A ranking U.S. Department of Agriculture official made his third trip to Alaska this week as the federal government prepares to transition the Tongass National Forest into its second-growth management plan. Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Harris Sherman was off to a busy start on Saturday, holding meetings with various entities that have stakes in the forest’s future.
Sherman said he came here to further educate himself about Alaska and is anxious to continue working with the state on this transition strategy. He said the USDA obviously has a keen interest in this area.
Sherman described the transition as a multi-level strategy that focuses on building and expanding the area’s tourism and recreational base as well as ocean products. He said the plan also includes working on renewable energy possibilities and stabilizing Alaska’s forest products.
Sherman said the are significant opportunities to work on these issues in the transition strategy across the approximately 600,000 acres in the Tongass that span across all land ownerships, be they state, federal or tribal.
A large part of the strategy involves whether there will be enough second-growth timber to sustain it. Sherman said he believes there are sufficient timber resources here to sustain a long-term industry under the transition.
Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole said there could be harvests between 50 and 100 million board feet annually over the next century. He said harvest levels are currently around 35 million board feet.
Cole said the forest plan looks specifically at what the industry could sustain, and that this amount could produce a sustainable supply.
Another big issue Sherman will work with is the Tongass’ reinstatement of the Roadless Rule.
“We feel that the transition strategy can go forward successfully even though the Roadless Rule will be implemented,” said Sherman.
Sherman said that the rule allows for developments such as mining, renewable energy, small sales of commercial firewood and other industries. He said certain projects have been grandfathered in by the court but that the rule allows for new projects as well.
Sealaska Executive Vice President Rick Harris, who met with Sherman, isn’t so sure the rule allows for the adequate developments. He said a problem is that while the rule allows for certain projects like the exploratory mining projects that were just approved on Admiralty Island and Prince of Wales Island, these projects aren’t enough.
“This seems to allow spending money on projects but it’s not about building roads to support the mining projects,” said Harris.
He said the inability to build roads to projects like the Niblack Mine but allowing exploratory drilling will prevent locals on Prince of Wales Island from capturing these jobs and will inhibit local goods and services.
He said Sealaska is also greatly concerned with allowing the communities in these isolated areas to connect with each other.
“The Obama administration recognizes the need to create jobs and it seems at this crucial juncture, the ability to sustain jobs are critical,” he said.
Sherman said the Roadless Rule can allow roads to be built if projects meet certain criteria under specific categories. He said that any road construction in inventoried roadless areas must be highly regulated.
He said the USDA has continued to have discussions with Sealaska on its prospective needs as well as the country’s.
Craig City Administrator Jon Bolling also expressed concerns about the Roadless Rule’s impact, saying he doesn’t see it as a benefit. He said the Craig City Council has a key interest in the ability to supply goods and services to mining projects if they go into production. He said there are no existing roads going into Niblack or a mine site at Bokan Mountain.
“It’s fair to say we don’t support application of the Roadless Rule to the Tongass,” Bolling said.
Sherman also commented on the Sealaska Lands Bill. He said that while it’s still too early to forecast the bill’s outcome, he said the department is focusing more on Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s bill. He said the USDA feels that bill has a more effective framework for the issues that are pending.
Another recent development the USDA faces for the Tongass is the recent petition filed by the Center of Biological Diversity and Greenpeace to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf for Endangered Species Act protection.
U.S. Forest Service Alaska Regional Forester Beth Pendleton said the Service is initiating discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Fish and Game to consider the petition. She said that it’s too early to speculate on it.
Sherman also met with the Juneau Economic Development Council while in town. He said JEDC has worked on the forest products aspect of the transition strategy.
Sherman will be stopping throughout the Southeast on his trip, including visits to Sitka and Ketchikan. This also includes a celebration on Craig for the restoration of the Harris River watershed.
Pendleton said this has been a long-term collaborative effort between the Forest Service, tribes and communities to improve the watershed and salmon fisheries.
“This is a culmination of a lot of years of effort and it deserves recognition,” Cole said.
• Contact reporter Jonathan Grass at 523-2276 or jonathan.grass@juneauempire.com.
Comments (15)
Add commentThe Tongass National Forest
The Tongass National Forest is the last of its kind and it belongs to all Americans today and tomorrow.
Our oceans are in decline and the Tongass "National" Forest will help us meet our obligation to do what we must to maintain and enhance the sustainability of our oceans but this will only be possible if the entire Tongass ecosystem is left intact.
