At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States . Decision of 5 May 1976. In a move that reverses a Trump administration decision to lift restrictions on logging and road-building, the Biden administration announced on 15 July 2021 that it would end large-scale, old-growth timber sales in the Tongass National Forest. The contracts guaranteed low prices to the pulp companiesin some cases resulting in trees being given away for "less than the price of a hamburger. We are proud to bepart of the 1% for the Planet network. [41] On 23 April 2009, Senator Murkowski and U.S. Rep. Don Young introduced a revised Sealaska bill (S. 881 and H.R 2099) that requests public lands that are both economically valuable and environmentally delicate. Those projects were Iyouktug Timber Sales ROD (record of decision), Scratchings Timber Sale ROD II, and Kuiu Timber Sale Area ROD. There are local ranger district offices located in Craig, Hoonah, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, and Yakutat. Thirty-one communities are located within the forest; the largest is Juneau, the state capital, with a population of 31,000. Southeast Alaska is an extensive landscape, with communities scattered across the archipelago on different islands, isolated from each other and the mainland road system. The Tongass National Forest's trees hold about 650 million tons of carbon, which convert to about half of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2017. The translates to $3.22 spent per $1 recieved. Major disturbances in the Tongass National Forest include windfall and landslides. The forest also boasts 800-year-old Sitka spruce trees. Best Tongass National Forest Tours 1. This document will be adjusted as public input helps determine the location and types of activities, as well as how extensively they will occur across the landscape. Further presidential proclamations of 16 February 1909 (in the last months of the Roosevelt administration) and 10 June, and in 1925 (by Calvin Coolidge) expanded the Tongass. View detailed information about property including listing details, property photos, open house information, school and neighborhood data, and much . The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is our nations largest national forest, nearly 17 million acres in size. The forest is administered from Forest Service offices in Ketchikan. Lichens are neither plant nor animal, instead they are a small organism with a lot to say about air quality. "[24], In July 2009, the Obama Administration approved clearcut logging on 381 acres (1.54km2) in the remaining old growth forests of a Tongass National Forest roadless area. America's largest national forest is in the state of Alaska. The value was based on land value at the time of the taking in 1902, without the inflation or interest accrued in the past 66 years.[7]. The Tongass is the nations 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. It's not just a fishing trip. TTY:907-228-6222 Lab Bay 1979-94 Environmental Impact Statement USDA Forest Service 1989. The process for implementation of the activities authorized by the POW LLA Final Record Of Decision will be guided by input from the tribes and the public, and maintained within a living document. There are a total of 19 areas in Tongass National Forest designated as wilderness areas. The ground is covered by ferns and moss while shrubs and evergreens grow between the canopy and earth floor. Tongass National Forest, forest region and wilderness area in southeastern Alaska, U.S. The Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska is part of the Emerald Edge the largest temperate rainforest remaining on Earth. The Tongass has something for everyone. It is home to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimsian Peoples. Yet these same, productive stands are also the most important for fish, wildlife, and ecosystem integrity. At roughly the size of West Virginia, the Tongass National Forest is also the largest national forest in the U.S. and home to approximately 70,000 people living in 32 communities, including the state capital, Juneau. The Tongass National Forest provides us with the greatest opportunity in the nation, if not the world, for protecting temperate rainforest at the ecosystem scale, in the face of climate change. The Forest Service strives to find the right balance, so that people may continue to find both inspiration and a way of life in this vast, unparalleled place. Timber harvest in Southeast Alaska consisted of individual handlogging operations up until the 1950s, focusing on lowlying areas and beach fringe areas. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest U.S. National Forest at 16.7 million acres. These contracts were scheduled to last 50 years, and originally intended to complement independent sawlog operations in the region. Most come by cruise ships arriving through the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska. An official website of the People from all over the world are passionate about the Tongass. Explore the area using this virtual trail as your guide. The Tongass is also the only place in the United States where the Haida ermine, a rare and endangered species of weasel, can be found; aside from here, the only other place on Earth where it is found is the Haida Gwaii archipelago in Canada. 