The deadline to apply for the National Forest Foundation's Southeast Alaska Community Capacity and Land Stewardship Grant Program has been extended to April 19, 2013 Through this Community Capacity Land Stewardship (CCLS) grant program, the NFF is administering USDA agency funds to provide capacity building support for local collaborative efforts that work toward achieving watershed restoration objectives within the geographic focus areas. The purpose of this grant program is to provide the tools and support necessary to achieve watershed and landscape scale restoration while also furthering goals that contribute to the economic sustainability of communities. The NFF has partnered with USDA agencies and other partners in the Pacific Northwest to create and implement this innovative capacity building grant program in support of collaboratives and community-based organizations throughout the…
Angie Eldred, Communications Coordinator Hi, I'm Angie. I grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and earned my Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Communication Studies from Western Michigan University. I first came to Southeast Alaska in 2008 for a seasonal gig building trails with the US Forest Service in Petersburg. The following year I worked for a fisheries stream monitoring program sampling streams throughout various states in the Northwest and a conservation corps in southern Utah. I returned to Southeast Alaska in 2010 for another Forest Service gig out of Wrangell, working at Anan Bear Observatory, and have stayed in Wrangell since. I have come to call this place home and have formed a deep connection with the people and landscape that make Southeast so amazing. I love…
Environmentalists and economists frequently suggest that there would be a greater incentive for environmental stewardship if ecosystem services were valued in a manner that reflects the large contribution they have to our economy and society. Assigning a monetary value to a particular service can be very complicated due to issues of scale and the complexity of ecological interactions that make isolating the economic effects of one service difficult. Although challenging, valuation is seen an essential for encouraging conservation. Economists have developed innovative methods that attempt to quantify ecosystem services and the economic benefits of conservation. Check out the EPA Article The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds
Wetlands contribute to community and watershed health, as well as bulster local economies by producing resources, enabling recreational activities and providing other benefits, such as water pollution control and flood protection. Info Flyer The Training This training is being offered by the US Corps of Engineers and has been prepared to present the technical aspects of wetland delineation so that the landowner, city planner, tribe, contractor and other concerned individuals will understand the process of wetland identification and delineation. Students will learn what constitutes a wetland from a regulatory and legal perspective as well as from a practical “in the field” view. Why are wetland delineations important to your community? Anyone with an interest in purchasing and/ or developing a piece of property, from single-family houses to commercial developments, on or near…
There are very few places in the world where- due to a changing climate -the transformation in landscape are as visibly apparent as here in Alaska. The ecosystems of Southeast Alaska are being dramatically altered. How is a changing climate impacting the regions; fresh water supplies, ocean waters, natural resources and ecosystem services? .... Stay informed
Living in Southeast Alaska we are surrounded by freshwater. It is difficult to comprehend that the global community is facing a world-wide fresh water crisis. Considering that the planet has a finite amount of freshwater resources it is our collective responsibility to understand how we can work together to ensure all people have access to this necessary resource. Circle of Blue reports and presents the information necessary to respond to the global freshwater crisis... Stay informed
