Southeast Timber Task Force Report

Executive Summary

Preface

On September 26, 1996, Governor Tony Knowles appointed a fifteen-member Task Force to develop a plan for a sustainable timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Doug Roberts, Mayor of Wrangell, and Jeff Meucci, Mayor of Petersburg were designated co-chairmen. The Task Force membership also included elected officials, industry representatives, and community leaders from Ketchikan, Sitka, Metlakatla, Thorne Bay, Klawock, Gustavus, and Juneau.
   The Governor stressed the need for the Task Force members to work cooperatively in planning for a viable, sustainable timber industry that people in Southeast Alaska can live with and support. The following mission statement was adopted during the second meeting of the Task Force (October 3, 1996):

Mission Statement

A. Restructure the Industry for Competitiveness in the 21st Century
The Task Force will develop a vision and a plan to achieve a balanced industry structure in Southeast Alaska that is economically viable, environmentally sound, based on sustainable harvest volumes, sustainable harvest techniques and value-added processing, and supported through cooperation among timber ownerships. Timber should be processed with the goal of minimizing waste and maximizing product recovery and jobs for Alaskans.

B. Develop Solutions to the Timber Supply Problem
State, private, and federal ownerships in Southeast Alaska must work together to provide a sustainable, consistent, and reliable supply of timber for our wood products industry. Task force members will develop the blueprint for a cooperative approach to the management of the commercial timber resources in Southeast Alaska.

C. Stabilize Remaining Players in the Industry
It is imperative we retain our remaining timber processing entities with the sustainable timber supply. Members of the task force will identify immediate steps necessary to allow these businesses to be remain viable.

D. Provide assistance to individuals and businesses in Southeast Region
The task force will work with the state's "Ketchikan Region Coordinated Response Partnership" and assist in identifying opportunities for displaced timber industry workers and small businesses.

E. Provide counsel to the Governor regarding wood products processing proposals
   As proposals are announced, the task force will provide analysis to the Administration on the viability of those proposals and how they fit into the overall vision of a sustainable timber industry.
   The Southeast Regional Timber Task Force held nine meetings; five in Juneau, one in Wrangell and Sitka, and two in Ketchikan. All meetings, notes and information generated by the Task Force were open and available to the public.

Summary of Immediate Goals

1. IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF THE TIMBER SUPPLY
a. The Forest Service should offer multi-year timber sales of appropriate size to encourage long-term investment in value-added processing.
b. The Governor and the Regional Forester should support a community-based focus for specific Southeast Alaska timber sales.
c. The Forest Service should modify its appraisal process, by a date certain, to encourage in-state manufacturing of cedar products and be more responsive to current market conditions.
d. The state, federal and local governments should work together to find ways to compliment the Tongass timber supply with timber from other public ownerships. Specifically, the state should work with the University of Alaska and the Mental Health Land Trusts to develop creative mechanisms to make log supplies available to local mills while adhering to fiduciary mandates.

Complete report below --- click on desired section to view it.

2. IDENTIFY USES FOR LOW-END LOGS
a. Distribute the results of the Forest Products Laboratory's study on recovery rates for low-end logs.
b. Establish the complete utilization of all harvested material as a federal policy in response to evolving manufacturing practices.
c. The federal government should establish a new timber export policy by the end of 1997 to minimize exports and encourage instate processing of timber from federal lands.
d. Explore opportunities to design sales to selectively harvest timber while adhering to sound silvicultural practices and ensuring the full protection of other resources.

3. PROVIDE A DEPENDABLE WOOD SUPPLY TO SMALL OPERATORS
a. Offer logs for sale at community/local sortyards.

4. ENCOURAGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN VALUE-ADDED MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
a. State funding agencies and financial institutions should hold an interagency meeting to determine how they can best assist the development of a value-added timber industry in Alaska.
b. An industry working group should be formed to identify specific gaps in infrastructure that are hampering further development of the value-added industry.
c. Business planning services should be an enhanced priority of state and local assistance programs.
d. A permanent office of value-added wood products should be established within the Department of Community and Economic Development, funded and staffed at a level commensurate with similar programs in states and regions that compete with Alaska. The office should be given a mandate to assist the industry with making a transition, worker retraining, marketing, and other issues.
 

Summary of On-going Goals

1. IDENTIFY A STEADY AND RELIABLE LONG-TERM TIMBER SUPPLY FOR LOCAL PROCESSORS
a. The Forest Service and the state must be given the resources necessary to adequately monitor management actions. For example, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game need to be given the resources to continue their involvement in scientifically-based stream monitoring.
b. State and federal agencies, and industry representatives should investigate the merits of third party certification of sustainable forestry in Southeast Alaska.
c. State, federal and private timber managers should continue to work together to develop region-wide maps of the timber resource in Southeast Alaska at a scale that will be useful to local planners. The maps should be shared with communities and private industry in a timely manner.
d. Alleviate at least part of the uncertainty and gridlock over timber supply through a cooperative effort directed at identifying "core" timber supplies.
e. The Forest Service should investigate the merits of authorizing multi-year contracts to accomplish multiple land management objectives while providing timber for local mills for high value-added processing.

2. ENCOURAGE SMALLER TIMBER BUSINESSES TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE
a. Support the development of a small business network or cooperative to provide an economy of scale that enhances marketing, advertising, and technology transfer for its members.

3. PROVIDE THE PUBLIC THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN SOUTHEAST
a. Develop a partnership for marketing and disseminating a positive public image of the state's forest products industry's value-added activities. Publish a credible and informative brochure that describes the changes in the management of the Tongass National Forest and the scientific basis for those changes.
b. Promote and support the use of wood products from Alaska in local construction and have the state take the lead in providing incentives to local builders to search out domestic supplies.