March 17, 2020
To: The Honorable Gina McCarthy, White House National Climate Advisor
The Honorable Ali A. Zaidi, Deputy White House National Climate Advisor
As scientists with backgrounds in natural resources, climate change, forest carbon, biodiversity natural resource economics, and medicine we write to express our strong support for the Biden Administration’s development of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the upcoming United Nations COP26. We request that the NDCs comply with Article 5 of the Paris Agreement by protecting the nation’s carbon dense mature forest ecosystems (“carbon reservoirs”) in a strategic natural carbon reserve on federal lands. To begin this process, we ask specifically that all old-growth forests and roadless areas on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska be a central part of the administration’s NDC commitments and the first entry into the strategic carbon reserve system for protecting remaining older forests on federal lands nationwide 1.
The 16.8 million-acre Tongass National Forest is the crown jewel of the national forest system and is the recognized national champion in storing the equivalent of some 8% of all US forest carbon 2. The Tongass is one of the world’s last remaining relatively intact temperate rainforests that supports a robust tourism and fishing economy, including the provision of abundant salmon, deer, and cultural resources for Indigenous Peoples 3. Because of its northern coastal distribution, the Tongass is likely to function as a “climate sanctuary 4,” in contrast to interior Alaska that is experiencing one of the fastest rates of climate change on the planet 5. Protecting climate sanctuaries like the Tongass is a crucial step toward maintaining the nations’ most important ecosystem services and biodiversity increasingly at-risk.
The Tongass is also the only national forest where industrial logging of old-growth forests continues apace despite overwhelming public and tribal opposition. Tongass logging and road building costs the American taxpayer some $600 million over two decades 6. Despite these costs, the Trump Administration recently rescinded 9.3 million acres of roadless area protections that would allow road building and logging of some 186,000 acres of the largest, oldest trees. Such targeted logging would, according to one estimate, result in the equivalent emissions of ~10 million vehicles on Alaska’s roadways 7, a clear defiance of the warnings to humanity from thousands of scientists 8 regarding escalating climate and biodiversity calamities. In sum, we have precious little time before ecosystems and the climate are pushed beyond the point of no return that according to a recent United Nations report 9 will impact all citizens on the planet, including the grim prospect of contributing to more global pandemics as wild areas are increasingly developed and more zoonotic diseases released 10.
We urge that you demonstrate global leadership on the importance of including the nation’s remaining carbon dense, natural, and intact areas in a system-wide reserve network that would begin with the Tongass in the NDCs. Doing so, would also demonstrate progress towards the administration’s commitment to protect 30 percent of all lands and waters by 2030.
Sincerely (*affiliations for identification purposes only),
Dominick A. DellaSala, Ph. D Chief Scientist, Wild Heritage Talent, OR
James R. Karr, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Dennis Murphy, Ph. D, Prof. Ecology, Evol., Conservation Biology University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Thomas T. Veblen, Ph. D, Distinguished Prof., University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
James R. Strittholt, Ph. D
President/Ex Director, Conservation Biol. Inst. Corvallis, OR
Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. Ph. D University of Maine, Orono, ME
Richard T. Holmes, Ph. D. Emeritus Prof. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
Barry R. Noon, Emeritus Prof.
Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
Kai M.A. Chan, Prof., lead author IPBES Connecting Human & Natural Systems
William J. Ripple, Ph. D
Endowed Chair and Distinguished Prof.
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Jason A. Koontz, Ph. D
Professor of Biology
Co-Chair Environ. Studies Program Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Jon Grinnell, Ph. D
Francis Morley Chair in Biology
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Reed F. Noss, Ph. D, President
Florida Institute for Conservation Science Melrose, FL
Brian Linkhart, Ph. D, Professor Dept. Organismal Biology & Ecology
St. Peter, MN Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Timothy A. Pearce, Ph. D
Curator: Carnegie Museum Natural Hist. Pittsburg, PA
Gregory M. Huey, R.E.P
William L. Baker, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Program Ecology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
William D. Anderson, Jr., Ph. D, Emeritus Prof.
