Trump administration opens pristine Alaska forest to logging

 

FILE PHOTO: The Tsirku River winds through forest as seen in an aerial view near Haines, in southwestern Alaska, U.S. on October 7, 2014. REUTERS/Bob Strong/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a plan to open vast portions of the nation's largest national forest, the Tongass in Alaska, to logging.

 

The move lifts longstanding restrictions on tree harvests in the southeastern Alaska forest and is in line with President Donald Trump's agenda to roll back environmental regulations that he says are roadblocks to industry.

 

It marked a victory for Alaska state officials who petitioned for the change because they said a Clinton-era rule that banned logging, roads and mining in undeveloped forests has cost Alaskans jobs.

 

Environmental groups say conservation of the forest is critical to mitigating the effects of climate change because its old-growth woodlands absorb and store carbon.

 

"Logging the Tongass is an unconscionable leap in the wrong direction," Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a press release.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, said in a notice on Wednesday it would exempt the Tongass from the 2001 Roadless Rule.

 

The rule applies to 9.2 million acres, or 55 percent of the Tongass, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. Alaska's capital, Juneau, is located in the Tongass.

 

In the notice, the USDA said the final plan would only make 186,000 more acres available for timber production and that road construction in the forest would increase to 1,043 miles over the next 100 years instead of 994 miles if no action had been taken.

 

"A policy change for the Tongass National Forest can be made without major adverse impacts to the recreation, tourism, and fishing industries, while providing benefits to the timber and mining industries," the agency said.

 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Chris Reese)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-29

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

This is the reason that Trump is so dangerous.  His disregard for human life is one thing, but his disregard for the environment rises to a long-term, permanent level.  He needs to go before he causes any more damage.   

 

I’m sure it will be canceled soon after January 20th when we change administrations 

9 minutes ago, Tug said:

I’m sure it will be canceled soon after January 20th when we change administrations 

better if we just let the forests burn because of improper management

Pure unadulterated vandalism.

 

He’s at the ‘smashing up the house’ stage of his illness.

I presume every forest was "pristine" before it was logged...is that some sort of argument against using lumber and wood products?

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I presume every forest was "pristine" before it was logged...is that some sort of argument against using lumber and wood products?

If there is no onherent value in old growth fotests and in sequestering carbon you have apoint. If not, then not.

10 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I presume every forest was "pristine" before it was logged...is that some sort of argument against using lumber and wood products?

Perhaps you have not heard of tree plantations.

2 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I presume every forest was "pristine" before it was logged...is that some sort of argument against using lumber and wood products?

No, it's deep concern borne from long experience of the ignorance and greed of a subset of loggers, miners and farmers who rape the land with no regard for the future of our children.  Floods, landslides, loss of habitat, not to mention the reduction in photosynthesis is too high a price to pay for a relatively few jobs and a better quarterly return for some large company.

That's not to say that no logging should be allowed, it's just the kind of free for all that Trump seems to favour is against everything we should have learned over the past 50 years.

 

PS  You can add fishing to that list!

5 minutes ago, Greenside said:

No, it's deep concern borne from long experience of the ignorance and greed of a subset of loggers, miners and farmers who rape the land with no regard for the future of our children.  Floods, landslides, loss of habitat, not to mention the reduction in photosynthesis is too high a price to pay for a relatively few jobs and a better quarterly return for some large company.

That's not to say that no logging should be allowed, it's just the kind of free for all that Trump seems to favour is against everything we should have learned over the past 50 years.

 

PS  You can add fishing to that list!

I doubt the logging plans and permits that have been issued here amount to a "free for all." More likely that a careful forest management plan has been approved, with appropriate environmental impact statements and mitigation efforts in place.

5 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I doubt the logging plans and permits that have been issued here amount to a "free for all." More likely that a careful forest management plan has been approved, with appropriate environmental impact statements and mitigation efforts in place.

Maybe, but Trump's efforts to keep his fan base and blind refusal to accept the most basic scientific advice doesn't inspire confidence.  I hope you're right, though.

12 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I doubt the logging plans and permits that have been issued here amount to a "free for all." More likely that a careful forest management plan has been approved, with appropriate environmental impact statements and mitigation efforts in place.

looks like it was welcomed by the Alaskan authorities, so i would suspect it will be carefully managed and controlled, but i guess that does not fit with the Trump hater's agenda!

