Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Research opportunities and needs in the taiga of Alaska.

Author: Helmers, Austin E.; Cushwa, Charles T.

Date: 1973

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-002. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 14 p

Station ID: GTR-PNW-002

Description: An appraisal of taiga (the northern forests of interior Alaska) environment research opportunities and needs was made based upon accomplishments since Alaskan statehood, current involvement of citizens in resource issues, information needs incident to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and needs of new resource managing agencies and changing ownerships brought about by statehood and the settlement of aboriginal land claims. Based upon this appraisal, it is proposed that the research needs can best be met through a ultidisciplinary interagency program. The program suggests closer coordination among several departments of the University of Alaska and a number of State and Federal agencies currently involved in applicable research. The urgency of research implementation is related to rapid change and diminishing opportunity to insure orderly development of Alaska's resources.

Taiga environment information needs encompass five major problem areas:

Ecology—the fundamental climate-soil-water-air-flora-fauna relationships in natural and perturbed environmental systems.

Fire effects—characteristics of fire, fire ecology, and the effects of fire upon entire resource systems.

Water—precipitation-soil-plant-runoff relationships are complicated by permafrost. Soil erosion and water quality will respond to fire, fire control methods, land clearing, insect outbreaks, road construction, and industrial developments.

Culture—people will determine resource management; thus, what "Alaska" means to people the world over will influence the extent to which resource development and use is consistent with preserving environmental quality and natural beauty

Economics—goals and objectives in resource developments, and development of plans and policies.

Keywords: Taiga, Alaska, research, resource management, environment

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Citation

Helmers, Austin E.; Cushwa, Charles T.  1973.  Research opportunities and needs in the taiga of Alaska..   Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-002. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 14 p