The Tongass Science Conference was jointly organized by Audubon Alaska and The Nature Conservancy in February 2009 in Juneau, Alaska. The conference brought together local and nationally recognized scientists to discuss opportunities to integrate fundamental concepts of conservation biology into management strategies for conserving the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the Tongass National Forest.

Conference Abstracts

• Ecological Effects of Disturbance in Northern Temperate Rainforests by Paul Alaback, University of Montana
• Experience with Variable Retention Harvesting in Coastal British Columbia: Relevance for Southeast Alaska by William J. Beese, Western Forest Products, Campbell River, BC
• Island Life: Coming to Grips with the Insular Nature of Southeast Alaska by Joseph A. Cook and S. O. MacDonald, University of New Mexico
• Commercial Uses of the Tongass: Past, Present and Future by Lisa Crone, US Forest Service, Sitka, and Joe Mehrkens, Juneau
• Riparian Ecology, Climate Change, and Management on the Tongass Forest by Rick Edwards and Dave D’Amore, US Forest Service Juneau Forestry Sciences Lab
• Why Watersheds: Evaluating the Protection of Undeveloped Watersheds as a Conservation Strategy in Northwestern North America by Ken Lertzman, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, and Andy MacKinnon, BC Forest Service, Victoria, BC
• Concepts of Conservation Biology Applied to Wildlife in Old-Forest Ecosystems, With Special Reference to Southeast Alaska by Bruce G. Marcot, US Forest Service, Portland
• Rivers of Rock: The Ecology of Forest Roads in Southeast Alaska by Dave Person, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Ketchikan, and Todd Brinkman, University of Alaska Fairbanks

LEARN MORE about the Tongass National Forest.
READ OUR CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT for the Tongass.
WATCH OUR VIDEO about the Tongass. (Check out either the two-minute introduction and/or the in-depth story of this global treasure.)

News Coverage of the Conference

• New Techniques Confirm Southeast Alaska Ice Age Species (Alaska Public Radio, March 18 2009)
• Tongass Science Conference Explores Ecosystem Protection Amongst Logging (Alaska Public Radio, February 19 2009)
• Juneau Afternoon: Interview with John Schoen and Gordon Orians (Juneau Public Radio, February 16 2009)

Cooperating organizations: Alaska Chapter of The Wildlife Society, US Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, US Fish & Wildlife Service.

A special thanks to: Wilburforce Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Turner Foundation, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, and Campion Foundation.