Our Roots
Proudly serving Southeast Alaska since 1970
When it all began
In 1970, the sound of chainsaws and heavy equipment clearcutting trees for two giant pulp mills filled many parts of the Tongass. The pulp mills targeted places with the biggest trees: the same places that provide the best habitat for salmon, bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, and other wildlife.
The Forest Service’s long-term management plan called for clearcutting more than 95% of the commercial timber on the Tongass. A small group of dedicated Southeast Alaskans wanted to halt the damage to the forest they called home. They decided to take on the seemingly impossible task of reforming the management of the Tongass. In June of 1970, local conservation groups formed a coalition, soon called the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.
Our Successes
Through the hard work of our members, SEACC has had 50 years of success in standing up for the Tongass. When SEACC was founded, there were two large pulp mills, no protected lands in the Tongass, and little protection for fish and wildlife. Today the pulp mills are gone, more than 6.5 million acres are permanently protected, and more protections for fish and wildlife are in place. Here are a few highlights:
1980 – The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act permanently protects more than 5 million acres on the Tongass.
1990 – Tongass Timber Reform Act becomes law. SEACC spearheaded efforts to improve forest management and permanently protect more than 1 million acres of valuable forest.
In recent years, despite state and federal attempts to return to an unsustainable, large-scale timber industry, SEACC has successfully defended the most biologically and culturally important places on the Tongass.
SEACC co-founders and board members
Margaret Calvin (left) and Dixie Baade
Joe Greenough
Kay McCarthy
Our Founders
SEACC would not be successful without our founders who first brought together the disparate lovers of the Tongass and Inside Passage together to enact lasting change:
- Dixie Baade
- Margaret Calvin
- Joe Greenough
- Kay McCarthy
- Richard Gordon
- Bob Nelson
- Dr. George Longenbaugh
- Brock Evans
- Jean Eisenhart
- Jay Snodderly
- Jerry Deppa
- Bob Nelson
- Karl Lane
- Margaret Piggot
- Lee Schmidt
- Jan Wrentmore
- Roger Lohrer
- Dale Pihlman
- Emily Merriam
- Ron Hawk
- Tom Jacobsen
- Dick Folta
- RT Wallen
- Cliff & Sharon Lobaugh
- Dick Myren
- And others
Our Founders
SEACC would not be successful without our founders who first brought together the disparate lovers of the Tongass and Inside Passage together to enact lasting change:
- Dixie Baade
- Margaret Calvin
- Joe Greenough
- Kay McCarthy
- Richard Gordon
- Bob Nelson
- Dr. George Longenbaugh
- Brock Evans
- Jean Eisenhart
- Jay Snodderly
- Jerry Deppa
- Bob Nelson
- Karl Lane
- Margaret Piggot
- Lee Schmidt
- Jan Wrentmore
- Roger Lohrer
- Dale Pihlman
- Emily Merriam
- Ron Hawk
- Tom Jacobsen
- Dick Folta
- RT Wallen
- Cliff & Sharon Lobaugh
- Dick Myren
- And others