Since
SEAWEAD’s inception in 1999 we have cooperated with a broad spectrum of
our community in the study of several species and habitats. Based on
this experience we have established a program that is intended to weave what
we have learned about the nature of Southeast into a holistic approach
to landscape ecology.
In 2005 we embarked on our
first field excursions in this effort as part of the Sitka Conservation Society's (SCS) Tongass Ground-truthing Project . During June and July our two top naturalists Richard and Bob employed
rapid survey techniques in about a dozen watersheds ranging in
location from Chichagof to Prince of Wales islands. We collected
information on a variety of species and habitats in each system that support taking a serious – ground-truthed - look at the challenge of restoring
and maintaining healthy ecosystems while providing opportunities for
sustainable development.
Since 2005 we have visited additional sites on Prince of Wales Island, Kuiu Island, Kosciusko Island, Mitkof Island, Baranof Island and Chichagof Island. During that time the focus of the Ground-truthing Project has shifted to concentrate more on the restoration of salmon and deer habitat in previously logged watersheds and identifying forest types and watersheds that are the most suitable for long-term timber management. Thus our partnership with SCS in this work has become more and more in harmony with the collaborative mission of SEAWEAD.
In 2007 a new project was started in partnership with the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) called the Hoonah Community Forest Project. For this effort we are taking what we have learned from 3 years of ground-truthing across the Tongass and applying it in the development of a guide to resilient landscape design for the forested landscape immediately around Hoonah, Alaska.
We
have many partners and supporters in this effort and our goal is to
create an information pool for each audience to draw from. At
present some of the key concepts we are looking at are: ecosystem services, habitat connectivity, high-grading/proportionality, habitat restoration, tree-farming, habitat enhancements and habitat buffers.
click here to view a slide show of a timber sale field survey. click here
to view a larger map of the 2005 survey route.
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