Sitka Conservation Society (SCS) has been working to protect the temperate rainforest of southeast Alaska and Sitka's quality of life since 1967. We are based in the small coastal town of Sitka, Alaska, located on the west coast of Baranof Island in the heart of the Tongass National Forest.
The Tongass National Forest, at 17 million acres, is the largest national forest in the U.S.and the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world. The Tongass, which comprises almost all of Southeast Alaska, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, but it is owned by all U.S.citizens. View map of the Tongass.
We have the dual goals of protecting the Coastal Temperate Rainforests of Southeast Alaska and developing economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable communities living within the Tongass National Forest. Our tools include traditional grassroots advocacy, innovative collaborative partnerships, educating the next generation of conservation leaders, and well-honed defensive techniques.
Please browse through the Program Menu to learn about our work, and browse the Organization Menu to learn more about us and the places we love.
Sealalaska Senate Bill
Sealaska legislation
A new version of the Sealaska Land Exchange bill was introduced in Congress on April 23, 2009. Although we say "new", the bill looks very much like the previous versions. Some changes have been made but they seem to be token changes that fail to address the larger community concerns. The current bill (SB 881) selects lands that are treasured by local residents for their ecological, subsistence and recreational values outside of the original ANSCA selection box. It also includes a series of enterprise sites scattered around the Tongass and set of cultural sites which are important to local tribes. There are many concerns that need to dealt with on this bill and details that are still uncertain.
The Sitka Conservation Society has long advocated for environmental, social, and economic health and vitality for our community and its surrounding public lands. The Groundtruthing and Community Stewardship Projects are key components to help us achieve these goals. The following link provides reports and background material on many of our current projects.
The Backwoods and Waters Natural History Series is held every year, autumn through late spring. Events take place monthly on a weekday evening and usually includes a slideshow and talk on a nature-related topic. Talks are always free and open to the public.
The next program will be:
Alaskan Karst and Caves: Exploration and Conservation with Steve Lewis
DATE: Tuesday, March 2nd
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: UAS Sitka Campus, Room 106
MORE: Steve Lewis will discuss and explore
how caves and karst have formed in Alaska
unique features found in our caves
how the subsurface and surface are linked
how caves tie to our history and prehistory
how conservation of caves and karstlands differs from forest on non-carbonate landscapes
This program is free and open to public, with support from the Sitka Charitable Trust. This program is being co-sponsored with the UAS Natural History Seminar Series.
The Sitka Community Wilderness Stewardship project brings together people and wilderness in an original and exciting way. Funded by the National Forest Foundation and the Sitka Conservation Societys Living Wilderness Fund, this project creates a working partnership between the USFS Sitka Ranger District, the Sitka Conservation Society, and a broad spectrum of community members to conduct scientific research expeditions and community monitoring in the two Wilderness Areas surrounding Sitka. By kayaks, float planes, skiffs and on foot, volunteer Sitka residents and Wilderness Rangers are exploring some of the most wild and remote places in Southeast Alaska this summer. Working together for the common goal of stewardship, they are experiencing wildness first hand and gathering needed baseline data about these significant areas.
SCS works with diverse partners in restoration
One of the Sitka Conservation Societys strategic goals is to shape a policy for 2nd growth management on the Tongass and assure that restoration of wildlife habitat is a funded priority. Recently, we held a workshop in Sitka that brought together diverse user groups from the Tongass with Forest Service staff to think about how we can work together to achieve mutual goals. Some of the participants in the workshop included a recreational user group of the Tongass, Sitka Tribal Council members, City of Sitka Assembly Members, representatives from State legislative offices, loggers, fishermen, and representatives of the local Economic Development Board.
Sitka Conservation Society (SCS) has been working to protect the temperate rainforest of southeast Alaska and Sitka's quality of life since 1967. We are based in the small coastal town of Sitka, Alaska, located on the west coast of Baranof Island in the heart of the Tongass National Forest.
One of the Sitka Conservation Societys strategic goals is to shape a policy for 2nd growth management on the Tongass and assure that restoration of wildlife habitat is a funded priority. Recently, we held a workshop in Sitka that brought together diverse user groups from the Tongass with Forest Service staff to think about how we can work together to achieve mutual goals. Some of the participants in the workshop included a recreational user group of the Tongass, Sitka Tribal Council members, City of Sitka Assembly Members, representatives from State legislative offices, loggers, fishermen, and representatives of the local Economic Development Board.