648 Mission Street, Suite 110 A rainforest is made up of several different layers. The forest interpretive program on the state ferries began in the summer of 1968, and was the longest-running naturalist program in the agency until ending in 2013. Southeast Alaska is a fantastic place to go birding. A rollback of federal protections puts more than half of it at risk. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, built in 1962, was the first Forest Service visitor center in the nation. As I gazed out over the deep, dark water of southeast Alaska's Inside Passage from the observation deck of the Liseron, a refurbished military minesweeper that now serves as an intimate touring ship that navigates the fjords between Juneau and Sitka, these were the words I kept . Name this national forest. Of all the old growth in the forest, no more than 11% of the remaining area will ever be harvested. It consists of a great variety of trees and yellow cheddar, spruce and hemlock serves as forest canopies. 110161, H. Rept. ( An analysis of long-term USFS proposals to log 43,000 acres of old-growth and 262,000 acres of young-growth forest in the Tongass estimated that this would be equivalent to putting an additional 4 million vehicles on the nation's roads and keeping them there for a century. [35] 70,000 people inhabit the region. Engaging communities and sustaining economies. Unique and protected creatures seldom found anywhere else in North America inhabit the thousands of islands along the Alaska coast. Then, five years later, another proclamation created the Tongass National Forest. That accounts for 39% of the Tongass. The Tongass - the world's largest remaining old-growth temperate rainforest - is at risk of clearcutting The Tongass is our nation's largest National Forestthe Crown Jewel. The National Forest Management Act: Out of the Woods and Back to the Courts? Of the 5,700,000 acres (23,000km2) of "productive old-growth" in the forest, 676,000 acres (2,740km2), or 12% of the total old-growth, are slated for harvest over the next 10 years. Three Alaska Native nations live in Southeast Alaska: the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. USA hard questions 35%. If you own a business, please consider joining 1% for the Planet to support Audubon Alaskas conservation efforts. Work with the Forest Service and other agencies to promote urban . [37], Though its land area is huge, about 40% of the Tongass is composed of wetlands, snow, ice, rock, and non-forest vegetation, while the remaining 10million acres (40,000km2) are forested. The Our Forests Are Alaska campaign showcases the close ties the people, communities and cultures of Southeast Alaska have to the Tongass National Forest. Whale watching is a popular tourist activity which can be done on designated tours on charter boats or on the ferries along the Alaska Marine Highway where staff help point out wildlife to passengers along the way. 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. The World Wildlife Fund locates it in their Pacific temperate rain forest 'WWF ecoregion', a geographical area. When Sealaska was created, it was promised additional land that was unavailable at the time due to contracts with pulp mills; much of this original land is now under water or in a watershed, and consequently Sealaska has requested different land. 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. Tongass National Forest Near Juneau, Alaska. [4], After the creation of the Tongass National Forest, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska formed to challenge the federal government's rights to the land in 1935. The Forest Service provides visitor programs at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan. [11] Over half the old growth timber was removed there by the mid 1990s. Tongass National Forest was named for the Tongass Clan of Tlingit Indians. The U.S. Forest Service continues to focus on old-growth timber harvest within the remaining intact watersheds. Since 2001, 9.5 million acres of the Tongass has been protected under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, known as the roadless rule, which was established to protect the cleanest sources of drinking water, the most intact wildlife habitat, and the best recreational areas in national forests in Alaska and more than three dozen other states. These lands are now privately held and under the management of Sealaska Corporation, one of the native regional corporations created under the ANCSA. It's a wild Liked by Stephanie Gibbon It encompasses islands, mountains, bays, forests, fjords, glaciers, and important salmon streams, and its forest is the largest temperate rainforest in the world (intact). 