(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - The Tongass Advisory Committee (TAC) met last week to continue developing recommendations to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on transitioning the Tongass National Forest to primarily young-growth forest management. During the first half of the three day meeting, the Committee discussed the fundamentals of young-growth management. Local resource experts from the Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources provided detailed presentations on the overall condition and location of young-growth on the Forest, the key components of the Plan Amendment process, and factors to consider with regards to operability and management of young-growth harvest. These presentations led to robust discussions on opportunities and challenges with transitioning to young-growth.

The Committee continued to work effectively and efficiently as a team. Designated Federal Official (DFO), Jason Anderson, expressed a theme common among the group, “I am always impressed by the candor and respect that the Committee members display between interest groups, and the listening that goes on within the group. I have very high hopes for the products that the Committee will ultimately bring forward as recommendations.” The products could come forward sooner than originally planned – the Committee agreed upon the goal of submitting their initial recommendations by January 2015. Following this preliminary advice, the Committee will continue to grapple with other important issues facing the Tongass.

To tackle the key issues confronted by the TAC, the group determined the need for developing three working groups, or subcommittees, which will consider where the future young-growth land base might be, how it might be harvested, and the overall purpose of a young-growth forest management strategy, all of which will result in possible components for the Plan Amendment. The DFO officially established the groups, which met during the second half of the meeting, developing some of the key questions for the Committee to discuss as they work toward their final recommendations. The members exemplified their dedication to the task at hand with a willingness to continue work between meetings in their work groups, ultimately bringing forth their findings for deliberation by the full Committee at the next meeting.

The Committee continued to emphasize the importance of community resiliency throughout their discussions. Co-chairs, Wayne Benner and Lynn Jungwirth, emphasized this point: “We’ve been discussing a lot about the technical aspects of young-growth timber,” says Benner, “but we need to remember the social and economic aspects for the communities.” Jungwirth echoed this sentiment, “The Forest Service is responsible for the technical analysis. It is our job to conduct the social analysis – what is acceptable to all communities. That is likely very different from what is technically possible.” Next month, the Committee will be visiting Prince of Wales Island, and they intend to visit local communities and businesses to emphasize the importance of hearing from those dependent on the forest management recommendations the Committee might make.

Numerous members of the public attended the three days of meetings, several of whom made valuable comments during the public comment period. The Committee encourages interested members of the public to attend future meetings, and bring any new ideas and/or concerns before the TAC through the public comment process.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 8-10, 2014 in Klawock, Alaska.

Edited by Mary Kauffman

Source of News: 

Tongass Advisory Committee
http://www.merid.org/tongassadvisorycommittee

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