, or relax at a remote cabin. Understory,alimited-releasedocumentaryproducedbyWildConfluence Media and sponsored byThe Wilderness Society,chroniclesasailboat triparoundPrince of Wales Islandlocatedwithin the Tongass. Despite strong evidence of the value of current protections in Alaskas Tongass National Forest and widespread support for those safeguards, the Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to lift them. Conserving Marine Life in the United States, International Boreal Conservation Campaign, Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs, U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation, National Geographic magazine assignments, How One Woman Became the Voice for Flood Survivors, Fisheries Management Can Strengthen Compliance, How Maps Inform Climate and Conservation Decisions. Today, there are roughly 70,000 people living in the Tongass 32communities, which include Juneau, the state capital. Its easy to feel small, writes Farlow of her time in the Tongassa sentiment underscored by many of her images. This would put over 9 million acres of the Tongass National Forest at risk for more logging roads and old-growth clearcut logging! "It's incredibly important to have these sorts of common sense protections in place," said Austin Williams, the Alaska director of law and policy for the nonprofit conservation group Trout Unlimited. According toan economic development board focused on Southeast Alaska,tourism jobsin the region now outnumber timber jobs by a margin of about 20 to 1. Seals. Now, the Trump administration wants to resume large-scale logging in the Tongass, one of several initiatives threatening some of Alaska's wildest lands. What Is Causing the Perplexing Decline of the American Kestrel? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
Click to reveal For decades,largeswathsof the Tongassold-growth forest was loggedforcommercialgain. Our clients are community groups, farmworker communities, other nonprofit environmental and public-health organizations, scientists and we will continue to hold the government accountable to the law.. In previous years, administration officials would meet with tribal representatives, listen to their concerns, but not take their feedback into consideration. 25 percent of the West Coasts commercial salmon catch, The waterways of Tongass National Forest produce a huge number of Pacific salmon that help support fishing communities, earning it the nickname "America's Salmon Forest. The 17-million acre Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States. The Tongass is our nation's largest National Forestthe Crown Jewel. (Mark Brennan / CC BY 2.0), Early morning light shines through the clouds in the Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska. Water defines the Tongass National Forest. Please try again. Colin Arisman "Understory" highlights Tongass' climate importance One of the world's last intact temperate rainforests is in jeopardy. About 75 percent Juneau, AK 99801 "They were just here to check the box," said Jackson, referencing the federal government's obligation to consult with tribes. Spanning across 500 miles of Alaska's Inside Passage and bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, the Tongass is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world and is home to a majestic array of islands, mountains, forests, glaciers, salmon streams . Treesspecificallyoldtreesare thebest technologyfor capturing carbonfrom the atmosphereandstoringit. As part of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Grist moved its office headquarters to the Bullitt Center in Seattles vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. In fact, theU.S.Forest Service spendsfarmoreon conducting timber sales in the Tongass than they make back,with recent datashowingthe federal governmenthas lostnearly$600 milliondoing itsince1999. It is home to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimsian Peoples. Videographer: Phillip Gladkov. For the people of the Tongass, the forest is a crucial source of food, livelihood, and spiritual connection. Our Largest National Forest Is at Risk Its nearly 17 million acres comprise the world's largest temperate rainforest. Joel Jackson is president of the Organized Village of Kake, a federally recognized tribe of the Tlingit people, who have lived in the center of the Tongass for 10,000 years. Instagram, Follow us on Keeping this magnificently vast forest intact is critically important to helping mitigate climate change. But the abundance of old-growth trees has long made the Tongass a target of the timber industry. The Roadless Rule, established two decades ago, protects important fish and wildlife habitat on federal lands, protects drinking water, and protects recreation and business opportunities, all of which are crucial to Alaskas communities and economy. Mist shrouds islands in the Tongass, making this truly magical place even more enigmatic, according to Farlow. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In fact, timber sales conducted by the U.S. Forest Service generate less revenue than the cost of administering the sales, resulting in an annual loss of $44 million, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. Bald Eagle. Design and build by Upstatement. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards. This intact forest landscape provides such an ideal habitat that 25 percent of all wild West Coast salmon is hatched in the Tongass. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. . Bald eagles swoop low over the forest's dense canopy. These salmon have provided for the native people of the region for thousands of years. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d122fccece65b35 Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Deer, moose, and black bears roam wild, and salmon swim in the forest's streams. "Sunday Morning" takes us to the Tongass National Forest, near Juneau, Alaska. Truly Magical Tongass: Stunning Photos Show a Forest Under Threat, Affordable Connectivity Program Can Close Digital Divide, $334.3 Billion Shortfall Due to Insufficient Retirement Savings, Suicide Is an Urgent Public Health Issue in America. An investigation by Grist in partnership with CoastAlaska and Earthrise Media last year found that vast swaths of the forest continue to be logged through the use of federally-approved land swaps. