June 15, 2012

An Open Letter from Over 300 Scientists on Protecting the Tongass National Forest
As scientists with professional expertise in conservation and management of natural resources, we are writing to express our serious concerns regarding Sealaska Corporations proposal to acquire almost 65,000 acres (the equivalent of more than 100 square miles) of public land in the Tongass National Forest. The vast majority of these lands would be subjected to clearcut logging, including some of the most biologically rich, large-tree old-growth rainforest remaining on the Tongass. The Sealaska Corporations proposal would enable further high grading of the Tongass, a logging practice that disproportionately targets rare, big-tree old-growth forest. The Wildlife Society, the nations most prominent scientific society for professional wildlife conservationists, has long standing concerns over this particular logging practice: Landscape analyses in portions of Southeast Alaska show that while only 10-50% of the commercial forestland in some areas was logged, that acreage often included a high percentage of the big-tree old growth, particularly flood plain spruce and larger trees near tidewater. This pattern of timber harvest, a form of high-grading, reduces forest structural diversity and disproportionately impacts wildlife, recreation, and esthetic values associated with those forest types.1 Among our concerns, we note: The highly productive near-shore, riverine, and forested public lands of the Tongass provide irreplaceable natural amenities for the American people and were a key reason why President Theodore Roosevelt established it as the nations preeminent national forest in 1907. Throughout the world, old-growth temperate rainforests are exceptionally rare and rapidly disappearing.2 Even though half or more of the very large-tree old growth has been logged in Southeast Alaska, the Tongass still contains a globally significant portion of the worlds remaining temperate rainforest.3 Old-growth forests on the Tongass support diverse and abundant wildlife and play an important role in lessening climate change impacts through long-term storage of large amounts of carbon.3 The Tongass is part of a network of carbon dense old-growth rainforests

The Wildlife Society, Conservation and Management of Old-growth Forest On the Pacific Coast of North America- Position Statement. Adopted February 2007. 2 DellaSala, D.A. (ed.). 2011. Temperate and boreal rainforests of the world: ecology and conservation. Island Press, Washington D.C. Schoen, J.W., and E. Dovichin (eds.). 2007. The Coastal Forests and Mountains ecoregion of Southeastern Alaska and the Tongass National Forest. Audubon Alaska and The Nature Conservancy, Alaska. 3 Luyssaert, S., E. Detlef Schulze, A. Borner, A. Knohl, D. Hessenmoller, B.E. Law, P. Ciais, and J. Grace. 2009. Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks. Nature: 455|11 September 2008|doi:10.1038/nature07276. Leighty, W.W., S.P. Hamburg, and J. Caouette. 2006. Effects of management on carbon sequestration in forest biomass in southeast Alaska. Ecosystems 9: 10511065 DOI: 10.1007/s10021-005-0028-3
1

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that extends from the California coastal redwoods and Pacific Northwest to coastal British Columbia and Prince William Sound. This region contains some of the most carbon dense ecosystems on the planet.3,4 When rainforests are logged, much of their stored carbon is released as a greenhouse gas pollutant during site preparation, manufacture, and transport of wood products, which in the case of the Tongass, involves long distances to the Pacific Rim. These losses are not made up by storing carbon temporarily in wood products or by planting trees, as the on-site reduction in carbon storage from logging takes at least 200 years to return to about the same amount of stored carbon in the uncut old-growth forest.5 While the Tongass has approximately 5-million acres of old growth remaining, most of the highest-volume old growth (i.e., the largest trees in valley bottoms) has been lost to highgrading.6 Using Forest Service data and GIS analysis, Audubon Alaska has estimated that the proposed Sealaska Corporation selections would disproportionately remove the largest and most carbon-rich volume classes.7,8 Such stands make up 2427 percent of Sealaska Corporations proposed land selections. Congress ended the practice of disproportionately logging the largest old-growth trees on the Tongass in 1990 when it enacted the bi-partisan Tongass Timber Reform Act.9 The legislation now sought by Sealaska Corporation would ignore this law preferentially for the corporation and eliminate a sizable fraction of the remaining rare, large-tree old growth. Sealaska Corporation seeks to obtain smaller parcels of land for development, many of which are sited at the heads of bays, mouths of salmon streams, and other ecologically important locations. These lands contribute an inestimable value to commercial and sport fishing, recreation, subsistence fishing, hunting and tourism. Developing them would harm these industries that are considered the backbone of the regional economy. The new lands that Sealaska wants would significantly set back the ability of the Forest Service to quickly transition out of old growth logging on the Tongass. This is because the proposed land selections also include young-growth stands that are ready to be logged. These lands are pivotal to the Forest Services ability to transition away from logging the remaining old growth and moving to a young-growth restoration program.

