Photo by Howie Garber
After an exciting few weeks with the Biden administration at the helm, it feels like a new era for the conservation world! President Biden has already taken steps to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, and nominated a climate-forward cabinet. What a whirlwind!
We are working hard to make sure that restoring national Roadless Rule protections on the Tongass National Forest is next on his list.
In the meantime, opportunities abound this month for YOU to learn, engage and speak up about the Tongass. Here are three easy ways you can participate:
1. Take a virtual tour of the Tongass!
You’re invited to go on a virtual tour of the Tongass today, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. Alaska Time (6 p.m. Pacific Time)!
SEACC Environmental Policy Analyst Sally Schlichting will guide us through the old-growth trees of the Tongass, as the featured guest in Oregon Wild’s webcast, “The Tongass National Forest: Our Most Powerful Natural Climate Solution.” Learn about how the fish, wildlife, and human communities depend on the Tongass — and how preserving the Tongass and other mature and old-growth forests is key to combating climate change.
Register here!
2. Join the Climate Conversation on Biden’s cabinet nominations
Catch the second webinar in our new monthly series, “Climate Conversations” next Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Alaska Time, and let’s talk about how Biden has nominated the most diverse and climate-forward cabinet in history, and what you can do to support the nominees.
SEACC Climate Organizer Matt Jackson will lead a discussion about cabinet nominees, such as Rep. Deb Haaland, a climate champion who will go down in the history books as being the first Indigenous Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior if confirmed. We’ll also be discussing the nominations of Michael Regan for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Jennifer Granholm for Energy Secretary.
RSVP here today!
3. Watch SEACC at the DNC!
We’re delighted to be speaking at the DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council’s Alaska Listening event this Thursday, Feb. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time. Please join us as we show the DNC how important climate and environment are here in Southeast Alaska. SEACC Staff scientist Guy Archibald will be speaking about steps the Biden administration can take to transition to clean energy while protecting the natural environment in Alaska, and SEACC Climate Organizer Matt Jackson will be talking about how the Tongass is America’s best carbon sink.
Register here!
Thank you so much for your continued support of conservation of the Tongass and Inside Passage waters. We hope to see you at these events!
— The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