Environ. Project Lead
U.S. Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll
Mitchell M. Johns, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. College of Agriculture
California State University, Chico, CA
Robert L. Beschta, Ph. D. Emeritus Prof. Forest Ecosystems and Society
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Don M. Waller, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
John Robinson, Ph. D
J.L Tweedy Chair in Conservation Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY
James Quinn, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Rutgers University, NJ
Michael W. Fox, BVetMed, Ph. D Consultant Veterinarian, Minneapolis, MN
Bobb Carson, Emeritus Prof. Earth & Environmental Sciences Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA
Terry L. Root, Ph. D
Senior Fellow Emerita Stanford Woods Insti. Environ. Stanford University, CA
David F. Whitacre, Ph. D, Wildlife Treasure Valley Math/Sci Center Boise, ID
Jessica Pratt, Ph. D, Assoc. Prof. University of California, Irvine
Robert Summerfelt, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Dept. Natural Resource Ecology & Mgmt. Iowa State University, Ames
Grice Marine Biology Laboratory College of Charleston, SC
John Ratti, Ph. D
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Bruce G. Baldwin, Ph. D, Professor Integrative Biology & Curator Jepson Herb. University of California, Berkeley, CA
Philip Myers, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Garry Rogers, Ph. D, President Agua Ria Open Space Alliance, Inc. Humboldt, AZ
John W. Schoen, Ph. D, Wildlife Ecol. Anchorage, AK
Gretchen B. North, Ph. D, Prof. Biol. Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Gary D. Grossman, Ph. D
Fellow Am. Fisheries Soc., Linnean Soc. Athens, GA
David Karowe, Ph. D, Prof. Biol. Sci. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Stephen T. Tettelbach, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Long Island University, NY
Faisal Moola, Ph. D. Assoc. Prof.
Dept. Geograp., Environ., Geomatics, Guelph, CAN
Robert T. Heath, Ph. D, Dir. Emeritus Water Resources Research Inst.
Kent State University, OH
Paula M. Schiffman, Ph. D, Prof. Biol. California State University, Northridge
Carlos Carroll, Ph. D
Klamath Center for Conserv. Research Orleans, CA
Peter B. Moyle, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. University of California, Davis
Robert M. Pyle, Ph. D
Xerces Society, Gray’s River, WA
Robert Huber, Ph. D, Biol. Sci. Bowling Green State University, OH
Roger A Powell, Ph. D
Dept. Applied Ecology
North Carolina State Univ. Ely, MN
Gary K. Meffe, Ph. D, Conserv. Biol. University of Florida, Gainesville
Scott Hoffman Black, M.S Executive Director, Xerces Society Portland, OR
Philip D. Cantino, Ph. D
Dept. of Environ. & Plant Biol. Ohio University, Athens
Thomas L. Fleischner, Ph. D
Executive Director, Natural History Inst. Prescott, Arizona
M. Henry H. Stevens, Ph. D, Assoc. Prof. Director Ecology, Evol., and Environ. Biol. Miami University, OH
F. Stuart Chapin, III Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Institute of Arctic Biology, Univ. Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
Darlene Chirman, MS Ecology University of California, Davis, CA
Thomas M. Power, Prof. Emeritus
Economics Dept. University Montana, Missoula
Melissa Savage, Ph. D, Emerita Prof. University of California, Los Angeles
Wayne D. Spencer, Ph. D, Chief Scientist Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, OR
March Lapin, Ph. D, Associate Prof. & Ecologist Middlebury College, VT
Craig W. Benkman, Ph. D, Prof. Zoology & Phys. University of Wyoming, Laramie
Richard Bradley, Ph. D, Assoc. Prof. Emeritus Evolution, Ecology, & Organismal Biology The Ohio State University, Columbus
John Harte, Ph. D, Ecosystem Sciences University of California, Berkeley, CA
Amy Moas, Ph. D
Senior Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace Washington, D.C
Karen Holl, Ph. D, Prof. Enviro. Studies University of California, Santa Cruz
Erik Asphaug, Ph. D University of Arizona, Tempe
Hartwell Welsh, Ph. D, Wildlife Ecologist Arcata, CA
Edward Huang, Ph. D, Principal California Institute of Environ. Design Arcadia, CA
Jay H. Jones, Ph. D, Prof. Biology & Biochem. University of La Verne, La Verne, CA
W Scott Armbuster, Ph. D University of Alaska, Fairbanks University of Portsmouth, UK
Monica Bond, Ph. D, Principal Scientist Wild Nature Institute, Concord, NH
Michael S. Swift, Ph. D, Emeritus Assistant Prof. Biology
St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
John M. Marzluff, Ph. D, Prof. Wildlife Science
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jim Boone, Ph. D Ecology
Desert Wildlife Consultants, LLC Las Vegas, NV
Pepper W. Trail, Ph. D
Rogue Valley Audubon Society Ashland, OR
Bitty Roy, Ph. D, Emerita Prof. University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Roger Sabbadini, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Biology, San Diego State Univ., CA
Curtis Bradley, M.S., Senior Sci. Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AZ
Chad Hanson, Ph. D, Ecologist
John Muir Project, Big Bear City, CA
Ken Carloni, Ph. D, Forest Ecologist President, Umpqua Watersheds, Inc. Roseburg, OR
Franz Baumann, Ph. D Visiting Research Professor New York University, NY
Mary Edwards, Ph. D, Professor Geography & Environmental Sciences University of Southampton, UK
Janet Marsden, Ph. D
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Rob Mrowka, MS, Retired Biologist Center for Biological Diversity Franklinville, NY
Russ K. Monson, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Dept. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona, Tempe
Fred M. Rhoades, Ph. D, Biology Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
Dan Gavin, Ph. D, Professor
Dept. Geography, University of Oregon Eugene, OR
Shaye Wolf, Ph. D, Climate Sci. Dir.
