The big decisions on the table are whether to increase permitted helicopter landings, whether to add special land designations, and if they will lift monitor and control areas for wildlife studies.
Timber
Conservation groups sue over Prince of Wales Island project
In March, the U.S. Forest Service signed off on the final environmental review for what could be the largest logging operation in more than a decade in a national forest.
Tongass old growth timber sale gets go-ahead despite habitat concerns
The U.S. Forest Service is moving ahead with one of the largest old growth timber sales Southeast Alaska has seen in years. The project projects harvesting as much as 225 million board feet of old growth lumber.
The Alaska Roadless Rule decision is moving along. Some tribal governments say it’s moving too fast.
The Organized Village of Kake says the timeline has felt rushed for a decision that could have a major impact on rural Southeast Alaska.
Forest Service reschedules meeting on Southeast Alaska timber sales
The agency worked on the project during the partial government shutdown, which drew sharp criticism from environmental groups.
Crafting a story of romance and resiliency with Tongass bowls
Zach LaPerriere has heard some surprising comments about the wooden bowls he sells at markets. People reach out to touch them, admiring the detail of an exposed scar and the smooth curves.
Shutdown not stopping review of Alaska’s Roadless Rule
The bulk of federal employees will miss two paychecks by Friday, Jan. 25, as the government shutdown continues. But the U.S. Forest Service is dedicating paid staff to a controversial initiative in Alaska.
Despite the shutdown, it’s been a dizzying week for a Southeast Alaska timber sale
On Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service notified objectors of a proposed timber sale about a public meeting in Klawock. By Thursday, the meeting was canceled. But some groups are wondering why this work is happening now at all.
Amid environmental grief, finding hope in a graveyard of yellow cedar
One ecologist wonders, for the yellow cedar forests and the people who care about them, what comes after climate change and environmental loss in Southeast Alaska?
Why Mount Jumbo won’t be logged anytime soon
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority board has approved a land exchange of up to 40,000 acres in Southeast. The land will change hands between the trust and the U.S. Forest Service — including parcels like Mount Jumbo in Juneau.