Conservation Blog

Boat Company To Speak At Major EcoTourism Conference

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:07am

Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry. A leading international multi-stakeholder meeting place, the ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry to discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Advancing policies and practices benefiting businesses and communities, the ESTC helps reinforce the roles of tourism in building a more sustainable future.

Tongass Among Top Ten Forest For Storing Carbon

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 12:27pm

PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS TOPS AT STORING CARBON

Wilderness Society analysis names top ten national forest “carbon banks”

Seattle, WA—The top ten carbon storing national forests in the U.S. are all found in the moist westside forests in Washington, Oregon and southeast Alaska, according to a new Wilderness Society analysis <http://wilderness.org/content/top-ten-carbon-storing-national-forests-america> . The analysis, based on United States Forest Service data, ranks the forests among the Earth’s greatest “carbon banks.”

But Will She Listen: "Murkowski sets up Sealaska lands bill meetings"

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 5:01pm

legislation

Repost of Kim Marquis article from Juneau Empire, The BIG question here is will Murkowski and the Alaskan Delegation in Congress actually listen to the local residents.

Senator sets up Sealaska lands bill meetings
Murkowski's staff to record discussions in Southeast communities

By Kim Marquis | JUNEAU EMPIRE
Meetings on Sealaska Corp.'s lands legislation are set to begin in the region next week.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski set the meetings up to address growing criticism from the southern part of the region over Senate Bill 881, which would transfer about 85,000 acres of public land into private ownership. Sealaska, the region's Native corporation, plans to harvest timber on most of the land.

Murkowski, Obama admin spar over timber contract overhaul

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:29pm

Great article by Patrick Reis of E&E, and another example of a Senator gone wrong. Tax payer money being used to keep an industry in business that provides for less than 1% of the employement (less than 100 actual local residents employed) to the region as well as less than 1% of the gross income in the region. Hey Senator, if you want to help the region why not start out with helping the fisheries and nature based tourism. Both rank in the top 5 for employment and income in the region.

Wisdom Of The Ancient Forest

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Mon, 02/22/2010 - 12:31pm

We would like to share with you an exciting program that The Boat Company has been involved with over the past year. “Wisdom of the Ancient Forests: Alaska's Tongass Rainforest”, is a documentary film that we believe will inspire and educate viewers to appreciate the value of the Tongass National Forest, the last old growth temperate rainforest on Earth.

Breathing Earth Productions, in conjunction with The Quest Foundation, approached us about participation in the development and production of this documentary film a little over a year ago. To date, The Boat Company has contributed two full (whole boat) trips for the filming of this much-needed documentary, along with a sizeable cash donation. The documentary has now moved into postproduction with an expected release date some time in early 2010.

No Child Left Inside

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 12:16pm

In June 2007 the Conservation Fund launched the National Forum on Children and Nature* with a forum of 50 public and private leaders – including representatives from the business community (the North Face, Sesame Workshop, Walt Disney), philanthropy (the Turner Foundation, National Audubon Society), governors and mayors – to address ways to reconnect children and nature.

Council advised on impacts of Sealaska land selections

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:56am

THE PETERSBURG PILOT (Alaska)

http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/021110seaalaska.htm
Council advised on impacts of Sealaska land selections
February 11, 2010
Legislation proposed under Senate Bill 881 could allow Sealaska Native Corporation to make land selections that could have far reaching effects on logging, recreation, tourism, hunting and fishing on the Tongass National Forest.

Through The Eyes of a Travel Agent

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 1:18pm

The Boat Company had the pleasure of hosting Bill Roberson from INCA Travel during the 2009 summer sailing season. Below is a story publish in the company bi-annual magazine written by Mr. Roberson about is experience with us.

SE Alaska…an unparalleled wilderness destination – one that needs no hyperbola or voluminous adjectives–it stands tall on its own, a wonderland for all to experience no matter the level of comfort, mode of travel, or degree of service.

Forest Service Folly of the Tongass

Submitted by Hunter McIntosh on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 6:14pm

Despite many opportunities to promote profitable ventures in tourism, recreation,commercial fishing and environmental restoration, the Forest Service continues its folly in promoting Tongass logging. Annual spending is near historic levels on the timber/roads program despite industry’s contraction to less than 1% of the regional economy. As a result of wasteful spending, the agency lost over $46 million in 2007. This translates to a taxpayer subsidy of over a $600,000 per job. Simply stated, the Forest Service continues to spend as if it were still in its glory days when actual timber demand has fallen by a factor of 8.

King Salmon Concern in Lower 48

Submitted by joelh on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 6:15pm

In April 2008, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council announced the complete closure of all waters off the coasts of California and Oregon to the commercial and sport harvest of king salmon. They closed these fisheries in an effort to try to protect and rebuild weak spawning populations in the region.