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AWIT is comprised not only of persons working in the timber 

 industry, but also business people who recognize that the timber 

 industry is important for their respective businesses. In short, 

 AWIT members are trying to protect our jobs and the livelihood of 

 others in our communities. 

 TIMBER INDUSTRY ROLE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA ECONOMY 



AWIT asks that community economic stability be considered 

 when debating the future of the forest products industry in 

 Southeast Alaska. According to Alaska Department of Labor 

 records 8,200 direct and indirect jobs in Southeast Alaska are a 

 result of the timber industy. When you consider that the total 

 number of workers in Southeast is only 29,100, it is evident that 

 the timber industry plays a big role in the area's economic 

 wellbeing. In fact, over one-third of the Southeast Alaska 

 economy depends on this resource. Furthermore, Southeast 

 Alaska's timber industry accounts for aproximately 3,600 fulltime 

 workers with earnings of $110 million. Income tax from this 

 alone accounts for $25 million to the National Treasury. 



In order to sustain our industry and jobs in Southeast Alaska 

 it is necessary to have available 4.5 billion board feet of 

 timber per decade. Congress recognized this when it passed 

 ANILCA in 1980 directing the U.S. Forest Service to make 

 available 4.5 billion board feet of timber per decade on a 

 100-year rotation basis. 



Thanks to the foresight of Alaskans and the U.S. Government, 

 the Southeast Alaska economy has been mightily helped by the pulp 

 mills that were attracted to this area in the 1950's. There has 



