Dear Friend, The Tongass National Forest is revered as the crown jewel of the National Forest System. Its 9.3 million acres are home to humpback whales, Alexander Archipelago wolves, bears, glaciers...and the majestic, 800-year-old trees that logging and construction companies are working feverishly — with the aid of Alaskan politicians — to get their hands and saws on. It's all part of their plan for California: expanding oil and gas leasing on HUGE swaths of federal lands, jeopardizing human health, spewing toxic air pollution, and destroying park resources. It's up to us to protect the Tongass from clearcutting and road-building — and upholding the Roadless Rule is the best way to do it. The Roadless Rule has for nearly two decades prohibited road construction and timber harvesting on 58 million acres throughout the National Forest System. Alarmingly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of granting Alaska a weaker, "state-specific" version of the rule that would allow clearcutting of centuries-old trees — putting fishing, recreation, and rural and indigenous Alaskan communities at risk. We're working double-time to stop Alaska's weaker rule from taking effect while rallying support behind Sen. Maria Cantwell's bill to codify the Roadless Rule and protect pristine old-growth forests across the country. Can we count on your help now? Donate monthly to the Sierra Club to help us save the Tongass and protect all our forests with a permanent federal Roadless Rule. We'll also send you our grocery cart shopping tote (clips into your grocery cart for convenient grab-and-go!) — free. Friend, Alaska's carefully orchestrated effort to weaken the Roadless Rule in order to allow destructive commercial logging and road construction is overwhelmingly opposed by the general public — as exemplified in the 144,000 comments submitted last fall — as well as by First Nations activists, commercial and sport fisherman, recreational and tour operators, and more. That's because the Tongass is far more valuable to the world than the timber it could provide. A "carbon sink," the Tongass stores more atmospheric carbon than any other national forest in the country. And that's critically important when we face a climate crisis and need to store as much carbon dioxide as possible. The world's largest intact (for now!) temperate rainforest provides critical habitat to wolves, bald eagles, bears, salmon and more — protecting biodiversity while sustaining local economic development. It's up to us to stop Alaska's state-specific rule before it's replicated in Utah and other states around the country. Sen. Cantwell's Roadless Area Conservation Act would protect 58 million acres of roadless national forest in 39 states, and safeguard key recreational areas, vital drinking water sources, and fish and wildlife habitat. We're pushing Congress to pass this key legislation even as we gear up to fight Alaska's impending, weaker rule. Help us do both with your generous gift now. Become a monthly donor to the Sierra Club now and we'll send you our grocery cart shopping tote with our thanks. Help us save the Tongass and our other national forests before they're decimated by clearcutting and development — and gone forever. While we at the Sierra Club have a longstanding commitment to protect the Tongass and its ancient forests, pristine streams, fjords and glaciers, our cause today goes even deeper — to our moral obligation to leave our children, grandchildren and future generations with wonderful, natural places to steward and enjoy. Thank you for helping us protect our last iconic roadless lands. We're so grateful for all you do. With determination,  Michael Brune
Executive Director
Sierra Club | 
