U.S. Forest Service
10/06/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2022 07:40
“Listening First” results in remarkable culmination of Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy investments
Pre-event flyer produced for promotion of the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy announcement. Courtesy the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
ALASKA-Presenters, participants and the public had remarkable reactions to the investment of $25 million for projects under the Alaska Region's Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy in early September. They did so by watching a virtual, partner-led announcement on Zoom that was amplified on Facebook.
The reactions from three Southeast Alaska partners, ranging from "this is an example of thinking outside of the box," to a "groundbreaking approach," to a "monumental movement" and "a paradigm shift," summed up the initial success of the team. Those partners, Southeast Conference, Spruce Root and Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, were speaking of the team comprised of representatives from the Forest Service, Rural Development and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
On Sept. 6, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Homer Wilkes joined the virtual event to help announce the full $25 million in federal funding.
Vilsack spoke about how proud he was and said, "We had to first listen to all of you. You know best what works and what does not." Meanwhile, Wilkes commented on how listening first to local voices allowed for "promises made; promises kept."
During the hour-long event, speakers from the three Southeast Alaska organizations-Tlingit and Haida President Richard Chalyee Eesh Peterson, Spruce Root's Ralph Wolfe and Southeast Conference's Robert Venables-highlighted their individual regional strengthening agreements and the projects funded under each.
In total, about $12.4 million was awarded in support of more than 25 new projects such as fishery restoration, food security initiatives and tribal ecotourism initiatives, as well as the expansion of the strategy's goals and reach.
The funding will also promote economic diversification, workforce development projects and bring organizations together to collaborate with each other to further strengthen local Southeast Alaska economies.
Now that investments have been announced, the real work begins. Thirty organizations will be partnering with the Forest Service and USDA to implement locally led projects that will lead to economic, cultural and ecological sustainability across Southeast Alaska.