Protections Restored for Tongass National Forest in Alaska
Tongass National Forest, Alaska. Photo credit: Hannah Werneck.
Today, the Biden administration restored protections for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the country’s largest National Forest. For Tribes, for the outdoors and outdoor recreation economy, and for our country’s climate goals, the restoration of these protections is hugely important.
“The Tongass National Forest is an extraordinarily important landscape, not just for its recreation opportunities, but for its profound contribution to fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, and its importance to local Tribes,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “We are cheered and relieved to see today’s announcement, and grateful for the administration’s ongoing commitment to conservation.”
The Tongass has been the site of an ongoing conflict for many years. Back in 2020, the Trump administration approved the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, which stripped protections for half of the Tongass’s 17 million acres. The Roadless Rule protects millions of acres of backcountry National Forests—home to incredible recreation across the country—from logging, road-building, and development. You can learn more about Roadless Areas and the Roadless Rule here.
In one of his first moves in office, President Biden directed agencies to review certain categories of actions by the last administration, including the decision to rescind protections for the Tongass. Last summer, the administration announced a plan to restore Roadless protections in the Tongass following a robust public comment period, during outdoor enthusiasts send more than 24,000 messages in favor of restoring protections for the Tongass.
Protections for the Tongass National Forest are important for many reasons. Alaska Natives have continuously inhabited the Tongass for more than 10,000 years, including the Tlingit and Haida people. Indigenous communities rely on the forest for traditional teachings, foods, and medicines. Today, Southeast Alaska Tribal leaders shared their support for reinstating the Roadless Rule in Alaska.
The Tongass is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. It captures 44% of all the carbon stored by National Forests in the U.S., making it a crucial part of protecting against even more severe climate change and supporting the goal of protecting 30 percent of our land and water by 2030 (source). It’s also home to incredible outdoor recreation, including mountaineering and sea kayaking.