July 27, 2010
Tuesday

(SitNews) - Alaska Governor Sean Parnell signed House Bill 162, legislation that established a State Forest in Southeast Alaska, into law on June 28, 2010. This new forest, covering 25,291 acres, is the third in the Alaska State Forest System and the first addition since the Tanana Valley State Forest was established in 1983.

"This bill will create jobs in Southeast Alaska and provide small businesses with more economic opportunity," Governor Parnell said. "This is the first step in our strategy to revitalize the timber industry and expand wood energy in Southeast Alaska."

This designation of State lands empowers the Alaska 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. DOF will move ahead with projects for pre-commercial thinning of young stands of trees that are now 20-plus 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 thinning treatments will accelerate the ability of the sites to grow commercially viable timber. Pre-commercial thinning generally increases the wood quality and usable volume-per-acre and extends wildlife diversity in second growth timber stands.

The State's third and newest forest includes 25,291 acres of land located in southern southeast Alaska. Many of the Forest's 20 parcels are on Prince of Wales Island. Other parcels are located on Gravina, Heceta, Kosciusko, Revillagigedo, and Tuxekan islands. The remaining three parcels are located on the mainland. While this State land allowed for forestry activities prior to its designation as a State Forest, the new SESF designation will enable the Division of Forestry (DOF) to actively manage resources for a long-term supply of timber to local processors.

DOF's Southern Southeast Area Office is responsible for managing this forest. A Forest Management Plan will be prepared over the next three years. Until that plan is adopted, these State lands will be managed consistent with the management intent included in the Prince of Wales Island Area Plan and the Central/Southern Southeast Area Plan.

On the Web:

Alaska's State Forests
http://forestry.alaska.gov/stateforests.htm

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Natural Resources
dnr.alaska.gov

 

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