The campaign to protect our Tongass National Forest continues to build toward enactment of the strongest levels of protection possible for high-value, priority conservation areas such as Port Houghton, a spectacular sanctuary for wildlife and fish along the famed Inside Passage. Work is continuing among diverse stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future, one that includes durable protections for extraordinary old-growth rainforest and valuable wild salmon habitat, a more sustainable community-focused timber program as the region transitions away from old-growth logging, and the resolution of native land entitlements. Across the country, thousands of activists continue to be critical to our success by contacting members of Congress and building support for this achievable vision. In 2010, the League is focused on ensuring even broader support for protection of wild watersheds in our Tongass and letting Congress know that any legislative action must meet the needs of a broad range of stakeholders and include durable conservation measures for America’s rain forest.

• UPDATE: Within the next few weeks, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to take action on the “Sealaska bill” (S.881). The Sealaska Corporation has the right to select remaining land entitlements within the Tongass National Forest and finalization of these entitlements should be a priority. The proposed legislation, however, would alter the entitlement areas set up by the U.S. Congress under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) and allow Sealaska to “cherry-pick” the most valuable public lands outside of its original land entitlement areas.  
• The controversial land selection proposal fails to consider the needs of the unique and rare rainforest environment and could adversely impact small, forest-dependent communities and local industries including the region’s leading economic engines – tourism and commercial fishing. In the Tongass, where land issues too often pit neighbor against neighbor, the Sealaska Bill (S.881) only serves to codify the conflict. Any congressional action on the Tongass must include the strongest protections possible for valuable, intact old-growth and restore important fish and wildlife habitat damaged by past logging. 
  
• ACTION: PLEASE SIGN ON TO THE ATTACHED ALASKA COALITION LETTER BY FRIDAY, FEB. 5!
• ARTICLE: Salmon In The Trees: Documenting the circle of life in Alaska’s Tongass rain forest

• FREE VIDEO:  We have a new Tongass video that we would love to have Alaska Coalition groups use and show to your members.   If you're interested in receiving a copy of the video, please let me know via email at anna (at) alaskawild.org