In closing, public lands on the Tongass National Forest are a precious natural resource. We believe they should be managed for their highest and best use, which includes protection of globally rare large-tree rainforests that are vital for maintaining biodiversity and long-term carbon storage.

4 5

Based on recent Forest Inventory Assessment plot data from the Forest Service and Leighty et al. (ibid). Harmon ME, Ferrell WK, Franklin JF. 1990. Effects on carbon storage of conversion of old-growth forests to young forests. Science 247:699702. 6 See Albert, D, A preliminary comparison of ecological values associated with Economic Development and Native Future Sites proposed under the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act (S 881) and other lands of the Tongass National Forest, The Nature Conservancy, Juneau, Alaska, dated March 1, 2010. 7 Myers, E. F., N. J. Walker, M. D. Kirchhoff, and J. W. Schoen 2011. Highgrading on the Tongass National Forest: Implications of Pending Land Selections on Forest Diversity. Unpublished report. Audubon Alaska, Anchorage, AK 99501. 22 pp. (October 2011). 8 Old growth on the Tongass is classified by volume classes based on timber volume present in a stand. Class 7, the rarest type, includes old-growth stands that have 50,000+ board feet per acre and the largest remaining trees (Myers et al. 2011, ibid). 9 Section 301(c)(2) of Pub. L. No. 101-626, 104 Stat. 4426, 4430 (Nov. 28, 1990).

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Sincerely,
- Lead Signatories -

*Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Dominick A. DellaSala, Ph.D. Chief Scientist and President Geos Institute Ashland, Oregon Stuart L. Pimm, Ph.D. Doris Duke Chair of Conservation Duke University Durham, North Carolina James R. Karr, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Fisheries and Biology University of Washington Seattle, Washington

E. O. Wilson, Ph.D. Pellegrino Univ. Prof. Emeritus Harvard University; Museum of Comparative Zoology Cambridge, Massachusetts Reed F. Noss, Ph.D. Provost's Dist. Research Prof. University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Gordon Orians, Ph.D. National Academy of Sciences Professor Emeritus of Biology University of Washington Seattle, Washington

Thomas Lovejoy, Ph.D Univ. Prof. of Environmental Science and Public Policy George Mason University Fairfax,Virginia Peter H. Raven, Ph.D. President Emeritus Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis, Missouri David Wilcove, Ph.D. Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey

Paul Alaback, Ph.D. Prof. Emeritus, Forest Biology University of Montana Missoula, Montana Peter H. Albers, Ph.D. Wildlife Biologist Emeritus U.S. Geological Survey (retired) Traverse City, Michigan John Alcock, Ph.D. Emeritus Regents Professor Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Peter Alpert, Ph.D. Professor University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts James Amon, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Wright State University Dayton, Ohio

William D. Anderson, Jr., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Grice Marine Biological Lab College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Robert Angus, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Robert G. Anthony, Ph.D. Professor of Wildlife Ecology Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Kenneth J. Arrow, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Stanford, California Michael C. Ashley, Ph.D. Geneticist Reno, Nevada

Richard G. Baker, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa William L Baker, Ph.D. Professor University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Bruce G. Baldwin, Ph.D. W. L. Jepson Prof. and Curator Univ. of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Randy Bangert, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Biology Trinidad, Colorado Katherine Bannar-Martin, M.Sc. University of Texas Austin, Texas

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Mark Barath. M.S. Aquatic Scientist Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Jesse R. Barber, Ph.D. Boise State University Boise, Idaho F. H. Barnwell, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Roger G. Barry, Ph.D. Distinguished Prof. Emeritus Univ. of Colorado, National Snow and Ice Data Center Boulder, Colorado Carol Baskauf, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee Paul Beier, Ph.D. School of Forestry Northern Arizona Univ. Flagstaff, Arizona Steven R. Beissinger, Ph.D. Leopold Chair, Wildlife Biology University of California Berkeley, California Craig W. Benkman, Ph.D. Professor University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming David H. Benzing, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio David J. Berg, Ph.D. Professor of Zoology Miami University Oxford, Ohio

