John Schoen

Seven decades of high-grading has dramatically depleted the Tongass Forest’s largest old-growth trees.

Gradual reduction of old growth logging is better than continued clear-cutting, and helps to maintain rich habitats for fisheries, tourism and recreation.

Sound naive in today's politics? Then bear in mind that divided we fall.

In January, Gov. Sarah Palin announced the state would challenge the listing of the Cook Inlet population of beluga whales under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The state has expressed concern about population models, and objects to decisions based on "extremely small likelihoods of extinction over extended timeline."