411). Tongass National Forest is a 17 million acre park located in Alaska, covering at least 80% of Alaska's southeast region. It holds more biomass per acre than any other rainforest in the world and stores more carbon than any other national forest . Federal District Court judge James von der Heydt ruled in their favor in December 1975[9] and March 1976,[10] enjoining clearcutting of over 150 square miles (390km2) of the north end of Prince of Wales Island. More than 80 percent of Southeast Alaska is in Tongass, spanning 11,000 miles of coastline, and home to approximately 70,000 people living in 32 communities, including Alaska's state capital, Juneau. Five species of salmon, brown and black bears, and bald eagles abound throughout the forest. With over 400 species of land and marine wildlife, Tongass National Forest provides unrivaled opportunities to see eagles, bears, spawning salmon and species that are endangered elsewhere in the United States, such as the brown bear and bald eagle. which is around 80% of Alaska's southeast reg. [38] Current harvesting plans call for a phase-out of old-growth harvesting, to be replaced by rotation harvesting of managed second-growth forests.[39]. In 1974, the exclusive KPC contract for 800,000 acres of old growth forest on Prince of Wales Island was challenged by the Point Baker Association led by Alan Stein,[8] Chuck Zieske and Herb Zieske. Official websites use .gov A .gov This "Great Land" boasts 27 million kilometres of the Tongass National Forest and 1.3 million hectares of imposing glacial terrain over the picturesque waterlines at the Glacier Bay National Park. The Tongass National Forest has both national and international significance as the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, representing nearly a third of all old-growth temperate rainforests left in the world. No logging is allowed in these areas. Transference of public National Forest land to a privately owned corporation removes it from protection by Federal law and allows the owners to use the land in whatever way they see fit without regard to the effects of the use on surrounding lands and ecosystems. Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist with Wild Heritage, has been cataloging biodiversity in the world's rainforests since the early 1990s. The Tongass National Forest is the largest temperate rainforest in the world. [20] For example, the forest type with the largest concentration of big treesvolume class 7originally comprised only 4% of the forested portion of the Tongass, and over two-thirds of it has been logged. [22] Forest restoration, recreation and other non-commercial uses will instead be the focus. From largest to smallest, they are: There are three other wilderness areas within the Alaska Panhandle region that are not part of the Tongass National Forest, but are administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Representative Steve Chabot, an Ohio Republican who sponsored the amendment, said, "I am not opposed to logging when it's done on the timber company's dime But in this case, they are using the American taxpayer to subsidize these 200 jobs at the tune of $200,000 per job. Background: In 2001, the USDA adopted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 Roadless Rule). Trump to strip protections from Tongass National Forest, one of the biggest intact temperate rainforests. The Tongass National Forest was included in the Roadless Initiative passed on 5 January 2001, during the last days of the Bill Clinton Administration, and the initiative prevented the construction of new roads in currently roadless areas of United States national forests. LockA locked padlock [34] While the timber industry dominated the economy for a long time, the region has transitioned into "non-timber [sources of revenue] such as recreation, subsistence food, salmon, scientific use, and carbon sequestration [which] contributes more than $2 billion" annually. Tongass National Forest. TTY:907-228-6222 The Tongass National Forest, at nearly 17 million acres, is twice the size of Maryland. ( Share sensitive information only The Tongass also supports abundant fish and wildlife, including all five species of Pacific salmon, brown (grizzly) bears, wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer, Bald Eagles, Northern Goshawks, and Marbled Murrelets. Aug. 8, 2003. Federal Building Improve this listing Tours & experiences It is a land where the forest meets the sea An official website of the ", The Tongass Timber Reform Act, enacted in 1990, significantly reshaped the logging industry's relationship with the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass National Forest has identified multiple agencies with special expertise with respect to the proposed action that could serve as cooperating agencies. [16], Much of the power of these companies lay in the long-term contracts themselves. Was the largest new club stadium built in England since 1923 when it opened in 1997. The Tongass is unique from other national forests with respect to size, percentage of IRAs, number of communities dependent on federal lands (the Tongass