Robert L. Beschta, Ph.D. Prof. Emeritus, Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Richard O. Bierregaard, Ph.D. Visiting Dist. Research Prof. Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Brian Bodenbender, Ph.D. Chair, Geological and Environmental Sciences Hope College Holland, Michigan Jim Boone, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Desert Wildlife Consultants LLC Las Vegas, Nevada Arthur Boucot, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Zoology & Geology Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Brad Boyle, Ph.D. Research Associate University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Matthew Bracken, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Northeastern University Nahant, Massachusetts Richard Bradley, Ph.D. Associate Professor Ohio State University Marion, Ohio Dennis M. Bramble, Ph.D Emeritus Professor of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Solange Brault, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts

Bill Bridgeland, Ph.D. Wildlife Biologist Bandon, Oregon Robert A. Brown, Ph.D. Professor University of Washington Seattle, Washington Peter F. Brussard, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada Jeffery Burkhart, Ph.D. Fletcher Jones Prof. of Biology University of La Verne La Verne, California Thomas J. Cade, Ph.D Professor Emeritus of Zoology Cornell University, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ithaca, New York Phillip Cafaro, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado John Cairns, Jr., Ph.D. Distinguished Prof. Emeritus Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Ken Carloni, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor of Biology Umpqua Community College Roseburg, Oregon Steven A. Carlson, Ph.D Professor Emeritus Humboldt State University Missoula, Montana Bobb Carson, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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David M. Chambers, Ph.D. President Center for Science in Public Participation Bozeman, Montana Kai Chan, Ph.D. Associate Professor Canada Research Chair University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia Norman Christensen, Jr., Ph.D. Research Professor, Founding Dean, Nicholas School of the Environment Durham, North Carolina John A. Cigliano, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. of Biology Dir. of Conservation Biology Cedar Crest College Allentown, Pennsylvania Deborah A. Clark, Ph.D. Research Professor University of Missouri, St. Louis Colorado Springs, Colorado Phyllis D .Coley, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Liza Comita, Ph.D. Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Joseph Cook, Ph.D. Professor, Director University of New Mexico Museum of SW Biology Albuquerque, New Mexico Paul T. Corogin, Ph.D. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Ericha Courtright, M.S. New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico

Alan P. Covich, Ph.D. Professor of Ecology University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Frank Lance Craighead, Ph.D. Executive Director Craighead Institute Bozeman, Montana Patrick J. Crist, Ph.D. Dir. of Conservation Planning and Ecosystem Management Society for Cons. Biology Broomfield, Colorado Kevin R. Crooks, Ph.D. Associate Professor Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Gretchen C. Daily, Ph.D. Bing Prof. of Env. Science Stanford University Stanford, California Luise K. Davis, Ph.D. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania James E. Deacon, Ph.D. Distinguished Emeritus Prof. University of Nevada, Las Vegas Henderson, Nevada Alan Dickman, Ph.D. Director, Env. Studies Program Research Assoc. Professor University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Rodolfo Dirzo, Ph.D. Bing Professor of Env. Sciences Stanford University, Dirzo Lab Stanford, California Daniel Doak, Ph.D. Professor University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming

Alex Doetsch, Ph.D. Twin Falls, Idaho Dana E. Dolsen, M.Sc. University of Alberta Holladay, Utah Ken L. Driese, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Peter W. Dunwiddie, Ph.D. Affiliate Professor University of Washington Seattle, Washington Scott V. Edwards, Ph.D. Prof. of Zoology Curator of Ornithology Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology Cambridge, Massachusetts Tracy R. Evans, M.S. Resource Review Coordinator Illinois Dept. Natural Resources Springfield, Illinois Jonathan Evans, Ph.D. Professor of Biology University of the South Sewanee, Tennessee Frank L .Farmer, Ph.D. Professor University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Tracy S. Feldman, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rebe Feraldi, MESM LCA & Sustainability Analyst Prairie Village, Kansas Doug Fischer, Ph.D. Visiting Researcher University of California Santa Barbara, California

