View Comment Letter

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Overview:
The Tongass National Forest Working Forest Group (TWFG) launched a letter writing campaign to the U.S. Forest Service and the Tongass Advisory Committee (TAC) letting them know there are many supporters of continuing old growth harvests. The TAC has received many letters from those who do not support continued old growth harvest, so now is the time for those who support multiple uses in America’s largest national forest to speak up.

The Obama administration is revising the Tongass land management plan and is dictating a transition to young-growth timber harvests. While such a transition will occur over the long-term, the current young growth in the forest is not yet ready for harvest and will not be fully mature for at least several decades. Meanwhile, continued old-growth harvests are required to sustain the Southeast Alaska timber industry and support local communities. Environmentalists are demanding an end to all old-growth timber harvests with an immediate transition to young growth timber, which is not yet economically viable to harvest.

In the interim, economic old growth timber harvests of at least 150 million board feet per year should be allowed. Such timber harvests would be sufficient to meet the current market demand and is within the sustainable 267 million board foot harvest ceiling under the current management plan. It is not enough to transition away from old growth without transitioning to a new economically viable industry.

The transition to young growth in the Tongass should be based on scientific silviculture and economic rationale, not politically driven by preservationist interests at the expense of communities and livelihoods of those living in the region.

Action requested:
Send a letter to the U.S. Forest Service and the TAC supporting continued old growth harvests:

http://akworkingforest.org/tacogsupportletter.html

Use the pre-written letter (or create your own in the space provided), fill-out a few informational fields and submit – the letter will be sent to the U.S. Forest Service and the Tongass Advisory Committee.

Comment deadline has closed