comprises almost 80% of southeast Alaska and supports 32 communities), and Alaska and Tongass-specific statutory considerations ( e.g., ANILCA, TTRA). The Trump administration is set to strip back these rules and open the pristine forest to industry. There is strong opposition to passage of S 881 coming from seven communities in the Tongass, most on Prince of Wales Island. Share sensitive information only connected to the .gov website. Fifty-seven percent of. 383,000 acres (1,550km2) out of 491,000 acres (1,990km2) original big-tree, low-elevation forest area. However, the Forest Service also conducts NEPA analyses, layout, and administrative operations to support these sales, and as such, the government does not make a profit overall. It is home to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimsian Peoples. On September 10, 1907, Theodore Roosevelt was in office. on official, secure websites. This is equal to more wilderness areas than found in any other national forest. Orca and humpback whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, river otters, and porpoises swim offshore. After consultation with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations and engagement in a public process to explore investment ideas from Southeast Alaska communities, over 270 investment ideas collectively valued at $276 million were proposed. A vast forest, the Tongass covers 17 million acres and is the largest national forest in the United States. Recreate on the Tongass National Forest where you'll find cabins, trails, fish, wildlife, glaciers and beaches. To the untrained eye lichens can look like coral sprouting out of the land. Remember that. Fax:907-228-6215, https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tongass/about-forest. In the Pacific Northwest, degradation of soil and water resources due to industrial logging threatens some of the last remaining wild fisheries in the continental United States. In a statement, Forest Service officials said the new plan would be subject to public comment for 60 days. The Southeast Alaska Birding Trail website is a great tool for planning your next birding adventure. Brown bear, black bear, wolves and Sitka black-tailed deer thrive in this landscape, and it is one of the planet's greatest wild salmon nurseries. Univ. Comprising the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass is a place filled with islands and salmon streams, where towering mountains sweep down into thick old-growth forest and granite cliffs drop into deep fjords. It is compromised of 17 million acres of rugged mountains, glaciers, ice-fields, wetlands and estuaries, lakes and rivers, and beautiful moss-laden forests with Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, and Red and Yellow Cedar trees. In September 2006, a landmark court decision overturned Bush's repeal of the Roadless Rule, reverting to the 2001 roadless area protections established under president Clinton. Tongass Odyssey is a biologist's memoir of personal experiences over the past four decades studying brown bears, deer, and mountain goats and advocating for conservation of Alaska's Tongass National Forest. Of the three subspecies of the Haida ermine, one is found on Prince of Wales Island and the other is found on Suemez Island (both located within the Tongass), with the third being found on Haida Gwaii. While the Tongass still boasts healthy populations of fish and wildlife, many of its most important places are still at risk. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. connected to the .gov website. October 28, 2020 at 11:50 a.m. EDT. Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact National Audubon, Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. In published 2004 figures, average costs for logging on the Tongass were $137 per thousand board feet (mbf), and revenues were $42.54 per mbf. Tongass National Forest: 68,000 km 2 (26,000 sq mi) United States: Rainforest of Xishuangbanna: 19,223 km 2 (7,422 sq mi . Deluxe Misty Fjords National Monument Tour 3. United States government. The most common way tourists visit the park is via cruise ships. He says the Tongass is the most carbon-dense forest on the . Tongass National Forest, the largest in the United States, received its name from the Tongass Clan of the Tlingits. Roughly one million people visit Tongass National Forest each year. Lobbies against legislation threatening iconic forests such as the Tongass in Alaska. Fax:907-228-6215, Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS), Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis Project (POW LLA), 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. Mountain Lake Helicopter Tour over Tongass National Forest 7. From the harvest of wild Alaska seafood to the clean, renewable energy of hydropower; the sustainable harvest of timber and forest products; and the celebration of cultural ties; the forest supports the Alaskan way of life culturally and economically. Tongass National Forest stretches along 11,000 miles of coastline. Tongass National Forest. of