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Daniel C. Fisher, Ph.D. Professor, Director, Curator University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Thomas L. Fleischner, Ph.D. Prof. of Environmental Studies Prescott College Prescott, Arizona Jeffrey Foster, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Johannes Foufopoulos, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Monica Fowlds, M.S. Field Biologist Fresno, California Michael W. Fox, Ph.D., D.Sc. Minneapolis, Minnesota Barbara A. Frase, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Bradley University Peoria, Illinois Douglas J. Frederick, Ph.D. Professor of Forestry North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Lee E. Frelich, Ph.D. Dir., Center for Forest Ecology University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Jennifer K. Frey, Ph.D. Associate Professor New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Christopher A. Frissell, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Pacific Rivers Council Polson, Montana

Jed Fuhrman, Ph.D. McCulloch-Crosby Chair of Marine Biology Univ. of Southern California Los Angeles, California Stephen W. Fuller, Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, Virginia Daniel Gavin, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Wynne Geikenjoyner, Ph.D. Flagstaff, Arizona T. Luke George, Ph.D. Adjunct Prof., Dept. of Wildlife Humboldt State University Arcata, California Scott Goetz, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Woods Hole Research Center Falmouth, Massachusetts Jennifer Gervais, Ph.D. Wildlife Ecologist Oregon Wildlife Institute Corvallis, Oregon John H. Gibbons, Ph.D. Natl. Academy of Engineering The Plains, Virginia Tom Giesen, M.S. Instructor University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon James D. Gilardi, Ph.D. Executive Director World Parrot Trust Davis, California Enrique Gomezdelcampo, Ph.D. Associate Professor Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio

Steven Green, Ph.D. Professor University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida Jon Grinnell, Ph.D. Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota Gary D. Grossman, Ph.D. Professor University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Ed Grumbine, Ph.D.. Senior Visiting Scientist Kunming Institute of Botany Kunming, China Andrew J. Gunther, Ph.D. Executive Director Center for Ecosystem Management & Restoration Oakland, California John E. Hall, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Charles Halpern, Ph.D. Seattle, Washington Chad Hanson, Ph.D. Director and Staff Scientist John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute Cedar Ridge, California Andrea Hassler, M. S. Field Instructor University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado David Havlick, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Susanna B. Hecht, Ph.D Professor University of California Los Angeles, California Bernd Heinrich, Ph.D. Professor University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Ken R. Helms, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Scott M. Herron, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Ferris State University University of Michigan Big Rapids, Michigan Richard Hodel, M.S. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Karen Holl, Ph.D. Professor Univ. of California, Santa Cruz Felton, California Richard T. Holmes, Ph.D. Harris Prof. of Environmental Biology Emeritus Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire R. A. Houghton, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Woods Hole Research Center Woods Hole, Massachusetts John J. Hutchens, Jr., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Coastal Carolina University Conway, South Carolina Brian Inouye, Ph.D. Associate Professor Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida

David W. Inouye, Ph.D. Professor University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Emi Ito, Ph.D. Professor University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Jerome A. Jackson, Ph.D. Professor of Ecological Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University Ft. Myers, Florida David P. Janos, Ph.D. Cooper Fellow, Prof. of Biology University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida Daniel Janzen, Ph.D. Prof. of Conservation Biology University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Clinton N. Jenkins, Ph.D. Principal Research Scholar North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina David G. Jenkins, Ph.D. Professor University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Mitchell M. Johns, Ph.D. Professor of Soils California State University Chico, California Bart R. Johnson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Eugene, Oregon Jeff A. Johnson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of North Texas Denton, Texas Kyle Joly, Ph.D. Wildlife Biologist Fairbanks, Alaska

Cynthia S. Jones, Ph.D. Professor University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Alan R. P. Journet, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Biology and Environtmental Science Southeast Missouri State Univ. Cape Girardeau, Missouri Walter S. Judd, Ph.D. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Anne Kapuscinski, Ph.D. Distinguished Prof. of Sustainability Science Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire David Karowe, Ph.D. Professor, Biological Sciences Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan Darren Kavanagh, M.S. Seattle, Washington David R. Klein, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Alaska, Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska Walter D. Koenig, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Cornell University Ithaca, New York Jason Koontz, Ph.D. Associate Professor Rock Island, Illinois Marni Koopman, Ph.D. Climate Change Scientist Geos Institute Ashland, Oregon Julie Korb, Ph.D. Associate Professor Fort Lewis College Durango, Colorado

