Restrictions on Logging and Road Construction in Alaska's Tongass Forest Reinstated
The Biden administration took action to protect a significant portion of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.
The Tongass National Forest is one of the largest remaining intact temperate rainforests in the world.
The decision reinstates a halt to new road construction and logging in the area, which has been a contentious issue between environmentalists and Alaskan timber industry supporters.
The Tongass was previously protected during the Clinton era, but protections were lifted by the previous administration in 2020.
The Biden administration has taken action to protect over half of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest by reinstating restrictions on new roads and logging.
The decision, made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, revokes the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, making it illegal for logging companies to construct new roads and extract timber from over 9.3 million acres of the forest.
The decision, made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, revokes the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, making it illegal for logging companies to construct new roads and extract timber from over 9.3 million acres of the forest.
The Tongass is significant for wildlife habitat and combatting climate change.
The Forest Service received a large number of comments, with the majority in favor of restoring roadless protections.
The Tongass is a vital habitat for a variety of species, including Sitka black-tailed deer, Pacific salmon, and trout, and boasts the highest density of brown bears in North America.
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