Wildlife, Fisheries, Ecology, Watershed &
Subsistence
Wildlife
Wildlife thrives in
the sheltering woodlands of Alaska’s national forests—home to 70 species of
mammals, 342 bird species, eight amphibian species, and uncounted thousands
of invertebrate species. Animals rare elsewhere, such as brown bears, bald
eagles and wolves, thrive in vast expanses of undisturbed habitat. On the
Tongass National Forest, the distribution of wildlife species is uniquely
influenced by a habitat that includes thousands of islands varying i
n size,
shape, and distance from the mainland. The Chugach National Forest includes
a premier wetland, the Copper River Delta, which supports millions of
migrating shorebirds and is the only nesting ground of the dusky Canada
goose.
Wildlife biologists
in the Alaska Region conduct a variety of wildlife projects to inventory and
monitor habitats and populations, restore and improve habitats, and provide
opportunities for people to use, enjoy, and learn about wildlife. There are
no threatened or endangered species in Alaska’s national forests.
Fisheries
Located along the fisheries-rich Gulf of Alaska, the Chugach and Tongass
national forests are among the world’s great treasures of freshwater
habitats for the five species of Pacific salmon. Rainfall averaging 120
inches per year feeds 32,000 miles of streams and 189,000 acres of lakes
across the forests. These abundant waters provide major fisheries for
subsistence, commercial and sport uses. As much as ninety-five percent of
the state’s salmon catch comes from fish produced in the waters of the
national forests.
Fish habitat
protection is a high priority. Forest plans providestandards for protecting
habitatand fisheries values in forest management. In addition, fisheries
biologists have completed numerous projects to improve fish habitat. For
example, 58 fish ladders allow salmon to reach upstream habitats where
previously no access existed. In the past fifty years, we have invested more
than $30 million in over 400 fish projects.
Ecology
Ecology is the study
of relationships among plants, animals, and the physical environment. These
relationships are called ecosystems, each having characteristic processes
and features that can be recognized on the landscape. For
example, on the
Tongass National Forest, coastal rainforest ecosystems are largely shaped by
water and powerful winds. In contrast, the boreal forest ecosystems in the
Kenai Peninsula of the Chugach National Forest are influenced primarily by
fire.
An important focus
of our botany program is identifying, monitoring, and managing rare plants.
Plants are all around us, from high alpine meadows to shoreline sedge flats.
Because of their huge size and variety of habitats, national forests in
Alaska host a tremendous abundance and diversity of native plant life
ranging from tiny lichens and mosses to showy wildflowers and towering Sitka
spruce.
Other key components
of the program include developing native plant seed sources for revegetating
disturbed areas, and promoting appreciation and enjoyment of wild plants
through special events. Botanists also work with other specialists to
identify, locate and eradicate invasive plants.
Watershed & Air
Water is everywhere
in Alaska’s National Forests. The Tongass and Chugach national forests
include millions of acres of wetlands, lakes, and glaciers, thousands of
miles of streams and coastlines, and uncountable springs, ponds, caves and
aquifers. Water originates as rainfall and melting snow and ice. As it moves
through and under the forests water sustains much of the wildlife diversity
and scenic grandeur that makes Alaska’s coastal rainforest a world treasure.
Undisturbed soils, stable slopes, and natural water flow patterns are
essential for healthy watersheds and, in turn, for maintaining water quality
and vibrant ecosystems. Air quality in the Alaska Region is generally
pristine as evidenced by thriving plant species sensitive to atmospheric
degradation.
Specialists in the
Alaska Region monitor, evaluate, and restore watershed function and
conditions including erosion, stream habitat, and the quality and quantity
of water. Hydrologists and soil scientists evaluate impacts of management
activities and develop and implement projects to protect, restore and
enhance watersheds and streams. Chugach National Forest staff manages smoke
impacts to air quality when planning and implementing prescribed burns, and
monitors snowmobile emissions in high use areas. On the Tongass, ecologists
monitor the impacts of cruise ship emissions on wilderness scenic values and
sample lichen health and chemical uptake to assess atmospheric deposition
from potentially world-wide emissions.
Subsistence
Subsistence is a way
of life in Alaska. Many Alaskans use wild plants and animals, especially
fish, to put food on the table. This reliance on nutritious wild foods,
called "subsistence," is critical in rural areas where store-bought food may
be unavailable or unaffordable. For Alaska Natives in particular, gathering,
preparing, and sharing wild foods are integral to the history, culture, and
health of individuals and communities.
The Forest Service
and other federal agencies share responsibility for managing subsistence resources and uses
on federal lands and waters throughout Alaska. The Alaska Region’s
subsistence management program includes a variety of cooperative projects
including studying and monitoring subsistence resources, documenting
customary and traditional uses, and enhancing opportunities for users to
meet their needs.
The importance of
subsistence hunting and fishing to rural Alaskans is recognized in the
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which provides a
priority for subsistence activities over other consumptive uses of fish and
game on federal lands in Alaska.
The State of Alaska
managed statewide subsistence harvests until late 1989 when the Alaska
Supreme Court ruled that the rural residency preference required by ANILCA
violated the Alaska Constitution. Despite repeated efforts, the State has
been unable to bring its regulatory framework back into compliance with this
federal law.
Under ANILCA, the
federal government began managing subsistence hunting and trapping on
Alaska’s public lands in 1990. Subsequent court decisions expanded federal
subsistence management in 1999 to include fisheries. The Federal Subsistence
Management Program applies to about 60 percent of Alaska’s land base, and
includes lands managed by several federal agencies. The decision-making body
that oversees the program, the Federal Subsistence Management Board, is made
up of the regional directors of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National
Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
Alaska Regional Forester and a Chair appointed by the Secretary of Interior.
Currently, rural
residents may harvest fish and wildlife under federal subsistence r egula-tions if a recognized consistent and traditional subsistence use of
that species exists. They may also barter or trade products to supplement
livelihoods. A wide variety of fish and game is harvested including all five
salmon and many other fish species, deer, bear, moose, mountain goats,
wolves, marten, and others.
Sustainable
management of subsistence hunting and fishing requires accurate and timely
information about the abundance, health, and distribution of fish and
wildlife stocks. Much of this information is developed through service
contracts with Alaska tribes and other Native organizations. In addition to
providing essential biological data, these contracts create local jobs,
build technical capacity, and involve subsistence users in meaningful
stewardship roles.
Federal subsistence
management is a complex and evolving management challenge. The Alaska Region
is actively engaged in developing solutions that serve both the users and
the resources.
Recreation
Minerals & Geology
providing fish and wildlife with a place to live, Alaska’s national forests
also supply human needs. For example, today, timber is part of the economic
base for many communities, especially in Southeast Alaska. 
Geometronics