Southeast Alaskans might not think day to day about the economic value of the Tongass National Forest – our backyard, where we hunt, fish, guide and recreate. But over a million people travel from all across the country and the world to explore the Tongass every year and while here they spend a lot of money. So what is the value of the Tongass National Forest to the visitor industry? My organization, Alaska Wilderness League, contracted the McDowell Group to find out.
According to the study, the visitor industry adds nearly $1 billion to the Southeast Alaska economy annually and provides about 20 percent of all employment. Although putting an exact dollar amount on it isn’t possible, data from the McDowell Group shows that the Tongass National Forest in its natural state has obvious value to the visitor industry. Out of 25 tourism activities for Southeast Alaska measured in the report, the majority involve experiencing outdoor activities: wildlife viewing, hiking and nature walks, flightseeing, fishing and more.
The takeaway message for me is that areas of the Tongass that are most important to the visitor industry, as well as locals, deserve to be left in their natural state, not only for their intrinsic value, but for the dollars and cents that they generate for Southeast Alaskans.
We have an opportunity to manage the Tongass in a way that will help grow forest-dependent jobs for the future, jobs in industries such as tourism, fishing and timber. To date, we have over 100 guides and outfitters that support the sustainable management of the forest on www.TourTheTongass.org. From my discussions with guides and outfitters, sustainable management of the Tongass makes good business sense.
The U.S. Forest Service has initiated what is known as the Transition Plan. The intent is to help support and grow jobs in Southeast Alaska, with the visitor industry being one of its many areas of focus. The transition plan will take time to fine tune and implement, but it’s a great step in the right direction to grow Southeast Alaska’s economy by managing the Tongass National Forest in a way that recognizes the value of the forest to its many user groups. It’s my hope that implementing the Transition Plan will become a priority for the U.S. Forest Service here in Southeast.
• Morehouse is the Southeast Alaska Outreach Coordinator for the Alaska Wilderness League.
Comments (5)
Add commentThe Tongass
Excellent Letter. Let Truth be known that destroying the Tongass will impact not only those of us that live here , but tourist $$$$ that help our local economy.
Agree w/ billb
I could not agree more. This is what a sustainable, stable economy looks like. I had to get over my initial shock because of the placement of the article, I thought it was the opinion of the Juneau Empire! "No, couldn't be..."
Still waiting for the Empire to show real conservative morals and embrace the conservation ethic and not the develop-at-any-cost selfish attitude of the Chamber and SE Conference
Well Written
I agree about keeping the Tongass intact and not destroying it, I love the rainforest, and the rain for that matter; however, I am puzzled. Are there those that want to change it dramatically? I am for the road, but that will not be detrimental to the forest, and actually I see it as opening up more forest to enjoy; but I have heard it argued that a road would destroy the environment. Can anyone tell me what the author of this letter is against? I would appreciate it.
As far as jobs, it is nice that young folks are able to come here for the summer to fill those guide jobs, but it would be nice to have the forest provide some full time resident jobs as well (not that it doesn't, and not that it should to be valuable).
I visited your website for tour operators Mr. Morehouse.
I've read more data on a tour map of downtown Juneau.
Not impressed.
"The League is the only Washington D.C.-based environmental group devoted full-time to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge & other wilderness-quality lands in Alaska." I beg to differ, you are not alone. Not to mention ANWR is a bit further north.
"..& other wilderness-quality lands in Alaska." You do have your work cut out for you.
Something tells me your 100+ tour operators were on board before you boarded the raft. Good for business.
Nice smoke screen, other facts not mentioned...
"Southeast Alaskans might not think day to day about the economic value of the Tongass National Forest – our backyard, where we hunt, fish, guide and recreate."
Nice way to open when your a lefty opinion piece there Jeff.
You forgot logging, sawmills, trucking, support industries and exporting timber to the world markets and all the economic prosperity those jobs brought SE and the families that made excellent livings in the woods. And as predicted, the trees all grew back. Just amazing!
Before all this tourism and greeny stuff we had actual production and harvesting of a natural resource right here in SE. Good paying jobs too!
Just imagine it folks, with a little more help from our green friends we can ship in a few million more visitors from all over the world and show them just how green we are for 4 months of the year, paying the locals and the imported help crap for wages. setting up more seasonal jewelry stores and kiyack trips.
I am all for business, but let's be honest here, while mining and tourism have been great for SE, there is plenty of room for logging as well. With stream buffers and careful planning SE can once again have logging, saw mills and an excellent export product.
Come on boys, let's get some saw gas and make some noise...