For anglers, tribes, outdoor recreationists, and lovers of animals, birds, and nature, the Tongass National Forest is sacred. For many years there have been efforts to undo roadless protections that allow “America’s Salmon Forest” to remain pristine. Now there is a real change to keep this protections.
From Trout Unlimited:
The Tongass is the Nation’s largest national forest and supplies habitat for the fisheries and ample recreation opportunities in the Southeast Alaska region. When you imagine yourself on a remote fishing or hunting trip, a wild landscape where large trout, wild salmon and steelhead and big game are plentiful, or breathtaking scenery where you can get away from it all, the odds are good you’re thinking of a roadless area in the Tongass National Forest.
From the Situk River in the north to Prince of Wales Island in the south, the Tongass provides hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists some of the best and most diverse outdoor opportunities available in North America.
Taking care of the land that takes care of Southeast Alaska businesses is just common sense. Today, along with more than 60 outfitters and guides, tour operators, gear manufacturers and retailers, sportsmen organizations, and conservation groups, we spoke up with this message.
We are very appreciative to join the following letter calling on the U.S. Forest Service to maintain the protections for the Tongass National Forest by reinstating the national Roadless Rule on America’s largest national forest, the Tongass.
Fisheries, recreation and tourism support 26% of jobs in Southeast Alaska. These business supporters want to continue to grow this number and recognize that healthy fisheries and intact habitat are needed to do so.
“The Tongass is world-renowned for its abundant salmon and steelhead, plentiful wildlife, and outstanding scenic beauty. It is among the world’s richest wild salmon-producing regions, contributing approximately 50 million fish annually to Alaska’s multi-billion-dollar commercial salmon industry,” said more than 60 businesses who signed onto the letter. We are happy to speak up for the Tongass and encourage everyone to follow their lead and submit a comment supporting continued protections on wildlife and recreation habitat in Southeast Alaska. To learn more, visit AmericanSalmonForest.org