Tongass Forest Plan Refresh: Alaska Public Urged to Comment
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The Forest Service is updating the Tongass National Forest plan to better protect the land and support local communities in Alaska. They’re asking for public ideas and will share a draft plan this fall, with final decisions expected by May 2027. This update could affect how the forest is used and managed, so now’s the time to speak up!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Subsistence Uses and Indigenous Knowledge
The revised plan will consider needs for subsistence uses such as hunting, fishing, and gathering and will seek and integrate indigenous knowledge related to land stewardship and culturally significant sites; the notice emphasizes that subsistence is essential to rural Alaska communities' physical, economic, traditional, and cultural existence.
Potential Rescission of Roadless Protections
The Forest Service notes a related proposed rule would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would remove prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting within inventoried roadless areas, including 9.3 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in the Tongass National Forest.
Plan to Prioritize Local Prosperity
The Forest Service says the revised plan will prioritize local and regional prosperity in Southeast Alaska by contributing to timber, minerals, tourism, recreation, and other economic drivers. It also says plan content could promote expeditious permitting for energy and natural resource developments consistent with Executive Orders 14153 (2025) and 14225.
Timber Suitability and Sale Updates
The revised plan will update suitability of lands for timber production and review timber-related metrics such as the sustained yield limit and projected timber sale quantity, informed by a new long-term timber demand analysis at the Pacific Northwest Research Station.
General Forest Areas Allow Harvest
One potential management-area option is a 'General Forest' where timber harvest is allowed and multiple uses and natural resource development could occur; these areas would not be set aside for conservation and could include roaded areas providing access for many uses.
Old Growth Habitat Harvest Limits
A potential management area called 'Old Growth Habitat Areas' would prioritize maintenance and restoration of old growth structure and within these areas old growth timber harvest would be restricted, while other timber removal could occur for ecological or cultural benefit.
Recreation Area Rules and Permits Change
The draft options include 'High Use Recreation Areas' and 'Low Use Recreation Areas' that would guide different levels of recreation infrastructure and outfitter/guide permit activity; the revised plan will consider changes in recreation and tourism, including increases in cruise ship visitation.
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