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Erin Kuprewicz, Ph.D. Washington, D.C. Troy A. Ladine, Ph.D. Professor East Texas Baptist University Marshall, Texas Rebecca S. Lamb, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Sally Landaal, M.S. Raleigh, North Carolina Marc Lapin, Ph.D. Middlebury College Cornwall, Vermont Maribeth Latvis, Ph.D.Candidate University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Beverly Law, Ph.D. Professor, Global Change and Forest Science Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Geoffrey Lawrence, M.S. Lecturer North Hennepin Comm. College Minneapolis, Minnesota Scott R. Lefler, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Ken Leonard, Ph.D. Instructor Georgia Perimeter College Lawrenceville, Georgia Simon Levin, Ph.D. Professor Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey

William Z. Lidicker, Jr., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley, California Dina M. Liebowitz, M.S. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Jason A. Lillegraven, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Harvey B. Lillywhite, Ph.D. Professor University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Kathryn Lowrey, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Conservation Biology Society Louisville, Kentucky Marvin M. F. Lutnesky, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Biology Eastern New Mexico University Portales, New Mexico Steven R. Manchester, Ph.D. Curator, Florida Museum of Natural History Gainesville, Florida Debora L. Mann, Ph.D. Asst. Prof. and Chair, Biology Millsaps College Jackson, Mississippi Janet Marsden, MBA, MS, MPS IEEE Syracuse, New York Michael Marsh, Ph.D. Conservation Committee Washington Native Plant Society Seattle, Washington

Travis D. Marsico, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Arkansas State University Jonesboro, Arkansas Pat Martin, Ph.D. Professor Fort Collins, Colorado Carlos Martinez del Rio, Ph.D. Professor University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming John M. Marzluff, Ph.D. Professor of Wildlife Science University of Washington Seattle, Washington Sara M. Maxwell, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow Marine Conservation Institute Santa Cruz, California Audrey L. Mayer, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Michigan Technological Univ. Houghton, Michigan James J. McCarthy, Ph.D. Professor Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Carl N. McDaniel, Ph.D. Prof. Emeritus, Visiting Prof. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio Daniel J. McGarvey, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth Univ. (formerly USFS at the Tongass National Forest) Richmond, Virginia John McLaughlin, Ph.D. Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington

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Gary K. Meffe, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Eric Menges, Ph.D. Program Director, Plant Ecology Archbold Biological Station Sebring, Florida Julie Messier, M.Sc. University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Steven M. Miller, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor (retired) Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Rochester, Minnesota Faisal Moola, Ph.D. Director, Terrestrial Conservation and Science David Suzuki Foundation Toronto, Ontario Harold Mooney, Ph.D. Prof. of Environmental Biology Stanford University Stanford, California Vicki Moore, M.S. Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona John C. Morse, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Dennis D. Murphy, Ph.D. Research Professor University of Nevada Reno, Nevada K. Greg Murray, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Hope College Holland, Michigan

Brent A. Murry, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Central Michigan University Inst. for Great Lakes Research Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Olin Eugene Myers Jr., Ph.D Professor Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington Philip Myers, Ph.D. Professor University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Wolf Naegeli, Ph.D. Sr. Research Scientist Emeritus University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Dhruba Naug, Ph.D. Fort Collins, Colorado Charles R. Neal, B.S. Ecologist (retired) U.S. Dept. of Interior Cody, Wyoming C. Riley Nelson, Ph.D. Professor Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Jay A. Nelson, Ph.D. Professor Towson University Towson, Maryland William D. Newmark, Ph.D. Research Curator University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Brandon L. Noel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia

Barry R. Noon, Ph.D. Professor Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Ellott Norse, Ph.D. President Marine Conservation Institute Bellvue, Washington Gretchen North, Ph.D. Professor Occidental College Los Angeles, California Richard A. Nyhof, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Calvin College Grand Rapids, Michigan Dennis C. Odion, Ph.D Dept. of Environmental Studies Southern Oregon University Ashland, Oregon Charles Olmsted, Ph.D Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado Richard S. Ostfeld, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Cary Inst. of Ecosystem Studies Millbrook, New York Robert T. Paine, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Biology University of Washington Seattle, Washington Michael S. Parker, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Southern Oregon University Ashland, Oregon Gustav Paulay, Ph.D. Curator, Professor University of Florida Gainesville, Florida