Alaska. Court, Anchorage), 4 March 2011, "Trump administration proposes expanding logging in Alaska's Tongass National Forest", "Trump to strip protections from Tongass National Forest, one of the biggest intact temperate rainforests", "Biden Plans to Restore Alaskan Forest Protections Stripped Under Trump", "Biden officials to propose road ban on much of Alaska's Tongass National Forest", "Economic Realities in the Tongass National Forest", "The Tongass National Forest: Recreationalists' Paradise and Wildlife Lover's Dream", "Opinion: The Amazon forest isn't the only one in peril. Known as the Sealaska Lands Bill, the removal of 91,000 acres from the regulatory protections of the USFS and transfer of the land to Sealaska, a for profit corporation, created a huge controversy in South East Alaska. The Tongass is also home to steelhead and salmon. However, installing roads in the vast wilderness areas of the Tongass is also a point of controversy for many in the American public, as reflected in the roadless area conservation movement, which has opposed further road construction on the grounds that it would promote habitat fragmentation, diminish wildlife populations and damage salmon spawning streams. Top 10 Largest English Football Stadia 35%. Similar concerns were expressed by the Alaska Outdoor Council in letters to Senators Murkowski and Begich and Governor Parnell. The Alaskan state capital of Juneau is located in Tongass National Forest. 110497, Sec. 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 karst terrain often produces large trees and has fewer muskeg bogs, and has also been preferentially logged.[19]. [19] Logging operations are not the only deficit-run programs, however. An early supervisor of the forest was William Alexander Langille. June 11, 2021. Tongass National Forest was created by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on September 10. It was established in 1907 by an executive order issued by Pres. Official websites use .gov A .gov ) or https:// means you've safely There will be plenty of fishing, but it's not just a fishing trip. The Biden administration planned to formally publish its intent to revise the Trump-era rule by August 2021, with details of the plan being finalized in the following two years. The Tongass, which is managed by the United States Forest Service, encompasses islands of the Alexander . Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts. Tongass National Forest was created by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on September 10 th, 1907. Tongass National Forest Soils Sign In Explore Data Documents Apps & Maps Recent Downloads Sign In State of Alaska myAlaska Departments State Employees State of Alaska Open Data Geoportal Home Imagery Elevation Partnerships Alaska Geospatial Council Get Involved Terms 47900. A Stunning Rainforest In Alaska, Tongass National Forest Is The Largest In The U.S. Picture this: 17 million acres of huge trees, temperate rainforest, jolting fjords, booming waterfalls, steep mountain peaks, fascinating amounts of wildlife, glistening glaciers and some of the rarest types of flora and fauna in the world. In 2002,The U.S. Forest Service spent $62.3 million on forest road construction. Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, Phone:907-225-3101 STADIUM OF LIGHT. Stretching 500 miles north-to-south, the Tongass is an island archipelago of countless streams, glacial fjords, and lush valleys backing into spectacularly rugged mountainsand sprawling forests of majestic, old-growth cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees. According to Matt Herrick, spokesman for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under Biden, "We [the USDA] recognize the vital role the forest and its inventoried roadless areas play in communities, and in the economy and culture of southeast Alaska, as well as for climate resilience." Agencys final action ignores public input and disregards importance of old-growth trees for local communities, fish, and birds. Film screening March 17-19! Other terrestrial animals include wolves, mountain goats, ravens, and sitka black-tailed deer. Starting with the next session of Congress in 2011, Senator Murkowski reintroduced a slightly modified version of the Sealaska Bill and Representative Don Young introduced a companion bill (S 730 and HR 1408). If spying some truly wild wildlife is on your bucket list, visit theMendenhall Glacier Visitor Centerand Steep Creek Bear Viewing area in Juneau,AnanWildlife Observatoryin Wrangell,Fish Creek Bear Viewing Areain Hyder, orPack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Areaon Admiralty Island, or immerseyourself in native culture at the stunning Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, located just steps away from the cruise ship docks in downtown Ketchikan. The Tongass, which is managed by the United States Forest Service, encompasses islands of the Alexander Archipelago, fjords and glaciers, and peaks of the Coast Mountains. About 5million acres (20,000km2) are considered "productive old-growth", and 4,500,000 acres (18,000km2) of those are preserved as wilderness areas. No. Our work to protect the Tongass focuses on the intersection of place, people, and the need for policy that protects this incredible rainforest for the future. The Tongass National Forest is the world's largest contiguous temperate rainforest and, at almost 17 million acres, it's the largest National Forest in the U.S. Misty Fjords Ranger District. 