Located in the southeastern panhandle of Alaska, the Tongass National Forest is the largest remaining old-growth temperate rainforest on Earth. A lush landscape formed thousands of years ago by glaciers, where 500-year-old trees tower 250 feet overhead. Most Americans don’t even know it exists…but the Timber Industry does.

In fact, just last month a Ketchikan lumber mill applied and was granted access to clear-cut 381 acres in one of the Tongass’ pristine roadless areas. And more timber sales targeting Tongass roadless areas are just around the corner, unless the Obama Administration takes immediate action.

That’s why I’m asking you to please, sign our petition and ask the Obama administration to uphold the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would finally protect pristine areas of the Tongass and other irreplaceable national forests.

The wildest areas of the Tongass National Forest had been saved from the timber industry's chainsaws for years under President Clinton’s administration. But then President Bush came in and specifically removed protections for the Tongass National Forest.

Now is our opportunity to reverse the damage done in the past eight years and restore protections for our most cherished wild places. For the next 60 days, the Obama administration is accepting comments from the public about how to manage some of our country’s most pristine and wildest roadless areas.

The timing could not be more critical and we urgently need you to help us generate as many comments as possible! Sign our petition to permanently protect the Tongass from Big Timber and other special interests.

Already the great majority of the most irreplaceable old-growth trees in the Tongass have been cut down by Big Timber. But we can stop them from destroying the rest by upholding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and providing permanent protection for this spectacular forest as well as many other irreplaceable wild places.

The Obama administration could decide the fate of the Tongass and other roadless forests at any time. Please sign our petition to protect the Tongass TODAY​!

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Sarah Hodgdon
Director of Conservation, The Sierra Club