Old-Growth Forests
The wilderness has always inspired us. Particularly awe-inspiring are the wild places left undisturbed. Without disturbances, like logging, old-growth forests continue to grow rich and diverse. They are the temples of our earth. Wonder and beauty is not all they provide. They are greater carbon and nitrogen sinks than younger forests, thereby helping us humans slow, and potentially reverse, climate change. They are also home to a wide array of species that depend on them for survival. Without these habitats, these species could be potentially lost.
But less than a few percent of western forests fall in this category, and numbers continue to dwindle. It is up to us, now, to protect these forests.
The Old-Growth Forest Network works to protect and preserve the remaining old-growth forests. To build this network, they seek to identify a forest in every county in the United States to be preserved and protected forever, where forest naturally grows. Please support them in their efforts by purchasing our calendars or donating directly: http://www.oldgrowthforest.net
The Tongass National Forest
“The Tongass [National Forest] boasts nearly a third of all that remains of the planet’s rare old-growth temperate rain forests, making it a world [unto itself] as well as a national treasure. Rarer still is that all of the pieces are here- ancient forests, wild salmon, grizzly bears, wolves, Steller sea lions, humpback whales, and more.”
“That the modern world has arrived and hasn’t yet broken the circle of life in the twenty-first century Tongass is nothing short of astounding.
But we’re on our way to carving up this extraordinary forest, and it may just be a matter of time.”
“We’ve been given a great gift, and an even greater responsibility.
The Tongass is public land entrusted to all of us. All the pieces are still here. But for how long? The biological riches of the Tongass are vulnerable to the world’s demand for minerals, timber, seafood, tourist destinations, and who knows what else down the road. Yet despite these threats, I have hope. I think we can get it right in the Tongass simply because there’s still time to do so and we know it’s the right thing to do. This is our time. Let us…ensure that the greatest show on earth goes on.”
From Salmon in the Trees by Amy Gulick (Braided River, Seattle: 2011) Link: www.salmoninthetrees.org
The Tongass Campaign
In 2013, the US Forest Service announced its plans for the Big Thorne timber sale which is estimated to be the largest sale and clear-cutting of old-growth forests in the US in decades. In August of this year (2014), despite nation-wide petitions by scientists, congressmen and the public, the Forest Service made the decision to proceed with the sale "authorizing 149 million board feet of timber taken from approximately 6,200 acres of old-growth forest on Prince of Wales island." (Alaska Wilderness League)
There is now a last-ditch effort being undertaken by a coalition of organizations to challenge this decision which is being led by Earthjustice with participation by the SE Alaska Conservation Council, the Alaska Wilderness League, the Sierra Club, and the National Resources Defense Council.
Sitting Bear continues to dedicate time and effort to challenge this sale and join the effort to protect the Tongass. Most recently, we wrote a letter, signed by friends and colleagues from the "L-48," in support of these efforts addressed to the Tongass Advisory Committee for their meeting in November, 2014 at which final considerations were being heard before a final decision is made on this issue. Please provide whatever support you can; it will be greatly appreciated.
Tongass Campaign Links:
Sitka Conservation Society: sitkawild.org
Alaska Wilderness League: www.alaskawild.org
Earthjustice: www.earthjustice.org
Natural Resources Defense Council: www.nrdc.org
Sierra Club: www.sierra.club.org
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council: seacc.org