NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Alaska Region
Points of Contact:
Sara Boario
Chugach National Forest
3301 C St., Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-743-9444
sboario@xxxxxxxxx
Erin Uloth
Tongass National Forest
Ketchikan Office, Federal Building
Ketchikan, AK 99901
907-228-6201
euloth@xxxxxxxxx
April 19, 2011
Earth Day Honored with Second in a Series of Four International Year of Forests Posters-
Available Friday at a Forest Service Office Near You
JUNEAU, Alaska- The United Nations proclaimed 2011 as the International Year of Forests. In recognition of the strong connection Alaskans have with their national forests, the Alaska Forest Service celebration of the IYOF is themed, “Alaska’s Forests: More Than A Place to Visit – It’s Where We Live!” The second of four beautiful posters created to bring this theme to life will be released Friday, April 22, in honor of Earth Day and will be available to the public free at your nearest Forest Service office.
This second poster is “Celebrate Your Heritage,” and speaks to the role and importance of forests in our daily lives. The first poster released was “Explore Your Backyard” and posters to follow will be “Cherish Your Inheritance” and “Find Your Inspiration.” A limited number of the first poster in the series may still be available- collect them all.
In addition to the poster series, the Tongass and Chugach national forests are holding events all year to commemorate IYOF and highlight the importance of sustainable management and conservation of the world’s forests.
This month, the Tongass National Forest, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation and Alaska Wilderness League, is cosponsoring the first of a 5-city exhibit tour of Amy Gullick’s photographs from her book, Salmon in the Trees. In May, the Chugach National Forest, in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage, hosts the Classrooms for Climate conference. These are by no means the only events planned for the year—check out the Alaska Forest Service IYOF web site at www.myalaskaforests.com.
The Chugach and Tongass are the two largest national forests in the nation. Together, they encompass more than 22 million acres and provide a backyard experience for nearly two-thirds of Alaskans. From Anchorage to Juneau, Ketchikan to Cordova, Prince of Wales to Prince William Sound, Alaskans in 43 different communities recreate, make a living, and meet the subsistence needs of their families in and around Alaska’s national forests.
This year, International Year of Forests provides countless opportunities to take a fresh look at your national forests in Alaska. The Forest Service urges you to take advantage of those opportunities.
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