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rotation periods, but the forest, as a complex 

 functioning ecosystem, takes centuries to develop. 



4) Do you favor big game species over other species? 



As is the rule in other states, the Alaska Division of 

 Wildlife Conservation has three basic funding sources: 

 1) general funds annually appropriated by the state 

 legislature, 2) Fish and Game Fund monies from the sale 

 of licenses and tags, and 3) federal P-R matching 

 monies derived from the excise tax on firearms and 

 ammunition. So, with the exception of general funds, 

 recreational or sport hunters are paying most of our 

 bills. This has created an historical bias toward 

 favoring management of "game" species, particularly 

 "big game". That bias was reflected in our agency's 

 previous name (Division of Game) , which was recently 

 changed to the Division of Wildlife Conservation. 



Constituencies for wildlife have changed greatly across 

 the nation in recent years. A growing interest in so- 

 called nonconsumptive uses has emerged. The same is 

 true in Alaska. In response, more emphasis has been 

 placed on "nongame" programs and on opportunities for 

 viewing and photographing a wide range of animals, not 

 just big game. There is also a growing recognition 

 that the management of ecosystems, rather than 

 individual species, is necessary for the conservation 

 of biological diversity and abundance. 



Perhaps nowhere else in Alaska is a holistic approach 

 to wildlife management more essential than on the 

 Tongass. Because of the complex interactions among the 

 plants and animals of the old-growth temperate rain 

 forest, major habitat alterations will have serious 

 impacts on all wildlife, although much of our 

 attention will continue to focus on big game and 

 furbearers it will do so with an awareness not only of 

 impacts on the MIS* (management indicator species 

 identified for TLMP II) , but with an awareness of the 

 interrelations and interdependencies of all resident 

 species. 



* MIS are listed by priority in the attached summary. 



Note. — The attachments referred to above have been 

 retained in subcommittee files. 