Center for Biological Diversity, Oakland, CA
Rich Nawa, MA, Staff Ecologist
Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Ashland, OR
Cindy Haws, M.S., President Umpqua Natural Leadership Sci. Hub Myrtle Creek, OR
John Bailey, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. Colorado State University, Belgrade, MT
Maya Khosla, M.S., Wildlife Biologist Rohnert Park, CA
Evan Frost, M.S., Conservation Biologist Wildwood Consulting LLC
Ashland, OR
David Johns, JD, Ph. D
Hatfield School of Government Portland State University, Portland, OR
Roger Rosentreter, Ph. D, Botanist Boise State University
Boise, ID
James Catlin, Ph. D Emeritus
Wild Utah Project, Salt Lake City, UT
Timothy Ingalsbee, Ph. D, Ex. Dir. Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, Ecology (FUSEE), Eugene, OR
Ceal Smith, M.S, Res. Policy Analyst Alaska Institute for Climate and Energy Homer, AK
Michael Goodchild, Ph. D, Emeritus Prof. University California, Santa Barbara, CA
Frank Lance Craighead, Ph. D Ex. Director, Craighead Institute Bozeman, MT
Judith Well, Ph. D, Ecologist Rutgers University, NJ
Travis D. Marsico, Ph. D, Prof.
Curator, Arkansas State Univ. Herbarium Arkansas State University, AR
Ken Driese, Ph. D, Program Director University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Paul Schaeffer, Assoc. Prof. Biology Miami University, Oxford, OH
Theodora Tsongas, Ph. D
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility Portland, OR
Catherine Thomasson, MD
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Portland, OR
David J. Cowen, Distinguished Emeritus Prof. Assoc. Member National Academy of Sciences Columbia, SC
Zach Brown, Ph. D, Tides Institute Gustavus, AK
Winston P. Smith Ph. D. Principal Res. Sci. Retired: Inst. of Arctic Biol., Univ. Fairbanks, AK
John Talberth, Ph. D, Pres. & Senior Economist Center for Sustainable Economy
West Linn, OR
John R. Cannon, Ph. D
Conservation Biologist, Front Royal, VA
Jon Evans, Ph. D, Prof. Biology The University of the South Sewanee, TN
1 https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/a-strategic-natural-carbon-reserve-to-fight-climate-change/2https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225169208_Effects_of_Management_on_Carbon_Sequestration_in_Forest_Biomass_in_Southeast_Al aska
3 DellaSala, D.A. 2011. https://islandpress.org/books/temperate-and-boreal-rainforests-world
4 DellaSala, D.A., et al. 2015. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_2015_dellasala001.pdf
5 https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/lands/ecosystems/pdfs/sp10_14.pdf
6 https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taxpayer.net%2Fenergy-natural-resources%2Fnew-report- taxpayers-losing-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-on-tongass-timber-sales-over-last-two- decades%2F&data=04%7C01%7Coped%40seattletimes.com%7Cce2fce3e14fe4a4ca76708d895697bdb%7Cfc2b8476b7f0473d82fbe0a89fd9985 5%7C0%7C0%7C637423627615324626%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWw iLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=YXnxLis3y%2F9tuHbEE5SmImv2bewfFSoSywXPvJj7f6M%3D&reserved=0
7 https://forestlegacies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/tongass_carbon_2019_12_16.pdf
8 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-climate-emergency-2020-in-review/
9 https://www.unep.org/resources/making-peace-nature
10 https://newrepublic.com/article/157361/public-health-depends-healthy-planet