98 



3 

 National Forest, and impose unnecessary direction to the revision of the 

 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan. 



We strongly oppose enactment of S. 3^6. 



I would now like to describe the management situation on the Tongass Nationed 

 Forest. 



Mr. Chairman, there is a perception among some people that the timber stands of 

 the Tongass National Forest are fragile ecosystems on the boundary of tree 

 growth. That perception is wrong. The commercial timberlands on the Tongass 

 are anong the most productive in the world, significantly more productive than 

 the timberlands of Europe which have been managed for timber production for 

 centuries. The warm waters of the Japanese Current provide the lower elevation 

 lands with plentiful moisture and long growing seasons. Natural regeneration 

 following harvest is abundant and fast-growing. The forest lands are favorably 

 located with ready access to water transportation and thus world markets. 

 Tongass timber is particularly well-placed to be competitive in the 

 fast-growing Pacific Rim market. By almost any measure, the long-term outlook 

 for future demand for Southeast Alaska timber is favorable. 



Allegations that the harvest of timber is harming fisheries and wildlife 

 habitat are exaggerated. Special efforts are made to protect streams and water 

 quality. Although there has been a decrease in the commercial salmon heirvest 

 the last two years, commercial hcurvests have been well above average during the 

 past few years. Harvest levels for game have also increased substantially 