1403 (1976), United States District Court, D. Alaska. Along with the Central and North Coast regions of British Columbia designated as the Great Bear Rainforest, the Tongass is part of the "perhumid rainforest zone", and the forest is primarily made up of western red cedar, sitka spruce, and western hemlock. 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. By Juliet Eilperin. [31] Clear-cut lands lose the carbon sink of old-growth forest, habitat for wildlife, and soil stability, causing landslides. The new rules would still allow for smaller timber sales, including some old-growth trees, for cultural uses by local communities. Some of these include Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Endicott River Wilderness, Coronation Island Wilderness, and Kuiu Wilderness. The Tongass covers about 80 percent of Southeast Alaska and plays a critical role in supporting local and regional economies, promoting economic diversification, and enhancing rural community well-being. Surrounding the town is Tongass National Forest, the world's largest intact temperate rainforest, nearly 17 million acres spread across 1,100 mountainous islands. This fact has caused much controversy involving the business interests of Native Regional Corporations and the personal interests of local Native and non-Native residents of Southeastern Alaska. The Tongass includes parts of the Northern Pacific coastal forests and Pacific Coastal Mountain icefields and tundra ecoregions. Tongass National Forest was named for the Tongass Clan of Tlingit Indians. Juneau Ultimate Canopy & Zipline Tour over Tongass National Forest 2. It still provides food securitydeer, moose, salmon, berries, our medicines. About 35% (6 million acres) of the Tongass is set aside as: 19 Congressionally-designated Wilderness areas 2 National Monuments 12 LUD (land use designation management) on official, secure websites. ZIESKE v. BUTZ, 406 F.Supp. The Tongass National Forest offers recreation opportunities, some of which are found only in Alaska. 632,000 acres (2,560km2) of those lands were hand-picked old growth areas of the Tongass National Forest and are still surrounded by public National Forest land. The Tongass is Earth's largest remaining temperate rainforest. It is accessible by boat or floatplane and is a popular cabin for Sea Kayakers to use as a base for trips in Misty Fjords. With a predominance of temperate rain forest, it is the biggest of all American national forests. It is the largest of all national forests in the United States, consisting mostly of temperate rain forest. Local winter windstorms referred to as the "Takus" can affect the structure of some stands and often cause single-tree blow-downs. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock The Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska, The given coordinates are for one representative location in the forest near. Tongass National Forest helps ensure clean drinking water Forests constitute a water treatment network that catches rainfall, regulates storm runoff and pulls pollution from the soil rather than allowing it to make it back to waterways. Lewis & Clark Law School. A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Tongass National Forest contains a variety of trees but the canopy consists of yellow cedar, spruce, and hemlock. Geography. In 1976, Congress removed the Zieske injunction in passing the National Forest Management Act. website belongs to an official government organization in the An international border with Canada (British Columbia) runs along the crest of the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains. In combination with British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest immediately to the south, the region encompasses the largest intact temperate rainforest on earth. It covers a large section of the panhandle, extending from the Gulf of Alaska to the state's border with Canada's British Columbia. Wolfgang Kaehler via Getty Images. United States Court of Claims. Audubon protects birds and the places they need now and in the future. Many migratory birds spend summer months nesting among the archipelago, notably the Arctic tern. With a predominance of temperate rain forest, it is the biggest of all American national forests. It encompasses islands, mountains, bays, forests, fjords, glaciers, and important salmon streams, and its forest is the largest temperate rainforest in the world (intact). At approximately 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is America's largest national forest, encompassing the majority of the Southeast Alaska Panhandle. The most