Tongass Futures Roundtable

Framework Committee to Consider 5 Year Timber Sale Plan

Norm — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:16:54 +0000

The Roundtable’s Framework Committee will continue to consider the Forest Service’s 5 Year Timber Sale Schedule at two upcoming sessions - a teleconference on June 18th and a full day meeting in Ketchikan on July 23rd. Materials concerning the schedule can be found at tongassfutures.net/5yearschedule.

For more information, please contact Norman Cohen at ncohen@tnc.org.

Energy Plan Town Hall Meetings Scheduled for SE Communities in May

Norm — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:30:59 +0000

The Alaska Energy Authority is scheduling town meetings throughout Alaska to hear from residents about which locally available alternative energy sources should be included in the State’s plan to reduce energy costs statewide. To see the full press release, click here.

Biomass Energy Web Page Now Being Constructed

Norm — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:02:16 +0000

Click here to find out about what is happening with biomass energy from wood in Southeast Alaska.

Southeast Timber Industry Status Article in Juneau Empire

Norm — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:08:34 +0000

A Juneau Empire report on the status of the timber industry was published on April 27th. Click the link below to read the article.

Juneau Empire - April 27, 2008

Hoonah Meeting Draft Agenda Now Available

Norm — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:41:29 +0000

A draft agenda for the May 2008 Roundtable meeting in Hoonah is now available by clicking on the link below. In addition to the meeting itself, the Roundtable is sponsoring two field trips to view forest restoration and small timber sales as well as a visit to the Icy Strait Lumber sawmill. The Roundtable also will be holding a reception for the Hoonah community and will participate in a program at the Icy Strait Point resort. The meeting will conclude with a catamaran ride back to Juneau.

The Roundtable would like to thank the following organizations for their support of our meeting in Hoonah: City of Hoonah, Hoonah Indian Association, Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Hoonah chapters, Huna Totem Corporation, Sealaska Corporation, the U.S. Forest Service, and Icy Strait Lumber and Milling.

Hoonah meeting draft agenda

Framework Committee Report - April 27, 2008

Roundtable to meet in Hoonah May 7-8, 2008

Norm — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:52:09 +0000

The Roundtable’s Spring 2008 meeting will be held at the Icy Strait Lodge in Hoonah on May 7-8. Prior to the start of the meeting, the Roundtable is sponsoring two field trips on May 6th. The first will be a full-day trip visiting restoration sites on the Hoonah road system and the second will be a half-day trip visiting small timber sales and Icy Strait Lumber and Milling. On the evening of the 6th, the Roundtable is sponsoring a reception for the Hoonah community to learn more about the Roundtable’s activities and for the Roundtable to learn more about life and challenges in rural Southeast Alaska. For more information about the Hoonah meeting, please contact Norman Cohen, at 907-789-1791 or by email at ncohen@tnc.org.

Roundtable in the News Following February 2008 Meeting

Norm — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:16:02 +0000

Click on the following links to the latest press coverage of the Tongass Futures Roundtable

Alaska Public Radio Network - March 12, 2008

Legislative Hearing - February 28, 2008 (Gavel to Gavel feed)

Juneau Empire - February 29, 2008

Forest Magazine - Spring 2008

February 2008 Meeting Agenda Available

Norm — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:43:10 +0000

The draft agenda for the February 27-28, 2008 Roundtable meeting in Juneau has now been posted on the Meetings page.

Climate Change, Biomass Energy, Carbon Sequestration Make News

Norm — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:02:32 +0000

The current debates about alternative energy will affect directly the future of the Tongass Forest and the communities of Southeast Alaska. This space will be used to provide a link to some of the more relevant alternative energy projects and reports. If you would like to suggest additional projects and reports, please send an email to by clicking here.

The Nature Conservancy and University of Minnesota Study on converting land to biofuel crops.

Craig Wood Heat Project - Juneau Empire - February 11, 2008

St. Maries, Idaho Wood Heat Project - Seattle Times - February 20, 2008

Sealaska Testimony on Carbon Sequestration - November 5, 2007

2008 Tongass Forest Plan Released by US Forest Service

Norm — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:49:47 +0000

The 2008 Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan amendment was released by the US Forest Service on January 25, 2008, after a teleconference briefing with Roundtable members and alternates. If you want to view the Tongass Forest Plan documents, click on this link. A digital recording of the teleconference will be available on this website shortly.

Press Releases

The Nature Conservancy - January 25, 2008

State of Alaska, Governor Sarah Palin - January 25, 2008

The Wilderness Society - January 25, 2008

Forest Plan News Stories

KTOO Public Radio - January 31, 2008

Anchorage Daily News - January 26, 2008

Los Angeles Times - January 26, 2008

Washington Post - January 26, 2008

Juneau Empire - January 27, 2008

Seattle Times - January 26, 2008

The Oregonian - January 25, 2008

Alaska Public Radio Network - January 25, 2008

New York Times - January 26, 2008