At the Alaska Forest Association summer meeting in Ketchikan yesterday, AFA members voluntarily adopted new habitat protection standards for timber harvest near salmon streams. “This is a very progressive move,” said Executive Director Jack Phelps. “Our companies are again taking the lead in applying science to practical, on-the-ground activities. By voluntarily going beyond the current requirements of the law protecting fish habitat, they are demonstrating their commitment to scientific forest management and the spirit of the Forest Practices Act.”

“The Association proposed new fish habitat protections to the Board of Forestry last January,” Phelps said. “The standards, developed in cooperation with state agencies and commercial fishing interests, became the basis for legislation which the Association fully supported. Unfortunately, the bill got stalled in the Senate and did not become law this year. AFA member companies have decided to implement the standards anyway, and will begin doing so in the next operating season.”

The measures include adding 66 foot riparian buffers along all streams containing salmon, imposing tougher slope stability standards on many streams, and encouraging operators to leave trees in place along the upper reaches of streams where it is both beneficial to the stream and economic to do so. “Our own studies helped identify the value of the new standards,” said Phelps, “and AFA member companies are dedicated to following the science.”

By unanimous vote, the AFA board of directors approved a resolution urging all AFA member companies to voluntarily adopt the new standards, according to Phelps. Furthermore, the Association still intends to pursue a change in the law. “We plan to have the legislation reintroduced next session and I have written to Governor Knowles asking for his continued support for these amendments. The Governor, the Board of Forestry, and the Department of Natural Resources have been very supportive throughout the process. Their involvement and that of commercial fishing groups, conservation groups and other resource agencies resulted in a balanced proposal that we think makes good sense and will make good law. We are counting on that continued cooperation during the next legislative session.”