 |
Tongass
Conservation Society
|
 |
March 22, 2006 - Forest Service Announces TLMP Revision Plan
On Tuesday, March 21, the Forest Service announced the
official kickoff for revising the forest plan associated with the Tongass
National Forest. The announcement took place during the Southeast Conference
gathering in Juneau.
“Clearly this is a monumental opportunity for the Forest Service
to improve upon its practices on the Tongass,” said Gregory Vickrey
of the Tongass Conservation Society. “This opportunity allows the
Forest Service to truly serve the mandate of multiple use – subsistence,
recreation, fishing, hunting, tourism, and habitat conservation deserve
proper attention; the Tongass is far more than a timber resource.”
Last summer a court ruling found the current forest plan illegal because of an admitted Forest Service error that doubled projections of market demand for Tongass timber. Market demand projections were used to determine the maximum logging level allowed in the 1997 Forest Plan. The overall effect of this error was to exaggerate Tongass logging levels, and put far more land in logging designations than needed to supply local mills.
Commercial fishing and tourism businesses are among the
top industries in Southeast, but the current forest plan still over-commits
resources to an outdated timber industry. top^
"Everyone recognizes the need for diversification
of our economy in Southeast – and certainly in Ketchikan –
and that diversification requires responsible management of our greatest
resource: the Tongass. Watersheds must be protected to enhance commercial
fishing, sport fishing, and subsistence gathering. Scenic values must
be sustained to protect the various tourism markets available to us. And
I could go on. The bottom line is sound management of the Tongass improves
our quality of life, and sustains and improves our economy,” said
Vickrey.
Recognition of our remaining wild and productive watersheds, healthy wildlife
habitats, restoration, cuts in round log exporting, and sound second growth
management should be on the Forest Service’s priority list this
time around."
Vickrey concluded, “We look forward to working with the Forest Service
on all these issues and are excited to see input from the public-at-large
during the revision process.”
2006 News
Weyerhaeuser
Casts Doubt on Ketchikan Veneer Dec 12
House
Votes to End Tongass Subsidy May 22
Sale
of Public Lands Flawed and Unnecessary May
2
Alaskans
to challenge Emerald Bay March 26
Forest
Service Announces TLMP revision plan March
22
USFS Continues
a Losing Methodology Feburary 23
State
of Alaska signed two MOUs.. January 31
Alaska Ferrys January
16
Meyers Chuck and
Emerald Bay January 1
| News | Gravina | shop tcs |
Chopping Block |
Cyber Cafe |
Get
Involved |
Alaska Organizations |
Contact | Home |
 |
Tongass
Conservation Society - P.O. Box 23377 - Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 -
Phone/Fax: (907)225-3275 Email Us |
 |