Southeast Alaska Conservation Council

Tongass old-growth stands include almost thousand-year-old yellow cedar and western redcedar.  Along with the cedars, towering old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock provide the habitat that deer, wolves, bears and salmon, yes, even the salmon, need to thrive.

Experiencing Tongass old growth first-hand is a spiritual experience for many, so it's no surprise these stands are often described as "cathedral-like." 

These cathedrals are also the current money-makers for Southeast Alaska's timber industry.  Balancing these competing interests in Tongass old growth is a consistent challenge.