| dc.description.abstract |
"Several studies of U.S. National Forests suggest that declines of their associated forest
products industries were driven by synergistic changes in federal governance and market conditions during
the late 20th century. In Alaska, dramatic shifts in the economic and political settings of the Tongass
National Forest (Tongass) drove changes in governance leading to collapse of an industrial forest
management system in the early 1990s. However, 15 years since collapse, the reorganization of Tongass
governance to reflect new economic and political realities has not progressed. To understand both the
factors that hinder institutional change (inertia) and the factors that enable progress toward reorganization
(adaptation), I analyzed how Tongass forest management, specifically timber sale planning, has responded
to changes in market conditions, local industry structure, and larger-scale political governance. Inertia was
evidenced by continued emphasis on even-aged management and large-scale harvesting, i.e., the retention
of an industrial forestry philosophy that, in the current political situation, yields mostly litigation and
appeals, and relatively few forest products. Adaptation was evidenced by flexibility in harvest methods, a
willingness to meet local demand instead of political targets, and a growing degree of cooperation with
environmental advocacy groups. New partnerships, markets, and political leaders at state and national
levels can frame a new blueprint for reorganization of Tongass management toward a more sustainable
future." |
en_US |