The federal district court for the District of Alaska dismissed a timber industry challenge to the 2021 adoption of the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (2021 Strategy) for the Tongass National Forest. The 2021 Strategy pledged to “end large-scale old growth timber sales” and “instead focus management resources to support forest restoration, recreation and resilience, including for climate, wildlife habit and watershed improvement.” The court ruled that the plaintiffs had no legal basis for the claim that the federal defendants failed to comply with the Tongass Timber Reform Act and implemented an ultra vires policy by failing to set a harvest level for timber that did not meet market demand. The court also found that a 2016 plan’s timber sale objectives did not create a legally binding commitment enforceable under the Administrative Procedure Act. In addition, the court rejected the plaintiffs’ contention that the 2021 Strategy was an action that required notice and comment rulemaking. On April 2, 2026, the plaintiffs filed notice of their appeal of the dismissal.

Lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's 2021 adoption of the Southeast Alaska  Sustainability Strategy that restricted old growth logging in the Tongass National Forest.

Alaska Forest Association v. U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Alaska Federal Court Dismissed Challenge to 2021 Sustainability Strategy for Tongass National Forest

Filed

United States of America

Alaska

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Alaska Federal Court Dismissed Challenge to 2021 Sustainability Strategy for Tongass National Forest

Policy instrument

Impacted group

Renewable energy

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance