The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is protected again.
Trump rescinded a measure blocking logging and road-building on nine million acres of land in the Tongass in 2020.
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The decision follows a years-long conflict between Alaskan Republican officials – who have argued the rule has slowed economic development and that renewing it will hamper efforts to connect remote communities by road, among other concerns – and conservationists, indigenous groups and others who say the measure is key to protecting the environment.
Spanning nearly 17 million acres – an area slightly larger than the state of West Virginia – the Tongass stores 44% of all the carbon dioxide contained in national forests across the country, according to the Alaska Conservation Foundation.
One small win for the long term over the short term.
Comments
6 responses to “Development v protection”
Nice to read some positive news for a change. Thank you!
I’m not sure I’d say years that the Republicans have been in conflict; it’s more like decades. :-( This was one of the hot issues when I was in my Ph.D. program, and it seems to stay hot. Bush was doing the same sort of thing – removing protections.
tigger, I agree. There is so much bad news, even a little good news is welcome. I just hope the removal of the ban remains. The only way that will happen is to elect a Democrat next time, not a Republican.
Wait. Everything is supposed to be up for grabs. Everything (and everyone) has a price. Nobody is allowed to say “no” to monied interests. NO-GOOD COMMIE-PINKO TREE HUGGERS!!!
This is good news. Of course, there’s nothing to prevent the next Trump to remove the protections, again. At least, as long as it stays a National Forest without the protections of a National Park/Wilderness, and with the population ever-increasing there is going to always be increasing pressure to exploit those resources.
(Sorry. Feeling a bit cynical tonight.)
Not cynical, just realistic. It’s the reality. The trumps call the whole thing a hoax, the bidens go to climate summits and say the right things, but nobody is going to do what it takes. Democracies can’t and authoritarian states won’t.
James, being a realist these days means being a cynic, I’m afraid. I’m just surprised the Tongass has lasted this long, It’s been a political football for a long time and sometimes I’m cynical enough to think the only reason it’s still standing is that both parties can use it to score points with their voters.