TONGASS RECREATION PARTNERSHIP | ALASKA VENTURE FUND

JUNEAU, ALASKA, USA

2026 BALLOT FINALIST | NOMINATED BY PEAK DESIGN

The Tongass Recreation Partnership is bringing together tourism operators, local communities, Tribal leaders, and recreation organizations to help shape the future management of the Tongass National Forest. By ensuring recreation and sustainable tourism have a stronger voice in forest planning, the project aims to protect old-growth forests, roadless areas, and the landscapes that support both biodiversity and local economies.

 The Issue:

The Tongass National Forest, the world's largest remaining temperate rainforest, continues to face pressure from industrial old-growth logging, despite tourism, recreation, and commercial fishing now being the region's primary economic drivers. Forest management decisions have historically prioritized logging interests, leaving tourism and local communities with limited influence over how public lands are managed. The project addresses this imbalance by organizing tourism, recreation, Tribal, and community stakeholders to advocate for a new forest management plan that prioritizes conservation, sustainable recreation, and long-term protection of the Tongass.

What are Measurable Outcomes Expected from the Funding of this Project?

  • Five priority tourism areas are incorporated into the Tongass Forest Plan through 2 new tourism zoning and management maps.

  • Three new sustainable tourism standards and monitoring guidelines are integrated into the revised forest management plan.

  • 165,000 acres of old-growth forest receive stronger protection through inclusion of tourism and recreation priorities in the planning process.

  • Two regional recreation organizations are employed to lead the Tongass Recreation Partnership and launch the Tongass Stewardship Fund.

 What Would a Successful Project Result In?

A new Tongass Forest Plan that better protects old-growth forests and recreation landscapes, strengthens stewardship, and establishes a lasting, locally led partnership that ensures tourism and recreation help guide conservation decisions across Southeast Alaska.