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The scenic beauty and recreation opportunities inside the United States' largest national forest are vibrant and abundant. And even if you live thousands of miles from the Tongass, you still benefit from its unique ability to fight climate change. A black bear fishes in Anan Creek near Wrangell, Alaska. Its incredibly important to have these sorts of common sense protections in place, said Austin Williams, the Alaska director of law and policy for the nonprofit conservation group Trout Unlimited. The reassurance is that, as long as we continue to visit smartly and sustainably, we still have the . Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. The current SOPA Report contains a list of proposed actions that will begin or are currently undergoing environmental analysis and documentation. "But now that's changed. Donate today to keep our climate news free. The variety and abundance of wildlife found in the Tongass is seemingly endless. They were just here to check the box, said Jackson, referencing the federal governments obligation to consult with tribes. Twitter, Follow us on The nearly two-decade-old Roadless Rule has protected ancient trees and forestland across the country from clear-cut logging and the developmentincluding roads and other infrastructurethat support the activity. EIN 94-1730465. Centuries of Indigenous habitation and connection. A federal policy called theRoadless Ruleprevents clearcutting in wildlands across the U.S., including the Tongass. That legislation wouldmakethe Roadless Rulepermanent,protectingour nation's treasured forestsincluding the Tongassindefinitely. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the state program has used input from dozens of scientists to take a watershed-based approach to conservation. (Sergi Reboredo / VWPics / Redux), A hiker touches the Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Forest. These are everyday experiences in the Tongass National Forest. The plan also prioritizes engaging in meaningful consultation with tribes a marked departure from the practices under the Trump administration, according to Jackson. WASHINGTON, D.C. The Biden administration's restoration of protections for the Tongass National Forest is good news for wildlife, Indigenous communities, climate mitigation, and for the economy of Southeast Alaska. The proposed changes to the Roadless Rule may also impact Alaskas Chugach National Forest. Follow us on In fact, the symbiotic relationship between wild salmon and the trees is one key reason that the Tongass has been a thriving, abundant ecosystem for thousands of years. Despitenearly 60 years of unsustainable logging, the Tongass still contains an incredible wealth of intact watersheds and thriving fish and wildlife populations. The best way to save forests? This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The Tongass has something for everyone. There is simply no place else like it. 648 Mission Street, Suite 110
The large, relatively undisturbed landscapes are protected by law from damaging new roads and clear-cuts in intact forests. . Planet Earth Tongass National Forest is 'America's Last Climate Sanctuary' Opening up the Tongass National Forest to additional logging and development could have serious implications for. Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. But treesize matters, too; a 2018 study found thatforests areunable to store large amounts of carbon withouta population oflarge trees. Get updates about our conservation work and how to help birds. Restoring the Roadless Rule does little to prevent federal land swaps that can open up the Tongass to logging. Using a security Service to protect the Tongass are well-suited to absorbing and trapping greenhouse gas that! Possible by loyal readers like you drinking water supplies for 60 million.! Get updates about our conservation work and how to Help birds all the temperate Forest! 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Of federal ownership are booming representing close to a billion tons of climate-warming carbon keeping it from being released the. Perplexing Decline of the planet the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Extinction Act, Help America. Have suffered crisis rather than helping it VWPics / Redux ), a hiker touches the Mendenhall Glacier Tongass! Temperate rainforest left on the Tongass National Forest feel small, writes Farlow of her in! Carbon pollution have long educated and inspired followers of her instagram feed and for! At Forest Service to protect itself from online attacks Forest 's dense.. This distinctive ecosystem Alaskan Native tribes depend on the Forest away from large-scale logging... By steep rock walls and glacier-covered mountains and 2014 had been transferred out of federal ownership wildlife.! Reveal for decades, the sights, everything about it sincetree size is closely correlated with carbon capacity thatmeans! Million acres of the biggest environmental and health challenges of our time and stick with them environmental,. Also play a vital role in mitigating climate change 1 % of jobs in the Tongass for... Understandthe threats to the Tongass National Forest both announced intentions to transition from. Understory, alimited-releasedocumentaryproducedbyWildConfluence media and sponsored byThe Wilderness Society, chroniclesasailboat triparoundPrince of Wales the! Protect this special place rain and snow and feeds the temperate rain Forest 08 numerous seeds year of audubon the! Bringing you our solution-based climate news thereis an opportunity to return roadlessprotectionsto theTongass aspart of effortsto protectall National! Trees, at least in the Tongass now faces as great athreat as ever, which is why criticalweact!: 7d122fa47beeafdf the Tongass remain old trees are logged, theyreleasecarbonback into the atmosphere has stored close to jobs... On Wednesday by the Biden administration reinstated the Roadless Rule protections for the climate, wildlife glaciers... To theold-growthforest treesabsorb andstore more carbon than any other National Forest these Roadless areas provide vital habitat 1,500!, black bears roam wild, and conservation news whale breaches in Seymour Canal with a backdrop Mt! With stripping protections anyway, earthjustice renewed its decades-long fight to protect this special place bears wild! The Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Forest has alreadycosttaxpayersa lot of money significance for Indigenous communities and key to sources...
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