Right now we have very little understanding or capacity to respond, and adapt to our changing global environment and the role this forests plays now and even more so in the future is absolutely critical to all of us.
Dosn't exist
There is not one valid reason not to build roads where they are needed, period, not one! If or when said road becomes not needed any longer, they disappear rapidly as nature reclaims the area. Granted, they should not encroach on streams or where erosion would be extreme, however, roads are a necessity. Just build them responsibly!
No Justification For A Timber Program
The Tongass is much better as a wildlife reserve for salmon, bear, whales and eagles. There is not much value in a "second-growth" forest that you have to wait 150-200 years to cut and profit from, otherwise it needs full federal subsidy. Hopefully, the Tongass will transfer to the US Fish & Wildlife Service to manage as a reserve, as it should be.
I know a number of people
I know a number of people that moved to Craig because they were "tired of Government". However, the land they live on was given to them by the state and they expect the Federal Government to subsidize their life! I say to these individuals: move to the towns where the jobs are just like the rest of us, instead of, demanding that jobs be developed for you, so you, can stay on your free land. The only jobs I support in the Tongass are those that bolster conservation efforts or work to improve the health of the land and ocean but no more logging or mining should be allowed in the Tongass.
manage the thing
Trees are rotting on the stump in the Tongass and the forest should be managed like any other crop. It needs serious thinning. Look at how many trees have white tops or are already dead. Use them for wood pellets or something.
The Tongass is not crop! The
The Tongass is not crop! The Tongass is a Coastal Rain Forest!
Crop = plantation
Want to log? Then go buy some land and plant trees then you will have your crop in your plantation. This is how its done.
rotting trees, leaves, stumps....ARE something and we just need to let all this rotting stuff be what it is, its what makes the Forest. We dont need to go in and "clean" the forest, but we do need to allow it to be what it is. It took hundreds and hundreds of years to make all this "stuff" that makes up this Coastal Rain Forest.
Many people think of the Tongass as their "crop" but these people are wrong. This forest is something entirely different than "crop", it is a living ecosytem, and much like an organ, it works to sustain all life, our oceans, our climate, it is so much much more than crop.
Hang on until the 2012
Hang on until the 2012 elections and hopefully things will change. There's not going to be anything going forward with this bunch in the White House.
Thank goodness the Tongass is a rainforest or it would have gone up in flames many times over. Wonder what kind of diseases or insects are developing a strong hold with no management? Take a look at the Rockies and the pine beetle investation.
There's no reason why a forest cannot be managed and used commercially and perserved all at the same time. This is the 21st century.
It gets so tiring listening to the enviros drone on about not touching whatever it is. Everything has to be all or nothing, in their eyes. Then the other side is painted as derelicts that just want to tear up everything.
I'm convinced the left couldn't create a job, if their lives depended on it. That's why the communal living system is so enticing to them - there's always hope that someone in the group will be smarter than them and cover their tails!!
great idea chipthoma
The Fish and Wildlife Service would do a lot better job of managing the Tongass as a fish and wildlife preserve as it should be. As stated by Forest Supervisor Cole, the plan is cut 50 to 100 million board feet of old growth all century from one of the last remaining coastal rainforest. This is a travesty. The Forest Service seems to still be hung up on the idea that it must cut old growth for decades on the public dime while it spends millions at the same time on developing a second growth industry creating products that nobody wants.
Thanks to the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace for filing their petition. The Forest Service should cease wasting money on their timber sales program at least until that all gets sorted out. It's a shame that wildlife has to be pushed to the brink of extinction before there is sensible management of the Tongass. But better late than never.
The Federal harvest programs
The Federal harvest/logging programs are in fact subsidies for deforestation brought to you by our own Government. Deforestation is one of the main causes of our warming climate. Forests absorb Co2 they are the lungs of our planet. These trees, this forest is worth more to our government and individuals standing than felled.
Forests offer the "single largest opportunity for cost-effective and immediate reductions of carbon emissions", the simple fact is, if we lose this forest, we lose the fight against climate change.
Our state does not need this program and the federal government does not need this program but we all need this Rain Forest, it is a public health issue.
