An Opportunity to End the Timber Wars: How Collaboration in Southeast Alaska Has Helped to Dissipate Conflict

Authors

Diana K. Portner, Meridian InstituteFollow

Abstract

Forest management in the Tongass National Forest has been a topic of controversy for decades, due to the result of intense timber extraction in the mid-twentieth century. In recent years, collaborative approaches to management, beginning with a federally chartered advisory committee, have offered opportunities to overcome the seemingly intractable conflict. While a new culture of collaboration is emerging in Southeast Alaska, the region still faces challenges associated with the implementation of these approaches. This commentary explores the history of the conflict, factors that contributed to the success of collaborative approaches to land management in the region, and continued challenges that could undermine the results of these ongoing efforts. The exploration of these lessons from Alaska can offer insights into public land management throughout the Western United States.

Recommended Citation

Portner, Diana. 2018. "An Opportunity to End the Timber Wars: How Collaboration in Southeast Alaska Has Helped to Dissipate Conflict." Humboldt Journal of Social Relations 1 (40): 45-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55671/0160-4341.1072