Tanana Valley State Forest

Located in East Central Alaska, the Tanana Valley State Forest encompasses 1.81 million acres and extends over 250 miles from the Canadian border to Manley Hot Springs. This awe-inspiring expanse varies in elevation from 200 feet along the Tanana River to more than 5,000 feet in the Alaskan Range. The combination of mountains, rivers, and vegetation provide magnificent habitat for moose, bears, caribou, arctic snowshoe hare, fox, coyote, and salmon. The forest ecosystem is comprised of many different tree species which include paper birch, quaking aspen, balsam poplar, black spruce, white spruce, and tamarack. The area also supports many recreational opportunities for visitors including fishing, hiking, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, gold panning, and berry picking.

The Need for Trees

During the devastating fire seasons of 2004 and 2005, more than 11 million total acres burned in Alaska. The fires released tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and threatened the vast watershed of the Tanana River and its wildlife residents. The fires opened areas up for dense grasses to thrive and compete for nutrients and water with seedlings trying to naturally regenerate. In addition, grass fires can move quickly, endangering communities and other forest resources.

What We Did

The Arbor Day Foundation helped our partners with the Alaskan Division of Forestry to reforest 410 acres east and west of Fairbanks as well as north of Delta Junction. The 160,000 white spruces will help protect the Tanana River watershed and also provide nutrition and shelter for the many animals that call this area home.

Links

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• Return to Replanting Our National Forests

Photos by Karina Helm.