Post by L Roebuck on Mar 20, 2008 6:16:43 GMT -5
Karst Resources Should Stay in Public Hands Say Conservation Groups
Caves in the Karst - Archaeologically, Recreationally, and Ecologically Valuable
A bill that would enable the Sealaska Corporation to fulfill their land selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) has attracted interest from several Southeast conservation groups who say the proposed land selections by the Sealaska Corporation lie outside of the areas designated by ANSCA for purposes of settling the corporation's land claims. Representative Don Young introduced HR 3560, the proposed Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act in the fall of 2007.
According to information provided by the Sitka Conservation Society, the bill would authorize Sealaska to select up to 95,000 acres for economic development lands allowing for extraction of timber from these lands. Because the legislation would remove federal protections from these lands, Alaska law would govern logging on the economic development lands. Alaska law provides only minimal standards and does not protect some of the fragile resources contained in the selected areas. In the past, Sealaska has devastated many important areas in Southeast Alaska due to poor logging practices and low accountability as a private landowner according to Natalie Sattler, Sitka Conservation Society's Community Outreach Coordinator.
Many of the economic development lands selected by Sealaska are located on unique karst landscapes that overlie hidden features such as caves said Sattler. These caves are important to humans for scientific, educational and recreational purposes and are an important resource that merits protection she said.
Full Article
Caves in the Karst - Archaeologically, Recreationally, and Ecologically Valuable
A bill that would enable the Sealaska Corporation to fulfill their land selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) has attracted interest from several Southeast conservation groups who say the proposed land selections by the Sealaska Corporation lie outside of the areas designated by ANSCA for purposes of settling the corporation's land claims. Representative Don Young introduced HR 3560, the proposed Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act in the fall of 2007.
According to information provided by the Sitka Conservation Society, the bill would authorize Sealaska to select up to 95,000 acres for economic development lands allowing for extraction of timber from these lands. Because the legislation would remove federal protections from these lands, Alaska law would govern logging on the economic development lands. Alaska law provides only minimal standards and does not protect some of the fragile resources contained in the selected areas. In the past, Sealaska has devastated many important areas in Southeast Alaska due to poor logging practices and low accountability as a private landowner according to Natalie Sattler, Sitka Conservation Society's Community Outreach Coordinator.
Many of the economic development lands selected by Sealaska are located on unique karst landscapes that overlie hidden features such as caves said Sattler. These caves are important to humans for scientific, educational and recreational purposes and are an important resource that merits protection she said.
Full Article