how big is tongass national forest

There are laundry facilities for campers to use should they need them. The jewel in all this forest is the Tongass in Alaska, 16.8 million acres. Visitors also travel to the Juneau Ice Field via helicopter and take organized boat trips into Misty Fiords and Tracy Arm. Image Credit: Marina Anderson. 12. We protect birds and the places they need. Last week marked a long-awaited victory for Mr Jackson and other tribes and environmental groups who petitioned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate the protections for the forest. The Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The Web site is full of pictures and detailed descriptions to help you plan your next trip. . WASHINGTON, July 15, 2021 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today a new Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy to help support a diverse economy, enhance community resilience, and conserve natural resources. The Tongass National Forests trees hold about 650 million tons of carbon, which convert to about half of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2017. Water falls as rain and snow and feeds the temperate rain forest. In August of 2019, President Trump announced plans to exempt the Tongass from the rule, and on October 28, 2020, he made good on his promise. Explore the area using this virtual trail as your guide. Joel Jackson, the president of the Organized Village of Kake, a tribal community, has lived within the Tongass National Forest in Alaska his entire life. She argued it is "really important to have the rule in place to have another impediment to a resurgence of logging in these intact forest areas". Earth just set a heat record. Improve this listing Tours & experiences The decision to open up the Tongass to loggers could have serious implications for both the environment and the Alaska Native communities that depend on it. We as artists are tied very closely to the Tongass, Jackson explains. The massive wilderness covers almost a third of the entire forest and allows the natural ecological system to thrive. Forest Service photo by Jon Gellings. Our traditional medicines are from here. People from all over the world are passionate about the Tongass. However, Alaska state officials are welcoming the decision to reverse the roadless rule. A bathhouse provides a flushable toilet and hot showers, certainly useful after a day of adventure. Mike Dunleavy said in hisState of the State address in January. Now, I am surrounded by the long-lasting effects of this short-sighted industrial activity, Jackson says. Activities abound to entertain and educate locals and travelers alike. The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule forbids road construction or reconstruction and timber harvesting on certain national lands. 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. The remaining 22% is in land allocations that could allow development activities such as timber management. Roads connect many of the communities of Prince of Wales Island. Gold in this era drew thousands of fortune-seekers up though the Inside Passage to the towns of Douglas, Juneau and Skagway. Juneau, AK 99802-1628 A logger begins cutting and delimbing a recently felled tree. A rollback of federal protections puts more than half of it at risk. Read about our approach to external linking. Outdoor activities, including cold-water cruising, made the area around the forest a tourism hotspot. With the industry experiencing shutdowns in recent years, though, economies like the Tongass National Forest region are greatly impacted. We've already seen wild salmon populations decline in much of western North America because of watershed deterioration, and exempting the relatively pristine Tongass National Forest from the roadless rule would adversely affect fisheries as well as recreation and tourism, which are huge elements of the economy in Southeast Alaska, Berner says. During the Pleistocene age, when the climate was 3 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit colder than it is today, an ice sheet covered a large expanse of the earth, including the islands of southeastern Alaska. "In 2001 Alaska's timber industry had over 500 million board feet of manufacturing capacity in Southeast Alaska, but now over 80% of that 2001 manufacturing capacity has been starved out of business and the remaining manufacturers are barely surviving at a small fraction of their capacity," wrote a coalition of business leaders in a letter to the U.S. Forest Service. Normal summer highs average 55 to 60 degrees, with winter highs hovering around 30 to 35. 2023 National Forest Foundation. Decker, owner of the Crazy Wolf Studio in Ketchikan and a master carver of original bentwood boxes, drums, and traditional dance paddles, says supporting Native peoples art is a powerful way to protect the Tongass. Her comments were echoed by her senate colleague Dan Sullivan, who pledged in a statement to "fight this decision with everything in my power", while Governor Mike Dunleavy called the USDA's move a "huge loss for Alaskans". A humpback whale breaches in Seymour Canal with a backdrop of Mt. Your email address will not be published. Lush temperate rain forest thrives at sea level, less than a two-mile hike from the frigid, windy alpine where buttercups and sedges cling to a tenuous existence. Sub alpine fir, red and yellow cedar and hardwoods like alder, find their own spot in the forest. Gloria Burns, a dancer of Haida descendant, leads fellow community members in a song before a traditional dance performance. As with many Indigenous people, the tribal groups of the Northwest Coast were in danger of losing their heritage and their identity, but they have valuable lessons to share.. Even when the top and branches are lopped off, a tree this size would yield at least 6,000 board feet of lumber, said industry consultant Catherine Mater . But he said this is because of factors such as rising fuel prices for transporting timber from an isolated Alaska and not due to the roadless rule. Image Credit: Phillip Gladkov. Learn more about how the NFF is supporting the Tongass National Forest through the Alaska Forest Fund. The surprising benefits of breaking up. Its incredible how camouflaged they can be. Rainfall in Southeast Alaska varies from two to 25 feet each year, depending on location. For years, the act protected the nearly 17 million-acre forest, an ecologically significant area that absorbs roughly 8 percent of pollution produced by the U.S., capturing more carbon offset than all the other U.S. forests combined. They will always remember that number because it was the first time a new identity had been placed upon them. Approximately one-third of Tongass has been protected as a national wilderness area, and about one-fifth has been designated for commercial development. