Forest Values: Focus on Rural Communities in Alaska and Yukon Region
April 22-24 (with an optional tour on April 24-27), at the Tok Civic Center in Tok, Alaska with a virtual option available
This year’s Alaska SAF annual meeting focuses on how managing forests for wildlife habitat and wildfire mitigation impacts rural life in Alaska, both socially and economically. The meeting will start in Fairbanks. On the way to Tok, attendees will see forest management practices that mitigate wildfire and improve wildlife habitat; a stop will also include an innovative mill in the upper Tanana Valley.
The general session will be held at the Tok Civic Center where topics will include forest management on a variety of land ownerships covering various management goals and objectives. Discussions will revolve around recent issues addressing forest management in Alaska, in both the operational and political realm.
If there are enough interested participants, we are planning an optional field trip from the 24th-27th to Whitehorse and Haines Junction Canada to meet with Yukon Territory foresters and land managers. They will describe the goals and objectives of similar forest values in northwestern Canada.
We look forward to seeing you on this very mobile annual AKSAF meeting within the boreal forest.
In-person Registration
SAF member – $200
Non-SAF member – $250
Student – $40
In-person registration includes refreshments and a lunch on the 22nd. Lunch on the 23rd is on your own.
Virtual
SAF member – $50
Non-SAF member – $70
Student – $40
On April 22nd, attendees will meet at 0800 at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources building at 3700 Airport Way in Fairbanks where we will have transportation available to Tok. We will return you to Fairbanks on April 24th at around 4 p.m. If you are participating in the Canada Field tour, we will return you to Fairbanks on April 27th and we will shoot for late afternoon.
On the way to Tok, attendees will see forest management practices that mitigate wildfire and improve wildlife habitat; a stop will also include an innovative mill in the upper Tanana Valley. Food and drinks provided.
Field Tour Stops
9:30-11:00 a.m. – Jarvis North Fuel Break Treatments Study (presenters Eric Miller BLM, Dan Rees USAG Alaska)
11:30-1:00 p.m. – Delta Bison Range – an example of management for multiple benefits: wildlife habitat, wildfire hazard fuel reduction and forest products. (presenters Ryan Adam ADFG, Earl McNabb SDSWCD, Mike Goyette DOF)
1:30-2:15 p.m. – Joint Fire Science Demonstration Site (presenter Eric Miller BLM)
3:00-4:30 – Logging and Milling/Dry Creek: Mill tour and operation discussion. (presenter Brad Cox)
700-9:00 – SAF Business Meeting: Evening (Fast Eddies Banquet Room, order dinner off menu during meeting)
8:00-8:15 a.m. – Welcome and Announcements (Jeremy Douse, YRC Chair)
Forest Management Session
8:15-9:00 – State Forests: Overview and Legislation Update (Jeremy Douse DOF)
9:00-9:45 a.m. – Forest Management in the Yukon Territory: Overview (TBD)
9:45-10:00 – Break
10:00-10:30 – Tribal Forestry Update in Upper Tanana Valley: Forestry and Wildfire Fuels Projects (Fabian Keirn BIA)
Wildlife Management and Habitat Enhancement Session
10:30-11:00 – Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge: Mgmt. Practices (Shawn Bayless Tetlin NWR)
11:00-11:30 – ADFG Wildlife Habitat: Projects and Initiatives in the Tanana Valley (Ryan Adam ADFG)
11:30-1:00 p.m. – Lunch will be on your own
Carbon Projects Session
1:00-1:30 – Carbon Management on State Lands: Where Are We at Today (Tom Paragi SAF)
1:30-1:50 – Doyon’s Carbon Projects: Update on Status (TBD)
1:50-2:10 – Ahtna’s Carbon Projects: Regulatory Market Example (TBD)
2:10-2:25 – Break
Forests and Communities Session
2:25-3:40 – Economic Value of Forests on Local Communities in Alaska and Yukon Region Panel discussion, each panel member gives a short introduction to include their perspective of the subject followed by a Q&A.
Economist: Toby Schwoerer
Forest Products Industry: Brad Cox
Tok Umbrella Corporation: Dave Sandcliff
Forest Management: Chris Maisch
Forest Management Upper Tanana and Copper Valleys
3:40-4:00 – Forest Inventory and Analysis Program Status and Findings (Dave Rhodes DOF)
4:00-4:20 – Spruce Beetles and Forest Health Update (Jason Moan DOF)
4:20-4:40 – Forest Mgmt Upper Tanana and Copper Valleys: Current Projects (Dub Evans DOF)
4:40-5:00 – Fire Mgmt Upper Tanana Valley and Copper Valleys: Current Projects (Kato Howard DOF)
7:00-9:00 – Banquet: Evening Dinner and Presentation at Fast Eddies Banquet Room, order dinner off menu. Speaker Mike Cronk State Senator for Upper Tanana Valley (Legislature perspective on Forestry and Resource Development.) (invited)
8:00-9:30 a.m. – Red Fox Drive: Wildfire fuel breaks (Kato Howard DOF), Levels of Growing Stock Study (TBD)
10:00-11:00 a.m. – Tok School Biomass Project: Biomass wood chip boiler (TBD)
11:30-12:30 p.m. Youngs Timber: Mill tour (Joe Young)
For those arriving on April 21, the Best Western Plus Chena River Lodge and Pike’s Waterfront Lodge are located in close proximity to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources building where the group will depart the morning of April 22.
A small block of rooms will be reserved for the group at Youngs Motel for the evenings of April 22 and 23. Guests can call the Motel at (907) 883-4411 to reserve a room, which is reserved under AKSAF.
There are five free “dry” cabins at the Tetlin Wildlife Refuge Headquarters building available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserving those cabins can be done by calling (907) 883-5312.
If there are enough interested participants, we are planning an optional field trip from the 24th-27th to Whitehorse and Haines Junction Canada to meet with Yukon Territory foresters and land managers. They will describe the goals and objectives of similar forest values in northwestern Canada. Attendees must bring a passport to enter Canada.
On April 1st, the decision will be made whether there is enough interest for this field trip.
CEUs have been applied for this meeting.
