The Tongass Collaborative (TTC) is a regional forum that brings together communities, Tribal partners, industry, and agencies to support sustainable management of the Tongass National Forest with a focus on forest health, habitat health, and community economic health.
The TTC serves as a venue for coordinated, community-driven input into federal land management decisions and implementation strategies with a 150-year planning horizon.
Current Focus Areas
TTC has evolved from a planning-focused body into an implementation-oriented collaborative, with emphasis on:
- All-lands coordination
Improving collaboration across federal, state, Tribal, municipal, and private lands to support efficient and scalable forest management strategies. - All-economic sectors
The Tongass is a working forest that supports multiple uses and economic sectors including recreation, fisheries, mining, and other sectors. The TTC seeks to support each as part of a vibrant forest economy. - Project-level coordination and problem solving
Providing a forum to identify barriers and advance priority projects related to timber access, infrastructure, permitting, and investment. - Workforce development and industry infrastructure
Supporting training, equipment deployment, and regional capacity building tied to emerging forest product markets, including small-diameter utilization and value-added processing. - Young-growth industry support
Advancing practical pathways to a modernized industry with a focus on young-growth timber while maintaining long-term economic viability for Southeast Alaska communities and industry. - Integrated forest-based energy systems
Aligning with regional efforts to expand biomass heating and wood energy, including coordination with projects such as pellet production, community heating systems, and fuel supply chains.
Role in Regional Strategy
TTC plays a key role in implementing priorities identified in Southeast Alaska’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) helping ensure that forest management:
- Supports local jobs and industry stability.
- Reflects local industry, municipal and Tribal government priorities.
- Coordinates with local, regional, state, and federal initiatives and a holistic approach towards regional biomass deployment with a focus on full utilization.
Ongoing Engagement
TTC convenes regular meetings, workshops, and topic-specific working sessions to maintain alignment across partners and respond to emerging opportunities. Recent efforts have emphasized:
- Strengthening regional coordination during the Tongass Plan Revision.
- Identifying investable project opportunities.
- Supporting applied solutions rather than policy-only discussions.
You can also learn more about the TTC on their dedicated website.
