The Tongass Initiative

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Southeast Alaskans driving Climate Solutions for our Nation’s Largest National Forest

The Tongass Climate Initiative brings together Tribal governments, rural community leaders, regional organizations and technical experts to ensure the Tongass National Forest is managed as a globally significant climate and cultural asset. Through the forest plan revision process, this work advances science-based stewardship that supports local economies, Indigenous leadership and long-term resilience.

Spanning nearly 17 million acres of ancient forests, coastlines and fish and wildlife habitat, the Tongass National Forest is America's largest national forest. **Photo:** Colin Arisman.

There are 19 federally recognized tribes in the Tongass National Forest region, comprising the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples, who inhabit 31 communities across Southeast Alaska and have stewarded the land since time immemorial. **Photo:** Nathaniel Wilder.

The Tongass is a vital spawning ground for all five species of salmon, producing roughly 22% to 25% of all wild salmon harvested in Alaska. **Photo:** Bethany Goodrich.

Nearly 90% of rural households on the Tongass use wild salmon as a food source. **Photo:** Bethany Goodrich.

With ancient old growth forests, the Tongass is a vast carbon sink, holding more than 40% of all carbon stored by national forests. **Photo:** Ryan Morse.

Beyond their environmental importance, the ancient trees of the Tongass also contain immense cultural value. Cedar trees are responsibly used by Southeast Alaska's Indigenous people for totem poles, canoes and bark for traditional weaving. Photo: Bethany Goodrich.

A once-in-a-generation moment for the Tongass

For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S. Forest Service is undertaking a full revision of the Tongass Land Management Plan, a process that will shape how 17 million acres of Southeast Alaska’s rainforest are managed for years to come. The decisions made now will affect every community in the region and determine whether the Tongass continues to function as one of the world’s most powerful natural climate solutions.

This initiative works to ensure the new plan is guided by Indigenous stewardship, strengthens Southeast Alaska’s fishing, tourism, recreation and small business economies, and prioritizes science-based climate solutions and biodiversity conservation. It also supports a growing ecosystem of restoration, addressing the lasting impacts of industrial-scale old growth logging and preparing the forest for a changing climate.

Our Impact

Tongass Recreation Partnership

Elevating the voices of tourism and recreation–key drivers of Southeast Alaska’s economy—to ensure forest planning reflects on-the-ground use, infrastructure needs and sustainable growth

Community Engagement

Developing practical forest planning tools that help communities, Tribes and local leaders clearly communicate their needs and participate fully in forest planning decisions.

Forest Stewardship for our Future

Building new planning tools and financing mechanisms that prioritize climate change solutions, restoration and long-term conservation of globally significant forest carbon resources.

Scientific Syntheses

Ensuring the Tongass plan revision is informed by the best available climate, carbon and biodiversity science, including place-based research that integrates ecological and cultural values.

Tongass as an Indigenous Place

Advancing forest planning that centers Indigenous stewardship and values that have stewarded the Tongass since time immemorial, and that offer durable pathways forward for land use and management today. Read The Tongass: An Indigenous Place.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to influence management of the nation’s largest national forest, a coastal temperate rainforest that stores more carbon than any other forest in the world. In Southeast Alaska, biodiversity conservation and climate change are as intertwined as the islands across our forest home.

Dr. Natalie Dawson Director of Strategic Partnerships

Project Leader

Natalie Dawson

Director of Strategic Partnerships

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