controversial logging in the Tongass has involved the roadless areas. Popular places to view bears in Tongass National Forest include Fish Creek, Anan Creek, Park Creek, and Steep Creek. [5] In Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska v. United States, the court found Alaskan natives held established aboriginal title by their "exclusive use and occupancy of that territory from time immemorial". Neets Bay Bear Watch Tour 5. [18], Historically, logging operations tended to concentrate on lower-elevation, bigger-tree ecosystems for harvesting; at present, approximately 78% of the land remains intact, i.e. However, the Tongass remained exempt from that ruling. In combination with British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest immediately to the south, the region encompasses the largest intact temperate rainforest on earth. Watch the film then join us for a discussion about the film, the Tonagss, and climate change on March 19. The concentration of bald eagles in Tongass National Forest if higher than any other region on earth. 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. JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) - The Tongass National Forest is playing a significant role in the fight against climate change, according to new research. Promotes new National Forests, National Monuments, and other protected areas on Forest Service or forested BLM lands. LockA locked padlock Global wood consumption is projected to increase 50 percent by the year 2050. An increasingly rare global treasure, it contains the largest intact stands of coastal temperate rainforest left on the planet. THINGS TO DO That just makes no sense. [34][36] Tourism supports over 10,000 jobs in the Tongass National Forest, with about 10% being related to fishing activities.[35]. Trump has his eye on Alaska", "Extrinsically reinforced hybrid speciation within Holarctic ermine (Mustela spp.) Mendenhall Campground is situated on the shore of Mendenhall Lake, in view of massive Mendenhall Glacier, about 13 miles from downtown Juneau. Explore, renew, and refresh among the islands and along the coastline and take home exciting memories of adventures in Alaska. It stretches south from above Glacier Bay, covers the Alexander Archipelago, and runs down to British Columbia. [31], In June 2021, the Joe Biden administration revealed its intent to "repeal or replace" Trump's removal of roadless designation. Hiking opportunities abound. Clear-cut logging in the Tongass National Forest damages ecosystems and costs taxpayers millions of dollars. The first nations include the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. [18] Given the guaranteed low prices during contract days and the continued high cost of logging in Southeast Alaska today, one analysis concludes that, since 1980, the Forest Service has lost over one billion dollars in Tongass timber sales. Less than 8% of the Tongass is developed, primarily from past timber management activities. 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. At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest holds the distinction as the largest national forest in the system, dwarfing the second largest, the Chugach, by more than 11.5 million acres. The Tongass National Forest is located in southeast Alaska and the national forest designation was made in 1907 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Native corporation lands are those designated by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). National Audubon Society The Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska is home to over 400 species of wildlife including bald eagles, moose and the world's greatest concentration of black bears. Logging over the last century, however, has changed the Tongass, particularly by targeting the rare, old-growth forest stands with the biggest trees. '"[29], While the Forest Service may reevaluate its approach to roadless area management in the Tongass, it must comply with the requirements of the APA [the federal Administrative Procedures Act] in doing so. The rainforest layers are called the emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer and the forest floor. United States. January 19, 1968", "Important Alaska Native settlement case started as grassroots movement", "Stein v. Barton, 740 F. Supp. Alaska Natives have continuously inhabited the Tongass for more than 10,000 years, residing with salmon, bears, wolves, eagles, and whales. [25] The timber sale was permanently stopped by a lawsuit.[26][27]. km) of land, making it the largest national forest in the United States. The Tongass National Forest (/ t s /) 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).