The U.S. Forest Service and the State of Alaska have signed a groundbreaking 20-year shared stewardship agreement aimed at expanding forest management and strengthening Alaska’s timber industry.
The agreement represents the largest scale of state-federal collaboration in Alaska’s history in terms of acreage and duration, while providing a long-term framework to address challenges facing the state’s forests and communities.
Signed on February 24, the agreement provides direct benefits to commercial timber harvesting in the Tongass National Forest. This includes state management and restoration projects on up to 300,000 acres, allowing state forestry crews and contractors to perform timber-related activities more efficiently, like thinning, harvest preparation, or restoration that supports commercial access, all of which could reduce bureaucratic delays for timber offerings.
Other aspects of the agreement commit both parties to create a timber action plan by the end of 2026, which will identify priority projects on the Tongass, ensure reliable timber offerings, and evaluate longer-term contracting options to provide more predictability and confidence for commercial operators who have historically faced inconsistent federal timber sales and short-term contracts that make planning and investment difficult.
“This significant agreement outlines our commitment to work together, actively managing the Tongass National Forest to create healthy forests, while contributing to a stable, vibrant rural economy,” Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy hailed the agreement as great news for Alaska.
“As someone who has worked in a logging camp in Southeast Alaska, I know how important having a working forest is to communities in Southeast,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said. “This is great news for the people of Alaska and will be a lifeline to the blue-collar Alaskan workers in Southeast Alaska who President Biden and previous administrations sought to keep out of work by managing the Tongass as if it were a National Park.”
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The partnership includes coordination on wildfire mitigation, response to insect and disease threats, infrastructure development and improved access, workforce training, investment in modern milling and harvesting technology, technical assistance to private and non-federal landowners, and coordination on wildlife habitat, recreation, and authorized development activities.
The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection manages 20 million acres of state lands and provides fire protection across 154 million acres statewide. The Forest Service manages the 5.4-million-acre Chugach National Forest and 16.7-million-acre Tongass National Forest. Together, these lands provide critical resources and economic opportunities for Alaskans while protecting watersheds, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources.
