Episode 32: Andrew Thoms and Tongass National Forest
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Andrew Thoms, Executive Director, Sitka Conservation Alliance
About Andrew Thoms
Andrew grew up in rural Upstate New York. After studying Environmental Sciences, he worked for 10 years in Latin America as an environmental specialist in international development projects. Most of his projects focused on the interface between the sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of tropical biodiversity.
One of his favorite jobs was developing and integrating new techniques for cultivating coffee in an environmentally sustainable way on a Guatemalan Coffee farm that he managed. This explains a lot about his approach to working with the forest service, locals, and tribes in and around the Tongass. Today I spoke with Andrew about the threats and challenges facing Tongass National Forest and how his organization, Sitka Conservation Society, is helping.
Topics
- Just how BIG is the Tongass National Forest?
- It’s not all about trees. This national forest has a lot going on.
- Salmon: big business, big restoration, in need of protection.
- Indigenous people fighting on the front lines, and what they’re up against.
- What you can do to support the Tongass (A lot, actually!)
Extra Credit
- Visit Sitka Conservation Society
- TAKE ACTION! Tongass National Forest Alert
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.