I would rather see these subsidies go to our rural communities to pay them for "environmental services" and to Alaskan Natives to pay them to leave their land portions unused. This is after all a National Forest it belongs to every American and it should be used in such a way that benefits every single American
nice quote highflyer
Standing forests as climate change mitigation is a big issue, and it's important to note here that a key part of the so-called "transition" involves turning biomass/second growth into energy under the false presumption that it is a "renewable energy."
Another sad appeal for a huge, and counterproductive subsidy. Wood energy is not a renewable energy, and will not stand up to the legal challenges to federal regulation of it. It's best to put a stop to this now.
Here we go again........
Blame the "at risk bonuses" for the executives system Sealaska uses.
The Tongass has given enough. Sealaska shareholders have had enough of the "down" years Sealaska's management has announced every year, while executives pocket millions in "at risk bonuses" and went ahead and logged at unsustainable rates, while lying about it to shareholders.
The Tongass is a long way from being safe, there are too many money folk that have earmarked the bonuses from the Sealaska bill to fatten their bank accounts.
Be on guard, Sealaska is releasing all kinds of press releases on everything but the Sealaska bill, you are being lulled into no action. The battle for the Tongass has moved from Alaska to Washington DC, don't forget that, Sealaska hasn't.
"Wood energy is not renewable
"Wood energy is not renewable energy." How so?
Don't the trees grow back? You're talking young growth, which by definition grew back from clear cuts not too long ago. Wood energy is, fundamentally, stored solar energy.
All of Juneau's thermal energy needs could be met, IN PERPETUITY, by a plot of young growth roughly the size of Douglas Island. 1/2 of 1% of the Tongass to eliminate 11,000,000 gallons of heating oil usage. No old growth. No new roads.
If not biomass, please explain how our heating energy needs should be met.
Our hydro resources simply cannot meet the need, even with maximum deployment of heat pumps. Conservation is a priority, but even a very aggressive conservation program, coupled with heat pumps, can't do it.
By shutting off this source of energy, you're basically voting for oil. Is that your intention?
Spare us, your simplistic reductionism Mr. Deering
The Tongass, and parts thereof, can be reduced to your back-of-the-napkin calculations for the purposes of serving biomasters and corporate profiteers cashing in on lavish federal subsidies borne on the backs of struggling taxpayers as you are advocating--
BUT, the Tongass is "fundamentally" (MORE) than "stored solar energy."
The Tongass is a coastal temperate rainforest representing the structural foundation of the regional economy (commercial fishing, subsistence Tourism, charter and recreational fishing).
The Tongass is distinguished by being among the largest remaining stands of relatively intact, temperate rainforests of the planet.
The Tongass represents among the most important portions of what remains of the lungs of the planet. Only recently it was discovered to be (rather than "decadent"), ABSORBING prodigious quantities of excess CO2 from our overburdened atmosphere.
The Tongass of all national forests, is also distinguished for STORING a disproportionately large share of the sequestered carbon-- such that exemplary forests such as the Tongass, represent the primary regulators of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Because it is a rainforest, which has no catastrophic fire events, and growing in a cool and wet climate, the Tongass is a massive planetary warehouse containing centuries of stored (sequestered) carbon with most of it contained in the soil.
So when Mr. Deering, a federal employee who is being paid with taxpayer money to promote biomass in a decidedly less-than-objective fashion -- and with biomass being, yet another corporate bonanza financed as a legislated taxpayer rip-off, and marketed by the likes of public servants such as Mr. Deering, using simplistic reductionism and false promises, it raises a host of professional, governmental, and ethical issues.
You are proposing we respond to the high price of heating oil with stone age solutions Mr. Deering.
This is particularly ironic due to the fact the combustion of "stored solar energy" released from burning biomass and fossil fuels are principally what has PRODUCED anthropogenic-induced causes of global warming.
You Mr. Deering, would have us IGNORE the fact that we could otherwise capture the energy of falling water, southeast gales, boundless geothermal heat, and limitless tidal power -- (all of which produces NO CARBON at all) -- so you can advance up the career ladder.
"If not biomass", Mr Deering, all of the foregoing are the most sensible alternatives to diesel heating fuel, but preceded by a national mandatory energy conservation and enhanced energy efficiencies strategy.
Save your corporate biomass pipe dreams for the smoke-filled back rooms where these taxpayer scams are hatched.
Sell it to Sealaska..........
Good points, now sell it to Harris over at Sealaska. Anything as long as the old growth trees stay right where they belong.
Wood is to pellets as dead animals and plants are to oil
both produce renewable energy products but are not good for the environment