192 



In 1987, the total dollar value of forest products 

 exported from Alaska was $327 million. In 1988, it was $474 

 million, a 45% increase over 1987. 



The Timber Sale Program Information Reporting System 

 (TSPIRS) for FY 1988 shows that while there was a $1.6 million loss 

 in timber receipts over revenues, the net present value of the 

 future benefits and costs on the acres harvested in 1988 was $1.3 

 million. Most important is the TSPIRS Employment and Income Report 

 which shows that as a result of timber harvesting and the primary 

 manufacture requirement total personal income from the forest 

 industry in 1988 was $117.6 million and the value to the 

 communities $485 million. Since the Forest Service would receive 

 greater stumpage returns but for the primary manufacture 

 requirement, the dollar value of the jobs related to this worth- 

 while social program have to be considered in determining the value 

 of Tongass timber harvesting to Alaska and the country. 



We are expecting even better results in 1989. While the 

 largest private timber land owner, Sealaska Corporation, has 

 announced that it may stop or reduce harvesting in 1989 as a result 

 of a revenue sharing dispute under Section 7(i) of the Alaska 

 Native Claims Settlement Act with other regional corporations, the 

 rest of the industry is harvesting at an accelerated rate to meet 

 market demand. This effort to accelerate harvest is frustrated by 

 deferral of harvest in some areas due to lawsuits brought by the 

 Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and the Southeast Alaska Conserva- 

 tion Council (SEACC), which are hindering the rate of harvest. At 



