Tongass National Forest in Alaska Is Now Safe from Logging

From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):

We are thrilled to share that the Tongass National Forest is now fully protected!

The Tongass is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, and now roadless areas in this wild, untouched place are safe from logging.

PennEnvironment has defended our forests for decades, and with these stronger protections, our trees will keep growing and sheltering wildlife for generations to come. And we couldn’t have done it without you.

Guarding 9.2 million acres of Alaskan wilderness hasn’t been easy, but it’s such critical work. This misty, green forest is a critical habitat for thousands of species, including many that are endangered. Some of our country’s most emblematic creatures — including the grizzly bear, moose and the majestic bald eagle — call this place home.

Together with activists around the country, our advocacy for the Tongass goes back for decades. In 2001, our national network helped win the original Roadless Rule, which protected 58.5 million acres in the Tongass and other national forests from logging. We gathered and delivered nearly 700,000 public comments — nearly half of all comments submitted — from our members and supporters.

We’ve worked to defend the Tongass ever since, taking the Trump administration to court when it tried to resume logging, and rallying public support for this incredible forest. And now, the Biden administration is permanently safeguarding this incredible land from development.

This is great news for protecting one of our most precious forest ecosystems. But even with this policy on the books, there are still other forests on the chopping block around the country.

So we’re continuing our campaigns to protect our oldest forests and encourage the Biden administration to take the next step for forest protections. PennEnvironment is also calling on Congress to pass the Roadless Area Conservation Act to make this a lasting victory and prevent future administrations from removing protections from the Tongass and other national forests.