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. The roads created in this isolated region help connect remote communities to the mainland areas and provide economic resources. The average Alaskan eats between six to eight ounces of fish per day. Conservation is at a critical juncture. Some 75,000 people live in the Tongass National Forestmost of them in cities such as Juneau (Alaska's state capital), Sitka, and several other communitiesbut the vast majority is a wilderness where eagles, bears, wolves, whales, sea lions, and other wildlife abound. Can France prevent tensions igniting again? Hikers report this trail can get muddy after heavy rain and snow. Only rarely will the temperatures drop below zero. Few places in the world can boast of the geologic and climatic variations that characterize the Tongass. As the largest national forest, Tongass covers most of southeastern Alaska. What could be better than spending a day exploring Tongass National Forest? (Related: A new way to profit from ancient Alaskan forestsleave them standing.). These watersheds feed the rich estuaries that provide nutrients for marine mammals, millions of seabirds, and provide a crucial link between marine and terrestrial environments of the Tongass. The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, . The move reverses the Roadless Rule Act, passed in 2001 with widespread support among conservationists and scientists. And feel free to bring a furry friend, as leashed dogs are allowed. Cut Climate Pollution to Protect Birds and People, Stop the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Extinction Act, Help Save America's Birds & Other Wildlife. How Big is the Tongass National Forest? Wildlife viewing and hiking along the nearly 700 miles of trails affords local conservationists a way to educate visitors about old-growth trees and their impact on the forest. Read about our approach to external linking. Tides in Southeast Alaska, while not as severe as some of the tides further north, have a variation of as much as 25 feet in one 6-hour period. Maps: Visit the National Forest Map Store to see what maps are available for this Forest and others you may want to visit. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. Tongass National Forest covers most of the Alaska panhandle and is the largest publicly owned forest in the United States. Juneau Notes & Conditions: Research campground locations and amenities at the U.S. National Forest Campground Directory. Fax:907-228-6215, https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tongass/about-forest. On October 29, the U.S. Forest Service opened more than nine million acres of Alaskas Tongass National Forest to loggers. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. It results in our people staying lost, and not being able to reconnect with who we are.. What the artists do benefit from, however, are the tourist dollars from visitors who come to the Tongass for the views and stay to learn about the forests history and the people who live there. What does this mean for climate change?). In the Tongass National Forest these roadless areas provide nesting trees for birds like the Queen Charlotte Goshawk and Red-breasted Sapsucker. Spread the word. Gordon Chew, a co-owner of Tenakee Logging Company, a small family-owned business in the area, said lumber jobs have declined in the Tongass National Forest over the past three decades. When logging companies go in and clear-cut these massive trees on a steep slope, there is a huge amount of sediment runoff because of how much it rains in Southeast Alaska, sometimes as much as 12-and-a-half feet annually, which can cause landslides and choke salmon streams, Berner explains. The 17-million acre Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States. Here, thousands of eagles feast on late runs of chum salmon. To Anderson, the increased logging and development of the Tongass will adversely affect the Haida tribe and their connection to their ancestral homeland. The Southeast Alaska Birding Trail website is a great tool for planning your next birding adventure. The forest and water views throughout the two miles will leave you breathless (along with that elevation gain!) Others who support the decision cite the importance of increased road access to bolster logging, mining exploration, and renewable energy development. Unlike most places in the Lower 48, it is wind, and not fire, that disturbs the forest, sometimes toppling acres of trees at a time. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is our nation's largest national forest, nearly 17 million acres in size. (Related: Exploring the Arctic can be life-changing. The move by the Trump administration would overturn the Roadless Rule Act, which safeguarded the forest against industrial clear-cut logging and road building on national forest lands since it was passed in 2001 by the Clinton administration, with widespread approval among conservationists and scientists. Keep up with Audubon Alaska's conservation work. His community relies on the land for hunting deer and fishing salmon that swim in streams kept cold by the old-growth forest. In the Tongass National Forest, which covers most of Southeast Alaska, trees can be sorted in two categories, old growth and young growth. