ALASKA—The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States, covering nearly 17 million acres of public land that is home to tribal communities, rural towns, small villages and a few larger cities like Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. 

In an innovative move, the Tongass is working from the ground up to develop a community-driven forest management vision by gathering priorities and projects from tribes, communities, partners and the industry to shape the future management of the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest.

The Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy–Forest Management is a comprehensive approach to land use management in Southeast Alaska. It recognizes the importance of balancing economic development, environmental protection and cultural preservation. It is also the next phase of the region’s original sustainability strategy, SASS, which saw a successful grassroots effort in the final awarding of $25 million in federal grants in 2022.

Integrated forest management is the core of this new strategy. This approach looks to put together the full range of forest management activities and complete them in a way that meets the greatest diversity of public needs. The strategy acknowledges how the different goals of multiple-use management are connected, from watershed and wildlife habitat restoration to the harvest of sustainable young-growth and old-growth harvest for small timber sales and cultural uses.

In April, the forest is engaging the public to collaboratively shape the future of its forest management and develop a collaborative plan for current and future generations.

“We want to know what Southeast Alaska wants to see as far as forest management on the Tongass, identify locations where we can work together to the greatest benefit, and help finalize the criteria we’ll use to prioritize work for the next 10 years,” said Acting Tongass Forest Supervisor Frank Sherman. “Instead of commenting on a plan we present, we’re asking folks to help develop it."

As part of the outreach, the agency is conducting tribal consultations, hosting community workshops and forums, and offering virtual informational webinars. By engaging the public, the Forest Service will ensure it continues to manage the Tongass in a sustainable way that benefits Southeast Alaska as a whole.

The input received during these engagements will supply the best available information about how communities view and value forest management activities and will be used to inform the assessment phase of the upcoming Tongass Forest Plan revision.

More information is available on the initiative's website. Feedback can be submitted using a user-friendly StoryMap designed to inform, inspire, collect input and provide real-time transparency.
 
Through this public engagement, the Tongass anticipates reaching a holistic, inclusive and effective way forward. The results will help sustain one of the world’s most valuable and biodiverse forests for generations to come.