Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
The Biden administration announced a plan today to fully restore environmental protections to Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The plan will not only reverse a Trump-era attack on the Tongass that would have put Alaska’s last vestiges of old-growth forest at risk of destructive logging and road-building, it will extend new safeguards for the forest as well as dedicating $25 million in federal spending on local sustainable development in Alaska.
Communities across Southeast Alaska and nationwide have spoken out in opposition to Trump’s attempt to exempt the Tongass from Roadless Rule protections because it threatened local economies, wildlife, and the climate. The Tongass is home to some of the last remaining stands of temperate old-growth rainforest in the world and serves as a hub for tourism, fishing, and outdoor recreation in Southeast Alaska. It is also America’s largest forest storehouse of carbon.
In response, Sierra Club Alaska Chapter Director Andrea Feniger released the following statement:
“Southeast Alaska communities can breathe a little easier today knowing that the Tongass National Forest, and the livelihoods, local economies, and wildlife that depend on them will remain protected. President Biden’s action to restore and strengthen safeguards for the Tongass is a victory for these communities and for our climate. The Tongass is a critical tool in the fight against climate change, and the Biden administration’s actions to protect our forest wildlands ensures that it will continue to be part of the climate solution for years to come.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.