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tive high volume stands that are also of major importance for 

 timber production. 



Two-thirds of the Tongass is rock, ice, scrub forest and alpine 

 tundra. The remaining one-third is classified as commercial forest 

 land. Of this, only 4 percent of the land base or approximately 

 672,000 acres is classified as high volume. This means at least 

 30,000 board feet per acre. 



Finally, less than 1 percent of the entire land base or approxi- 

 mately 114,000 acres exists in the highest volume class, volume 

 class 7, over 50,000 board feet per acre. 



What does all this have to do with wildlife diversity and abun- 

 dance? As is the case virtually everywhere on earth, the most pro- 

 ductive sites for timber and agriculture also have high potential for 

 wildlife production. The Tongass is no exception. The high volume 

 stands on low elevation uplands or in river and stream bottoms 

 and so-called riparian systems where soils are productive are the 

 focus of much of the tradeoff between timber production and wild- 

 life. 



It is these stands that provide critical winter habitat for deer as 

 well as life history requisites for other species of wildlife such as 

 mountain goats, a variety of fur bears, brown bears, cavity-nesting 

 birds and numerous invertebrates, the relationships of which many 

 are not fully understood. 



It is also these stands that are of primary interest to the timber 

 industry. To point that out, between 1980 and 1986, inclusive, the 

 average volume per acre harvested from the Tongass exceeded 

 54,000 board feet. 



Now, in fairness I cannot speak to the years 1987 and 1988 be- 

 cause I do not have that data with me. If there are changes in that 

 trend that have occurred during those 2 years, I would certainly be 

 interested to know about that. 



As a matter of perspective, 50 percent of the highest volume 

 stands, those in excess of 50,000 board feet per acre, have already 

 been harvested since 1950, and of the remainder, 50 percent will be 

 logged in the next 40 years under the current schedule. 



It is a commonly-held view, and understandably so, that clear cut 

 logging benefits deer populations. Deer populations are now at very 

 high levels in parts of southeast Alaska, and deer populations 

 flourish in the Pacific northwest in some areas where pristine 

 forest is virtually absent. 



Despite these observations, research conducted by the Division of 

 Wildlife Conservation indicates that current management practices 

 and direction on the Tongass will in fact reduce deer numbers over 

 time. To understand why, very briefly we need to focus on two 

 things: snow; and development of the forest canopy or the so-called 

 overstory. 



High volume old growth on low elevation sites is unique among 

 forest types because it both intercepts the snow and provides abun- 

 dant forage plants for deer. Conversely, second growth forest which 

 replaces these stands are dark, relatively devoid of forage, inter- 

 cepts less snow and are of little value to deer and other old growth 

 dependent species. 



Now in southeast Alaska, we have not had what anyone would 

 call a severe winter in about 17 years. I believe that is a piece of 



