Timber stakeholders on the Tongass National Forest met recently in Hoonah to hash out a vision of logging and restoration work on northeast Chichagof Island.
Approximate 30 participants attended a community forest collaborative workshop hosted by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council in Hoonah.
The meeting was one part of an ongoing discussion. The US Forest Service, the Hoonah Indian Association, the City of Hoonah, small business owners and contractors in Hoonah, Icy Straits Lumber and Milling and SEACC attended the most recent meeting in October.
The stakeholders discussed service work, local suitable timber sales, forest thinning, road and bridge maintenance, public recreation, renewable energy development, commercial and personal berry harvesting, commercial guiding, and fish passage improvements.
According to an Oct. 26 SEACC press release, potential contracts on both public and private land were presented to local businesses, contractors, tribal representatives, and loggers.
Deer habitat improvements at Kennel Creek are expected to employ six to eight Hoonah residents.
The tone of discussions during the workshop was optimistic but realistic, Daven Hafey community organizer for SEACC said in the release.
“The transition on the Tongass won’t occur overnight,” Hafey said.
Comments (7)
Add commentSeacc?
Look at past stories posted by Juneau Empire and you'll find SEACC at the top of the list of opposition to any industry that involves work.
Has the will of the people sunk so low that industry must go cap in hand to the environmental lobby without mention of the state of Alaska. It speaks clearly of the decline of representative government when our livelyhoods can be dictated by a vocal minority that accepts outside funding.
SEACC facilitated logging in Kake
After clearcutting in Kake on private land - the village wasn't keen about more logging on US Forest Service land. However, SEACC worked out a compromise with the Organized Village of Kake that smoothed the way for new logging with no environmental group lawsuits.
Hoonah is in the same position after Huna Totem Corporation and Sealaska clear cut Chicagof - that is why SEACC is trying to work there as well. If they are successful as they were in Kake, US Forest Service land will be logged more responsibly than it was under the ANCSA corporations, more local jobs will be created, and there will be no environmental group lawsuits.
So what is your complaint, eaglesnest? It is a win-win-win-win for the village, the Forest Service, the logging companies, and the environmental groups.
Sounds like Attorneys attended
Anything you do in the 'Out Doors'; including Golf and Fishing, one is advised to invite a Lawyer along. Just in case.
seacc?
What a joke, seacc has never let a job be created when litigation could prevent it.
SEACC
Wolves cloaking in sheep's clothes....
Special interests
Perhaps you didn't read the whole article. My objection is the special interest groups that accept outside funding dictating policy in the state of Alaska .
Special interests helped to kill jobs through constant misinformation to the supporters that fund litigation.One example being the deception that the shutdown of logging in the Tongass will have little or no impact on local economies. I guess an overnight jump to 25% unemployment doesn't qualify as a local mpact. I was one of the workers affected by the "little or no impact" to our economy.
Another argument used was the creation of tourism jobs would offset the loss of the timber industry. Do tell. I guess they forgot to mention the fact that tourism was going strong already and had it's own infrastructure that relied heavily on seasonal imported llabor.
Back to the main point. Go to Juneau and visit the legislative offices. Before you go inside visit the special parking spots reserved for lobbyists. I guess we don't rate simply being registered voters.
My choice for SEACC and every other environmental lobby, send them back outside and leave Alaska policy to Alaskans.
P.S.
Our economy never recovered. Environmentalists were protesting the cruise industry so the sailings all but ceased.
I get a warm fuzzy feelin and want to hug an environmentalist every time my grandkids want something that I can no longer afford. All I can tell them is about a time when people took pride in working.for a living.
Get in bed with them if you want to just don't turn your back to them.
P.S.S. Next time you purchase an American product made in china hug a lobbyist.