Timber Operations

The planning, harvesting and sales of Sealaska’s natural resources are managed by our wholly owned subsidiary Sealaska Timber Corporation (STC).

Basic Facts

In 2005, Sealaska harvested 102 million board feet (mmbf) yielding $63 million in revenue.
Section 7(i) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) requires all Regional Corporations to share 70 percent of their revenue derived from natural resources. From 1982 to 2005, Sealaska has contributed more than $300 million to the Section 7(i) pool, making it the largest contributor of all ANCSA corporations.
Sealaska plans to decrease its timber harvest to 75 mmbf in 2006 and is contemplating further reductions.
Now, more than ever, it is critical to finalize Sealaska’s ANCSA land conveyances so that Sealaska can effectively manage sustainable timber harvests.
In 2006, STC provided jobs for 338 employees, roughly half of them shareholders.
STC primarily markets and harvests high-quality Sitka spruce, Alaska red and yellow cedar, and Western hemlock.
Sealaska is investigating third party certification of its forests to verify that its practices are environmentally sound.

Sealaska’s Significance to Southeast Alaska Economy
Sealaska commissioned the McDowell Group to quantify and report its economic impact for years 2002 and 2003. These reports present region-wide data and impacts, as well as data for the communities of Hoonah, Kake, Hydaburg and Prince of Wales Island (POW). Here are some highlights:

Regional Impact:

Sealaska employment, combined with its contractor, is the largest for-profit sector employer in Southeast Alaska.
Among all private sector businesses, including nonprofit organizations, Sealaska and its contractor employment rank second only to SEARHC.

Local Impact:

Sealaska’s activity is a very important source of cash to many village residents.
Sealaska is by far the largest source of employment on POW Island and other villages.
Nearly every Southeast Alaska community with a population of 50 percent or more Native people has experienced population decline in recent years. Resource management changes in the Tongass National Forest and fisheries management have contributed to this startling reduction, and declining state revenues have led to reduced municipal assistance to create an economic struggle in southeast Alaska.
This struggle is most acute at the village level, especially with welfare reform; some Alaskan families have reached the five-year lifetime limit on welfare benefits.

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