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Hidden Forest Values United States Department of Agriculture Proceedings: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Hidden Forest Values General Technical Report PNW-GTR-579 March 2003 The First Alaska-Wide Nontimber Forest Products Conference and Tour November 8-11, 2001 Papers were provided by the authors in camera-ready form for printing. Authors are responsible for the content and saccuracy. Opinions expressed may not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Proceedings: Hidden Forest Values The First Alaska-Wide Nontimber Forest Products Conference and Tour The Millennium Hotel Anchorage, Alaska November 8-11, 2001 Compiled by the Alaska Boreal Forest Council, Fairbanks, Alaska Published by U.S. Department of Agriculture Pacific Northwest Research Station Portland, Oregon General Technical Report PNW-GTR-579 This page was intentionally left blank. Summary The Hidden Forest Values Conference brought together a diverse assemblage of local, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, traditional users, landholders, cottage enterprises and other Nontimber Forest Products (NTFP) related businesses, scientists, and experts. The purpose of this forum was to exchange information, cooperate, and raise awareness of issues on sustainable and equitable, environmentally and economically viable opportunities for NTFP in Alaska. This discourse sought a balance of development and sustainability, with respect for traditional uses. Nontimber Forest Products were defined by the Conference organizers as biological material harvested from the forest that has not been produced from commercially sawn wood such as lumber, pulp, and paper. These proceedings include extended summaries of presentations by speakers and panelists at the conference. All summaries were compiled and edited by the Alaska Boreal Forest Council and reviewed by the authors. Some authors elected to provide their full presentation or supplemental material; those are included in Appendix V. i Preface In the Spring of 2000, a small group of entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders, and state and federal personnel gathered to discuss the future of Nontimber Forest Products (NTFP) in Alaska. Ever increasing interest in and use of these products had begun to raise questions for users and managers regarding sustainability, access, development and protection. Instead of answering these questions, the group raised more issues such as: what is the definition of an NTFP, what is sustainability, who should be promoting the industry and conducting research and development? We strove to answer these questions. But, how to begin? “Hold more meetings,” the agency staff said. “Ask more questions,” declared the researchers. “Talk to the people,” implored the community leaders. “Look at this a new way,” the entrepreneurs suggested, “the problem is an opportunity.” The starting point became clear—we needed to hold a conference and get more people involved. Where else could we meet, ask more questions, talk to each other and begin to look at things in a new way? That day we made two key decisions for the conference. First, no meaningful discussion regarding NTFP could take place without fair representation of the various and divergent views from the extensive group of NTFP users. Therefore, the conference forum had to welcome diversity and create a comfortable environment for all participants. Our speakers, panelists, and topics also needed to reflect the variety of views: empirical science and traditional knowledge, protection and use, research and development. Second, we adopted a broad working definition of NTFP to include all biological products harvested from a forest ecosystem, excluding primary timber products such as lumber, composites, and paper. These choices led to long planning meetings, difficult decisions and even heated debates. Holding small and focused conferences for every user group would have been a lot easier, but much less effective. Bringing everyone together exposed new ideas, perspectives and created balanced discussions. This type of interaction is vital to the future creation and acceptance of statewide policies regarding NTFP use in Alaska. Comments from the conference participants reflect the excitement and interest that was generated: “This is the best conference I have ever attended”, “I am now inspired”, “It was very good to hear from Elders”. These proceedings document and endorse the informal and inclusive style set by the conference. The most important result of the conference has been to raise awareness of NTFP issues statewide. Since the conference the newly formed NTFP workgroup has been busy. We developed and staffed a state fair booth, presented at The Tongass Centennial: The Next 100 Years, developed a booth for the October 2002 Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention, will represent Alaska in an NTFP focus group at the Society of American Foresters national convention, and of course we worked hard to create the proceedings you now hold! In addition, one member of our working group is now on the Pacific Northwest NTFP Council. Lastly, we are gearing up to plan the next NTFP conference, tentatively scheduled for February 2004 in Sitka. If you would like to be involved in future efforts by the Alaska NTFP Workgroup, check out Appendix IV. We look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy these proceedings! Rachel Morse, Alaska NTFP Conference Workgroup Chair ii Acknowledgments Conference Sponsors USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Alaska Wood Utilization Center University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Campus USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alaska USDA National Agro-forestry Center Cooperative Extension Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks USDA Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service Anchorage Soil & Water Conservation District Alaska Association of Conservation Districts Alaska State Dept. of Nat. Res., Alaska Natural Resource Conservation and Development Board Alaska Forest Association Koncor Forest Products Palmer Soil & Water Conservation District Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District Upper Susitna Soil & Water Conservation District Cameron Birch Syrup & Confections, Inc. 2001 Conference Planning Committee Marlene Cameron ...............Cameron Birch Syrup & Confections, Inc. Linda Christian*...................USDA Forest Service, PNW Res. Sta., Alaska Wood Utilization Center Robi Craig...........................Sitka Tribe of Alaska Helen Dangel......................Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Jan Dawe............................Alaska Boreal Forest Council Robert Gorman ...................University of Alaska, Cooperative Extension Service Gary Laursen......................University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology Mitch Michaud* ...................USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Rachel Morse+ ....................Alaska Soil and Water Conservation District Rhoda Portis.......................USDA NRCS, Mat-Su RC&D Steve Simmons...................Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Alan Vandiver ....................USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry Robert Wheeler ..................University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension Service Phyllis Woolwine*................USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest * denotes Conference Planning Committee Co-chairs + denotes current NTFP Working Group Chair See Appendix I for current addresses. Proceedings compiled by the AK Boreal Forest Council: Jan Dawe, Kimberly Maher, Jennifer Nehlsen Conference photos by Joey Pavia, USDA Forest Service, PNW Res. Sta. AK Wood Utilization Center The views and opinions expressed within this document do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the PNW Research Station, or the Alaska NTFP Workgroup. iii This page was intentionally left blank. Table of Contents Summary.............................................................................................................. i Preface................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgments............................................................................................. iii Keynote Speaker Gina Mohammed ................................................................... 3 Topic: Traditional Uses..................................................................................... 5 Lead Speaker Dolly Garza (p. 6) Traditional Uses Panel (p. 9) Irene Jimmy (p. 9) Jesse Johnnie (p. 9) Rita Blumenstein (p. 10) Teri Rofkar (p. 11) Steve Simmons (p. 12) Breakout Session: Traditional Uses and Social, Ethical & Spiritual Aspects (p. 14) Topic: Biological Sustainability...................................................................... 15 Lead Speaker Nan Vance (p. 16) Biological Sustainability Panel (p. 20) Glenn Juday (p. 20) Dolly Garza (p. 21) John Zasada (p. 23) Gary Laursen (p. 24) Breakout Session: Biological Sustainability (p. 26) Topic: Economic Opportunities ..................................................................... 27 Lead Speaker Jim Freed (p. 28) Economic Opportunities Panel (p. 31) Elstun Lauesen (p. 31) Jean Wall (p. 32) Nikolai Shmatkov (p. 33) Breakout Session: Economic Opportunities (p. 35) Topic: Landholders Policy and Access to NTFP Resources........................ 37 Landholders Panel (p. 38) Phyllis Woolwine (p. 38) Dave Kelley (p. 40) Roger McRoberts (p. 41)
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