Tongass National Forest. Photo Credit: Zeke Tucker. Haida, Lingít Aaní (Tlingit), and Tsimshian lands.

At nearly 17 million acres in total, the Tongass National Forest is the largest National Forest in the United States and home to old-growth forests, countless wildlife, and outstanding outdoor recreation. It’s also one of the largest remaining intact temperate rainforests on earth. Right now, the Forest Service is working to determine the future of the Tongass and restore crucial protections rescinded by the Trump administration, and the agency wants to hear from you.

Take action

For many years, the Tongass was protected through the Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule protects millions of acres of backcountry National Forests—home to incredible recreation across the country—from logging, road-building, and development. Approximately 30 percent of forests are protected by the Roadless Rule—remote, roadless landscapes treasured by our community for backcountry recreation. You can learn more about Roadless Areas and the Roadless Rule here.

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. As Marina Andersen, tribal administrator for the Organized Village of Kasaan, said:

Having protections for close to 10 million acres of old-growth means that we have the resources needed to continue teaching our traditional practices…[and] in the future, we would hope that tribal governments are listened to, and properly consulted with, in the beginning.

Alaska’s outdoor recreation economy is growing thanks to the Tongass: outdoor enthusiasts have access to iconic paddling, climbing, hiking, rafting, and backcountry skiing throughout the forest.

In 2020, the Trump administration stripped protections from the Tongass, part of a larger move to prioritize development on our public lands and waters. The revised Alaska Roadless Rule was the first step towards opening up the forest to logging and development—activities that would have detrimental effects on the Forest and our climate.

So, what’s happening now? In his first days in office, President Biden issued Executive Orders directing agencies to review actions undertaken by the last administration that undercut environmental protections, and in July, the administration announced a plan to restore Roadless protections in the Tongass. The USDA Forest Service is taking comments until January 24th about reinstating these protections. Individual comments are crucial for how decision-makers will proceed.

Our work to protect the Tongass isn’t over. With your help, we can cross the finish line and ensure our Roadless forests are once again protected for years to come. Take two minutes to tell the Forest Service and the Biden administration to restore the Roadless Rule protections on the Tongass.

Restoring Protections in the Tongass