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. Supporters of the bipartisan amendment included the Republicans for Environmental Protection. Only 241,000 acres -- about one-quarter of the most valuable old-growth -- is protected from logging. The Tongass is in Alaska and is biggest temperate rainforest in the world covering a whopping 17 million acres! Let policymakers know that birds are important to you. "Biden ends large-scale logging in Tongass National Forest", "U.S. House Boosts Spending for Environment, Conservation", "Obama Administration Approves First Logging Contract in Alaska's Tongass National Forest", A court order, ruling the Tongass exemption from the Roadless Rule invalid, Judge Sedwick (U.S. Dist. Alaska Pulp Corporation and Ketchikan Pulp Corporation claimed that the new restrictions made them uncompetitive and closed down their mills in 1993 and 1997, respectively, and the Forest Service then cancelled the remainders of the two 50-year timber contracts.[17]. The law's provisions cancelled a $40million annual subsidy for timber harvest; established several new wilderness areas and closed others to logging; and required that future cutting under the 50-year pulp contracts be subject to environmental review and limitations on old-growth harvest. Tongass National Forest is located in Alaska's southeast panhandle, where it contains over 26,254.95 square miles (68,000 sq. The Biden administration plans to restore environmental protections to Alaska's Tongass National Forest that had been stripped away at the end of the Trump administration . Reservation Rules. The Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska is home to part of the Emerald Edge the largest intact temperate rainforest remaining on Earth. . Lockyer, 575 F.3d at 1010 (quoting Kootenai Tribe, 313 F.3d at 1106). At approximately 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is America's largest national forest, encompassing the majority of the southeast Alaska Panhandle. The Wildlife Society, Alaska Chapter, 2003. However, the two companies conspired to drive log prices down, put smaller logging operations out of business, and were major and recalcitrant polluters in their local areas. Ketchikan Paddles & Propellers Boat & Kayak Tour 6. The USFS acknowledges that the Tongass may be the most expensive national forest in the nation to log in. In addition, there are fears expressed by the Territorial Sportsmen that the northern goshawk will be listed as endangered if the bill is passed. Its name comes from the Tongass clan of the Tlingit tribe in southeastern Alaska. At approximately 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is America's largest national forest, encompassing the majority of the southeast Alaska Panhandle. Tongass Forest Facts The Tongass National Forest spans 16.8 million acres. All five species of Pacific salmon can be found in the waters of Tongass National Forest, along with halibut and other fish. Steiner, R. 1998. They contain over 5,750,000 acres (23,300km2) of territory,[40] also more than any other. 743 (D. Alaska 1990)", "Underlying Causes of Deforestation: Alaska", Temperate Rainforests of the North Pacific Coast. The Forest Service likens the overall deficit of the timber harvest program to the many other programs the agency operates at a deficit, including trail, cabin, and campground maintenance and subsistence programs. The forest is named for the Tongass group of the Tlingit people, who inhabited the southernmost areas of Southeast Alaska, near what is now the city of Ketchikan. The site is a popular destination for viewing beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Scientists have long touted the forest as one of the world's largest carbon sinks. Federal Building We walk these same lands. 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. Deforestation in Alaska's Coastal rainforest: causes and solutions. Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. produces an insular endemic", Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan Final EIS, National Wilderness Areas by State, 14 November 2008, "Sen. Murkowski Introduces Revised Sealaska Lands Bill - Alaska Business Monthly - February 2013 - Anchorage, AK", http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AK_ALASKA_LAND_FIGHT_AKOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT, The National Forest Foundation's Conservation Plan for Tongass National Forest, Collection of photographs spanning the Tongass National Forest, Full list of all state parks, recreation areas and sites, historic parks and sites, and marine parks, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tongass_National_Forest&oldid=1107826364, Protected areas of Haines Borough, Alaska, Protected areas of HoonahAngoon Census Area, Alaska, Protected areas of Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Protected areas of Prince of WalesHyder Census Area, Alaska, Protected areas of Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from December 2020, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles needing additional references from July 2019, All articles needing additional references, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from September 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 16.7million acres (26,100sqmi; 68,000km, This page was last edited on 1 September 2022, at 03:19. 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