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Timothy A. Pearce, Ph.D. Assistant Curator of Mollusks Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David Perry, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Oregon State University Selma, Oregon Steven Phillips, Ph.D. New York, New York Mary Poffenroth, M.S. Adjunct Professor of Biology San Jose State University San Jose, California Tony Povilitis, Ph.D. Wildlife Biologist Life Net Nature Willcox, Arizona Thomas Michael Power, Ph.D. Research Professor University of Montana Missoula, Montana Ben Prater, MEM Associate Director Wild South Asheville, North Carolina Jessica D. Pratt, M.S. Graduate Researcher University of California, Irvine Irvine, California Robert Michael Pyle, Ph.D. Founder Xerces Society Gray's River, Washington Tom W. Quinn, Ph.D. Professor University of Denver Denver, Colorado Theodore K. Raab, Ph.D. Senior Investigator Carnegie Institute of Washington Redwood City, California

Gurcharan S. Rahi, Ph.D Associate Professor Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, North Carolina John T. Ratti, Ph.D. Research Professor (retired) University of Idaho New Meadows, Idaho Eric A. Rechel, Ph.D. Grand Junction, Colorado Barbara C. Reynolds, Ph.D. Prof. of Environmental Studies University of North Carolina Asheville, North Carolina Fred M. Rhoades, Ph.D. Instructor of Biology and Mycology (retired) Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington Ann F. Rhoads, Ph.D. Senior Botanist University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania David W. Roberts, Ph.D. Professor Montana State Univ., Ecology Bozeman, Montana Dina Roberts, Ph.D. Conservation Scientist International Boreal Conservation Campaign Seattle, Washington Bruce Robertson, Ph.D. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington, D.C. George R. Robinson, Ph.D. Professor University at Albany, SUNY Albany, New York Pamela Roe, Ph.D. Turlock, California

Gary W. Roemer, Ph.D. Associate Professor New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Garry Rogers, Ph.D. President Agua Fria Open Space Alliance Humboldt, Arizona Steven Rogstad, Ph.D. Professor University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Terry L. Root, Ph.D. Stanford University Stanford, California Jon Rosales, Ph.D. Associate Professor St. Lawrence University Canton, New York Michael L. Rosenzweig, Ph.D. Professor University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Donald S. Ross, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Amy Rossman, Ph.D. Research Leader Beltsville, Maryland Eric Routman, Ph.D. Professor of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco, California Matthew Rubino, Ph.D. Conservation Biologist North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Brad Ruhfel, Ph.D. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida

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Scott D. Russell, Ph.D. George Cross Research Prof. University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Ronald L. Rutowski, Ph.D. Professor Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Robin S. Salter, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio D. Scott Samuels, Ph.D. Professor University of Montana Missoula, Montana Benedetta Sarno, Ph.D. DVM Durham, New Hampshire Ira D. Sasowsky, Ph.D. Professor of Geology and Environmental Science University of Akron Akron, Ohio Melissa Savage, Ph.D. Professor Emerita University of California Los Angeles, California John Sawyer, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Botany Humboldt State University Arcata, California Hanno Schaefer, Ph.D. Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Paul J. Schaeffer, Ph.D. Miami University, Geology Oxford, Ohio John W. Schoen, Ph.D. Wildlife Ecologist Audubon Alaska (retired) Anchorage, Alaska

Brant Schumaker, MPVM, Ph.D. Laramie, Wyoming Steve Shippee, Ph.D. Candidate Conservation Biologist University of Central Florida Orlanda, Florida Marcia Shofner, Ph.D. Asst. Dir., Biological Sciences University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Rodney B. Siegel, Ph.D. Executive Director Institute for Bird Populations Point Reyes Station, California Derek Sikes, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor of Entomology University of Alaska Museum Fairbanks, Alaska Stephen C. Sillett, Ph.D. Professor Humboldt State University Arcata, California Jack W. Sites, Jr., Ph.D. Maeser Professor and Curator Brigham Young University Provo, Utah Isaac Skromne, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of Miami Miami, Florida David L. Smith, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York Nicholas J. Smith-Sebasto, Ph.D. Exec. Director, Center for Sustainability Studies Kean University Union, New Jersey

