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Southeast Alaska’s Ecosystem is Speaking: Here’s How to Listen

Understanding the Economic and Environmental Significance of Southeast Alaska’s Wild Places

SOUTHEAST ALASKA — Have you ever wandered through an ancient forest, its towering trees whispering the secrets of centuries? Or walked along a pristine shoreline, where salmon migrate with an innate purpose? For many residents of Southeast Alaska, these are more than just scenic experiences; they’re treasures. Yet, despite the awe-inspiring beauty, it’s often challenging to fully grasp the significance of the wild places around us.

While it’s tempting to let nature speak for itself, history has shown that when ecosystems are threatened and left unaddressed, both the environment and the people who depend on it pay a heavy price. Over the past several years, the world has seen how ecosystem degradation has affected over 1.3 billion people, according to the United Nations, between 2015 and 2019 alone.

So, what if there were a way to listen more intently to what the land is trying to say? What if we could understand the deep value of our ecosystems, not just through the poetry of nature, but through hard data that connects environmental health with human prosperity? This is where the SeaBank Annual Report comes in. Since its inception in 2018, this annual report has been bridging the gap between ecology and economics, making a compelling case for why Southeast Alaskans must advocate for the health of their ecosystems, not just for the sake of nature, but for the well-being of the community and the economy.

sunrise over Prince of Wales Island

The SeaBank Report: A Blueprint for Protecting Southeast Alaska’s Ecosystems

The SeaBank Annual Report is not your average environmental study. Published by the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, it uses a combination of the latest scientific findings and the language of economics to show why protecting Southeast Alaska’s ecosystems is vital. It has even earned recognition from prominent institutions, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In fact, the report has been cited in major environmental impact statements, underscoring its importance in informing policy and decision-making.

With the start of a new legislative session and a fresh presidential administration on the horizon, the region faces significant threats to its environment. The specter of old-growth logging in the Tongass National Forest, seafloor trawling, and potential transboundary mines looms large. The SeaBank Report provides critical data that can inform resource decisions and policies, ensuring that Southeast Alaska’s ecosystems remain protected for generations to come.

Some of the key findings in the latest SeaBank Annual Report include:

  • Economic Impact: Commercial fisheries and tourism in Southeast Alaska contribute over 16,500 jobs and nearly $1 billion annually to the local economy.
  • Carbon Sequestration: The Tongass National Forest plays a crucial role in combating climate change, storing 2.7 billion metric tons of carbon, making it one of the largest rainforest carbon sinks in the world.
  • Cryosphere Preservation: Southeast Alaska is home to North America’s largest system of icefields and glaciers, critical to the Earth’s rapidly shrinking cryosphere.
  • Biodiversity and Habitat Value: The region hosts over 284,000 acres of coastal wetlands and protected coral reef areas, collectively valued at more than $24 billion annually for their role in sustaining marine life, fish stocks, mammals, birds, and carbon-sequestering seagrasses.

The Economics of Ecosystem Health: Ecological Economics at Work

What truly sets the SeaBank Annual Report apart is its integration of ecological economics, a field that explores the relationship between natural ecosystems and human economies. This interdisciplinary approach underscores the fact that economic growth and human well-being are deeply connected to the health of our environment. While this may seem intuitive to some, it’s a concept that often operates outside of the public consciousness.

In the SeaBank Annual Report, terms like natural capital and ecosystem services take center stage. These terms refer to the value of natural resources and environmental features that are not typically measured in traditional economic models, but are crucial to our survival. Natural capital includes everything from clean air and water to forests that absorb carbon, while ecosystem services refer to the direct and indirect benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to human communities—such as flood protection, food production, and recreational opportunities.

These principles are not new. Pioneers in the field like Robert Costanza and Rudolf DeGroot have long advocated for the integration of ecological economics into policy decisions. Their work, cited in the SeaBank Annual Report, shows that by treating natural resources as economic assets, we can better understand their true value and make more informed decisions about their management.

Listening to the Land: The Importance of Community Advocacy

The SeaBank Report not only presents facts and figures, but it also calls on Southeast Alaskans to step up and protect the land that sustains them. As threats like old-growth logging and industrial projects grow, the report serves as a crucial tool for raising awareness and driving action. By understanding the economic and ecological significance of their environment, local residents are better equipped to advocate for policies that preserve their way of life.

The future of Southeast Alaska’s ecosystems depends on the collective effort of its people to continue speaking up for the land. From lobbying legislators to engaging in public discourse, the power to protect these natural wonders lies in the hands of the community. By listening to the ecosystem and translating that language into action, Southeast Alaskans can ensure that their precious landscapes continue to thrive for generations to come.

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