Pacific Log & Lumber has been harvesting timber from the Tongass National Forest for 30 years. But owner Steve Seley is ready to try something new. After observing for himself the long-term damage clear-cutting can do, hearing the concerns of The Wilderness Society and other conservation groups in progressive roundtable meetings and seeing the science to back it up, Seley is taking steps to try to put sustainable timber management into practice.

A recent report from The Wilderness Society shows that the Tongass National Forest contributes more than $2 billion to local economies through non-timber uses, such as recreation and tourism, commercial salmon fishing, subsistence and scientific research.