Quote

It marked a victory for Alaska state officials who petitioned for the change because they said a Clinton-era rule that banned logging, roads and mining in undeveloped forests has cost Alaskans jobs.

 

Thank you, President Trump!

1 hour ago, flexomike said:

better if we just let the forests burn because of improper management

Does that happen a lot in Alaska or do you have your states confused.

1 hour ago, flexomike said:

better if we just let the forests burn because of improper management

Maybe you should grab a broom and go up there and sweep the forest floor.

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a plan to open vast portions of the nation's largest national forest, the Tongass in Alaska, to logging.

 

Just like his far-right pal Bolsonaro of Brazil shrugging off the destruction in the Amazon and deny the effect of deforestation on climate change. Somehow leaders who have the tendency to be dictatorial always perform the same disregard for the well being of the planet. 

1 hour ago, LennyW said:

looks like it was welcomed by the Alaskan authorities, so i would suspect it will be carefully managed and controlled, but i guess that does not fit with the Trump hater's agenda!

 

Huh, why do you presume there is a connection between 'it was welcomed' and 'it will be managed and controlled'?

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I doubt the logging plans and permits that have been issued here amount to a "free for all." More likely that a careful forest management plan has been approved, with appropriate environmental impact statements and mitigation efforts in place.

IME environmental impact statements and mitigation funding fade away as soon as the ground is broken, and the regulators start granting exceptions as they are raised.

Based on what I have seen first-hand in the mining industry, once the value has been extracted from whatever resource it is, the company responsible moves elsewhere or declares insolvency. It's the taxpayer that gets soaked with whatever half-hearted remediation is applied to the situation.

It's all about money.

To see forest management at work, drive up hywy 101 in Washington State where they didn't log on each side of the road so you can't see the clear cut mess on the other side. My ex brother in law is so <deleted> because there are fewer trees to cut and he has to go to New Zealand to work. Or-- go to Maine where the trees are picked by machines and only used for paper because thy are not big enough for lumber any more.

5 hours ago, flexomike said:

better if we just let the forests burn because of improper management

I assume you are alluding to the mismanagement of the 57% of the California forests under Federal jurisdiction.  Certainly not the 3% under the control of the California state government.   https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article245727925.html

 

61% of Alaska's land is owned by the Federal government.  Perhaps Trump should get out there with a rake.  https://ballotpedia.org/Federal_land_ownership_by_state

We'll see if they can do this properly.  Seems they are only opening up a bit of the Tongass.  I have my doubts.  Sad some like to see these beautiful areas destroyed forever.  From the article:

 

The rule applies to 9.2 million acres, or 55 percent of the Tongass, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world.

6 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I presume every forest was "pristine" before it was logged

If you keep applying that kind of 'logic', according to you it's open season on all pristine forests and pretty soon there won't be any left.

7 hours ago, flexomike said:

better if we just let the forests burn because of improper management

California is a prime example of that insanity.

There seems to be quite a few of these destructive type orders being given in the week before the election.  I guess, like many other children, when forced to give something back, Trump would rather hand it back broken than see someone else with it.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

California is a prime example of that insanity.

California is one of the most beautiful states in the US.  A majority of the forests are run by the federal government. 

 

You really need a better source for your news. 

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

California is one of the most beautiful states in the US.  A majority of the forests are run by the federal government. 

 

You really need a better source for your news. 

And that's why PG&E has to cut power to thousands of homes when there's fire danger?

1 minute ago, Boon Mee said:

And that's why PG&E has to cut power to thousands of homes when there's fire danger?

A huge failure for sure.  But to label California as insane is not true.  They are as good, or as bad, as pretty much any other state.  Each has it's pros and cons.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Environmental groups say conservation of the forest is critical to mitigating the effects of climate change

they have no idea....climate change pure and simple, explained with high school science is...
 

The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun. But this tilt changes during a cycle , The tilt of the axis varies between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. Because this tilt changes, the seasons as we know them become exaggerated

 

3 minutes ago, wombat said:

they have no idea....climate change pure and simple, explained with high school science is...
 

The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun. But this tilt changes during a cycle , The tilt of the axis varies between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. Because this tilt changes, the seasons as we know them become exaggerated

 

One tilt period takes 20000+ years! Ask any Astrologist ...

This is so wrong!