U.S. Vice-President Al Gore Unveils Plan to Protect Alaskan Forest
9/10/96
OVERVIEW & SOURCE by EE
Election year give aways continue in the United States, as a plan is
announced to protect 64,000 acres of private forests in Prince William
Sound, Alaska. Now if the Clinton/Gore team could move past their "It's
the economy stupid" message and realize there is no economy without
ecology.
Glen Barry
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Al Gore unveils pact to protect forest in Alaska
9/8/96
Copyright 1996 by Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Vice President Al Gore Friday announced a $33 million
agreement to protect 64,000 acres of privately owned forest lands in
eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska, from commercial timber harvest.
The accord, funded by the Exxon Valdez settlement, will ban commercial
timber harvests planned for some of the lands, protecting important habitat
for salmon, cutthroat trout, marbled murrelet and a range of other species.
"This agreement is vital to protecting forest habitat, strengthening the
economic independence of Alaska natives, and increasing opportunities for
sport, commercial, and subsistence fishing and businesses," Gore said in a
statement.
He termed the agreement part of the ongoing effort "to right the wrongs of
an environmental disaster" and said it was part of a comprehensive
ecosystem restoration plan for Prince William Sound, site of the 1989 Exxon
Valdez oil spill.
The agreement was reached last week in Anchorage by Tatitlek Corp., an
Alaska native village company, the state, and negotiators from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
It protects subsistence hunting and fishing while allowing the village to
retain lands under private ownership.
Of the total amount, $23 million will come from the $900 million Exxon
Valdez settlement, with an additional $10 million in federal funds pledged
by the Clinton administration from the $50 million criminal settlement in
the case.
A similar deal valued at $34 million was reached to protect western Prince
William Sound with the Chenega Village corporation three months ago.