April 20, 2010
Tuesday

(SitNews) - Alaska Governor Sean Parnell yesterday welcomed the news that House Bill 162, which establishes a Southeast State Forest, has passed the Legislature.

"The passage of this legislation comes at a time when our Southeast communities need some positive economic news," the governor said. "I'm pleased that the administration and the Legislature are working together to provide timber jobs and other opportunities for this region of Alaska."

This forest, covering 25,291 acres, is the third in the Alaska State Forest System and the first addition since the Tanana Valley State Forest in 1983.

This designation of state lands enables the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry (DOF) to invest in and manage the land for a long-term timber supply for local processors, while allowing for multiple other uses.

The new state forest will create new job opportunities. DOF will move ahead with projects for pre-commercial thinning of young stands of trees that are now 20 years old. The work will be contracted to the private sector for the thinning of approximately 1,000 acres over the next 12 to 24 months. The treatment will prepare the site for a return to commercial harvest, and will increase the wood quality and volume-per-acre in the timber stands.

On the Web:

House Bill 162
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=26&bill=hb162

 

Source of News:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

 

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