Pamela S. Soltis, Ph.D. Distinguished Prof. and Curator University of Florida Museum of Natural History Gainesville, Florida Stefan Sommer, Ph.D. Director, Colorado Plateau Biodiversity Center Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona John Sovell, M.S. Senior Researcher Colorado State University Fort Collins, COlorado Daniel T. Spencer, Ph.D. Professor University of Montana Missoula, Montana Wayne D. Spencer, Ph.D. Senior Conservation Biologist Conservation Biology Institute San Diego, California Timothy P. Spira, Ph.D. Professor Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Peter Stacey, Ph.D. Research Professor University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico John D. Stednick, Ph.D. Professor Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Rick Steiner, M.S. Professor University of Alaska (retired) Anchorage, Alaska Andrew G. Stephenson, Ph.D. Distinguished Prof. of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania

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Glenn R. Stewart, Ph.D. Prof. Emer., Biological Sciences California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, California Christopher Still, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of California Santa Barbara, California Richard R. Strathmann, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Washington Friday Harbor, Washington Sharon Y. Strauss, Ph.D. Professor University of California Davis, California Stephen F. Stringham, Ph.D. President WildWatch Soldotna, Alaska Gregory W. Stull, Ph.D. University of Florida Gainesville, Florida John D. Styrsky, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology Lynchburg College Lynchburg, Virginia Michael C. Swift, Ph.D. Assistant Professor St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota Robert Tafanelli, Ph.D. Asst. Professor & Research Specialist (retired) New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Stephen T. Tettelbach, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Long Island University Brookville, New York

Edward Thornton, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry University of Pennsylvania Swarthmore, Pennsylvania Tamara Ticktin, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Botany University of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Paul F. Torrence, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Vicki Tripoli, Ph.D. Environmental Scientist Ashland, Oregon Walter R. Tschinkel, Ph.D. R. O. Lawton Dist. Professor Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Julie Tuttle, Ph.D. Candidate Univ. of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chris A. Underwood, M.S. University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Dean Urban, Ph.D. Professor of Landscape Ecology Duke University Durham, North Carolina James W. Valentine, Ph.D. Professor of Integrative Biology, Emeritus University of California Berkeley, California Rick Van de Poll, Ph.D. Principal Ecosystem Mgmt. Consultants Sandwich, New Hampshire David R. Vann, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John D. Varley, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist Montana State University Bozeman, Montana Frank A. von Hippel, Ph.D. Professor University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska Eric von Wettberg, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Florida International University Miami, Florida David B. Wake, Ph.D. Professor, Graduate School in Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley, California Faith M. Walker, Ph.D. Adjunct Faculty Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Donald Waller, Ph.D. Professor University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Richard T. Ward, Ph.D. Professor of Botany Colorado State University Ft. Collins, Colorado G.J. Wasserburg, Ph.D. John D. MacArthur Prof. of Geology & Geophysics California Inst. of Technology Pasadena, California Vicki Watson, Ph.D. Prof. of Environmental Studies University of Montana Missoula, Montana Judith S. Weis, Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences Rutgers University Newark, New Jersey

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John F. Weishampel, Ph.D. Professor of Biology University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Orion Weldon, Ph.D Candidate Rutgers University, Ecology and Evolution New Brunswick, New Jersey Hartwell H. Welsh, Jr., Ph.D. Research Wildlife Biologist Arcata, California David Whitacre, Ph.D. Biology Teacher Treasure Valley Math and Science Center Boise, Idaho

Sue Wick, Ph.D. Professor University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Jack E. Williams, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Trout Unlimited Medford, Oregon Norris H. Williams, Ph.D. Curator Gainesville, Florida David L. Wilson, Ph.D. Professor University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida Denise Wilson, M.S. President Chicago Botanic Garden Seeds of Success Program Golden, Colorado

Neville Winchester, Ph.D. Adjunct Assistant Professor Univ. of Victoria, Biology and Geography Department Victoria, British Columbia Marianna D. Wood, Ph.D. Associate Professor Bloomsburg University Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Steven Yanoff, M.S. White Oaks, New Mexico Charlotte Zampini, Ph.D. Associate Professor Framingham State University Westborough, Massachusetts

Open Letter from Scientists on Protecting the Tongass National Forest Page 13