Protecting Wild Alaska Roadless Rule protection restored for Tongass NF

Bears and salmon – not to mention birds – are critical components of the massive Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska. President Joe Biden’s administration recently reinstituted protection for the Tongass via the Roadless Rule from logging and other

interests. (DON MACDOUGALL/USFS)

POTUS RESTORES TONGASS NF PROTECTIONS

The Tongass National Forest’s pristine territory has become caught in the middle of America’s divisive political landscape - think a heated custody battle during messy divorce proceedings.

The country’s two most recent presidential administrations have considered the Tongass from vastly different perspectives. The Southeast Alaska location represents the nation’s largest such national forest, and the Roadless Rule had for years offered protection from logging interests. But in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration excluded the Tongass from the rule.

In late spring, President Joe Biden announced plans to overturn that decision (the official announcement came on July 15). The plan would offer protection to around 9.2 million acres of Tongass land. Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, called the about-face a “major step toward restoring conservation safeguards and shifting to more sustainable forest management practices on the Tongass National Forest.”

“We appreciate this leadership by USDA, and look forward to the timely reinstatement of the Roadless Rule on the Tongass, which will conserve some of Alaska’s most productive fish and wildlife habitat while also allowing for

“The real value of the Tongass is in its abundant fish and wildlife, its cultural resources, and in its beautiful scenery and wild landscapes,” says Austin Williams, Trout Unlimited’s Alaska director of law and policy. “For far too long, our fish and wildlife were taken for granted on the Tongass. (PAUL A. ROBBINS/USFS)

community development projects and cultural uses,” Fosburgh added.

Several conservation and environmental groups added to the TRCP’s approval of preventing further plans to pave roads and develop logging projects.

The Tongass has long been considered sacred ground for its lush fish and wildlife habitat and its oldgrowth forest land. Part of the new sets of protections include eliminating largescale old-growth timber sales while allowing Alaska Native groups’ and smaller such projects to proceed.

“The real value of the Tongass is in its abundant fish and wildlife, its cultural resources, and in its beautiful scenery and wild landscapes,” said Austin Williams, Trout Unlimited’s Alaska director of law and policy. “This announcement will help ensure these values remain long into the future, that we are investing where we see the greatest return, and that management of the Tongass supports the region’s economic mainstays of fishing and tourism.”

“For far too long, our fish and wildlife were taken for granted on the Tongass. It’s a breath of fresh air to see investments made to ensure they are around for future generations.”

Chris Wood, president and CEO of TU, referred specifically to the waterways within the forest’s lands as some of the last remaining wild salmon spawning habitat in North America.

“And a globally significant resource for slowing the impacts of climate change,” Wood added. “Old-growth timber sales have long been notorious for losing money; reinstating the Roadless Rule and prioritizing restoration is an investment in the forest’s most valuable and lasting resources.” ASJ

Editor’s note: For more on the Tongass National Forest, go to fs.usda.gov/tongass.