Afognak Island Timber Road Removal

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Helping Wildlife through Minimizing Motorized Trespass

Location: Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic

Project Summary: Afognak Island's wild salmon, Kodiak bears and Roosevelt Elk habitat within an active timber harvest region is being rapidly restored through road removal, tree replanting and disturbance reduction.

Outdoor Media, Inc.

Resource Challenge

The Afognak Island Timber Road Removal project utilizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Private Stewardship Grant Program. Wildlife Forever and Afognak Native Corporation are working with the USFWS to minimize unauthorized motorized access to timber harvest roads on private lands on Afognak Island. This remote 744 square mile Island in the Kodiak Archipelago supports and active timber harvest program, an important commercial fishery for wild and hatchery salmon and world class sport hunting and fishing, and outdoor recreation. Alaska State Park and National Wildlife Refuge System lands are adjacent to private Native corporation lands. Salmon, brown bear, elk and deer populations utilize both public and private lands and are aided by road removal, rapid roadbed reforestation and motorized access denial.

Examples of Key Partners

Afognak Native Corporation, Koncor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and Wildlife Forever

Results and Accomplishments

In the second year of the Private Stewardship Grant Program project, Afognak Native Corporation has removed over twelve miles of timber harvest roads, built motorized access obstacles such as berms and planted second growth Sitka Spruce in the former road bed. The roads chosen for removal are adjacent to coastlines where motorized ATV trespass has occurred in remote areas that are difficult for the landowner to police. Trespass on the timber roads during hunting season has diminished the corporation's private land-based hunting program. Salmon benefit from soil stabilization as vegetation takes hold on former road beds and Kodiak bears, elk and deer benefit from the prevention of motorized disturbance in seasonally important feeding, breeding and wintering areas.

Innovation/Highlight

Rapid restoration of timber harvest roads in a high productivity area for wild salmon, Kodiak bears, Roosevelt Elk and Sitka blacktailed deer.

Project Contact

Douglas H. Grann
President & CEO
Wildlife Forever
2700 Freeway Boulevard, #1000
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
763-253-0222
dgrann@wildlifeforever.org

Tim Richardson
Washington DC Liaison
Wildlife Forever
6707 Old Stage Road
RockvilleMD 20852
301-770-6496
tlrs@erols.com

Website: http://www.wildlifeforever.org

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