Letter: Tongass sustainability

As a lifelong Alaskan, I was elated to see the Forest Service announce it is finally ending old-growth, clear-cut logging in the Tongass. For far too long, we’ve taken our forests and the fish and wildlife it produces for granted. We need to care for the land, invest in sustainable economic opportunities, and conserve our salmon, deer and forests. The Tongass gives so much to our communities and our way of life. It’s long overdue that we give something back.

The Forest Service’s new Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy puts things on the right track by recognizing our communities and economy rely on a healthy forest. By restoring lands that have been degraded by past logging activities, investing in our communities, and managing the Tongass to help cope with impacts from climate change, we will all benefit.

— Jeremy Lavender

Juneau

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