President Donald Trump's recent directive to allow logging in Alaska's Tongass National Forest, one of the largest intact temperate rainforests in the world, has sparked concerns among environmentalists and conservationists. The move aims to overturn logging restrictions that have been in place for nearly two decades, potentially impacting over half of the national forest.
The Tongass, along with Canada's Great Bear Rainforest, comprises the largest intact temperate rainforest ecosystem on the planet. The forest is home to diverse wildlife, including salmon, bears, wolves, and Bald Eagles, and serves as a crucial carbon sink, storing vast amounts of carbon and helping mitigate climate change.
Environmentalists fear that opening up the Tongass to commercial activities could lead to deforestation, threatening both the biodiversity and the carbon storage capacity of the forest. Old-growth trees, which have been undisturbed for at least 120 years, are particularly at risk from logging activities.
The Trump administration's decision to allow logging in the Tongass comes at a time when the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is experiencing devastating wildfires, highlighting the global importance of preserving these critical ecosystems. Both the Tongass and the Amazon play vital roles in storing carbon and supporting biodiversity, making their protection crucial in the fight against climate change.
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