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock With logging, that will be a double whammy. Environmental experts view protecting the forest as key to conserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Its interface . This National Forest is the largest in the United States and the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world . Water stored in glaciers creeps out to the sea. Coastal temperate rain forests are found in wet, cool climates where the collision of marine air and coastal mountains causes large amounts of rainfall. Colossal gravitational waves found for the first time. In justifying development in what has been described as an ecological oasis, the Trump administration is presenting an argument that many scientists disagree with: that any emissions from logging will be temporary, due to the timber sequestering carbon in building materials while the forest regrows and stockpiles even more CO2. There is definitely a controversy with these lands being protected. Sumdum in Southeast Alaska. Large old-growth trees also play a vital role in mitigating climate change. Tourists would come by ship, but now there are no cruise ships to speak of because of COVID, says Tlingit carver Nathan Jackson, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow and one of the most well-known totem pole carvers in the world. Educate yourself in advance on how to respond should you encounter a bear while hiking. Now, these companies will be able to build roads through the rainforest and cut down thousand-year-old red and yellow cedar, Sitka spruce, and Western hemlock trees. The rule has been a source of controversy for many years. LockA locked padlock Film screening March 17-19! More than 500 miles long and 100 miles wide, it encompasses 80 percent all the land in Alaska's Panhandle, extending from . Science can explain why. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge expanded the national forest to cover even more territory. United States government. Seaweed, cockles, berries, and salmon from the forest are examples of the foods that help sustatin Native life and traditions. Learn more from members of your communitiesthroughout the region who rely on public lands to sustain their businesses, heat their homes, and provide for their families. Past ways still flourish. Only Hyder, Haines, and Skagway are connected to the North American road system. Residents may see more than 17 hours of daylight in June. The agency announced last Wednesday it would once again ban logging and the construction of roads for cutting timber in over half of the Tongass. But due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Ketchikans cruise ship ports suffered a massive economic blow; in 2020, traffic went from 600 scheduled ports of call to zero. April to September is certainly the best time to enjoy all that Nugget Falls Trail offers. The forest surrounds the iconic Inside Passage home to brown bears, spawning salmon, bald eagles, Alexander Archipelago wolves, and the majestic humpback whales. In areas protected from the wind, usually on the north side of ridges, trees may live to be more than 500 years old. It is their home as it has been for thousands of years, and it provides a source of food security. They accumulate and store more organic matter than any other forest type (including tropical rain forests)s much as 1,000-2,000 metric tons of wood, foliage, leaf litter, moss, other living plants, and organic soil per acre. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazineand the latest on birds and their habitats. Kelly White, a 33-year-old master carver in the Tlingit community, is one of the younger generation of craftspeople torn between preservation and making way for new developmentincluding resource extraction. Its rich understory includes blueberries, skunk cabbages, and a profusion of ferns and mosses. USA. Nathan Jackson is a master totem carver and considered one of the most important living Tlingit artists. When reporting a National Geographic story on how a Native-owned corporation is being paid to leave some old-growth trees standing, photographer Joshua Cogan came to understand the complicated relationship between the Tongass and the logging industry. Removing protections for the Tongass could open up large swaths of the formally protected area to logging and development. Image Credit: Michael Ryan Clark. Alaska has hosted a glacier-favoring mixture of climate and topography for the last 12.5 million years. Watch as he talks about his selective logging approach to tree harvesting and how it is in stark contrast to the destructive clear-cutting approach of large timber companies. Small Business Tree Planting Partnerships, Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences, Financial Accountability and Transparency, U.S. National Forest Campground Directory. The decision follows a years-long conflict between Alaskan Republican officials - who have argued the rule has slowed economic development and that renewing it will hamper efforts to connect remote communities by road, among other concerns - and conservationists, indigenous groups and others who say the measure is key to protecting the environment. President Theodore Roosevelt initially created Tongass National Forest with a proclamation on September 10th, 1907. In the temperate rain forest, western hemlocks push their floppy tops up through the mist while Sitka spruce brave the icy, salt-laden winds along the water edge. That includes the forest, the beaches, the sky, and our totem poles and carvings come from the old growth, red and yellow cedar trees., Yahguudang, a Haida phrase that means respect for all living beings, has driven the cultural, environmental, political, and business decisions of the Haida people for more than 10,000 years.
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