E and E News reports
The Biden administration Wednesday took its final step toward restoring roadless-area limits on timber and other development in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.
The Department of Agriculture said it’s finalizing a proposal to once again put 9.3 million acres of the southeast Alaska forest off-limits to commercial logging and other development that requires the construction of roads, although exceptions are possible in certain situations. The forest totals nearly 17 million acres.
“As our nation’s largest national forest and the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass National Forest is key to conserving biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a news release announcing the move. “Restoring roadless protections listens to the voices of Tribal Nations and the people of Southeast Alaska while recognizing the importance of fishing and tourism to the region’s economy.”
Read more Biden admin seals protections for Tongass National Forest – E&E News
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