Short Wave Trump Administration Lifts Protections For Largest National Forest In US
Nov 17, 2020
The Trump administration's decision to lift protections from the Tongass National Forest opens nine million acres to potential development. This raises concerns about the environmental impact, particularly on carbon-storing trees that have been standing for centuries. The challenges ahead for the Biden administration are discussed, revealing the delicate balance between community needs and conservation efforts. Societal implications and public health issues tied to these changes add further complexity to the future of America's largest national forest.
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Tongass: A Way of Life
- Anthony Christensen, mayor of Heidelberg, Alaska, grew up hunting and fishing in the Tongass.
- The Tongass provides sustenance and shapes the community's identity.
Tongass and Carbon Sequestration
- The Tongass's trees store significant carbon, crucial for mitigating climate change.
- This carbon sequestration process is vital due to excess atmospheric carbon.
The Roadless Rule Debate
- The Roadless Rule restricts road building and logging in protected areas.
- Removing it could release stored carbon, impacting the environment.