In the coming days you may hear or read about a proposed sale of university-owned timber resources near Haines, Alaska. There has been growing discussion in the community, in the media and on social media channels about this project. It is important that the university conduct an open public process when considering developing our natural resource assets. Below is some background on the project.

As a land grant institution, the University of Alaska has a fiduciary responsibility to develop its resources granted from the federal government. By doing so we convert our land assets into financial assets to advance the university’s mission. The revenue from development is deposited into the university’s Land Grant Endowment Trust Fund. The UA Board of Regents then allocates a percentage of those funds to support programs such as the UA Scholars Program, which offers individual $12,000 scholarships to the top 10 percent of the graduates from Alaska high schools each year, the University of Alaska Press, and agriculture, forestry, fisheries and minerals programs.

In the Haines sale, the university is one of three participating partners along with the State of Alaska Division of Forestry and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office. On Thursday, the Division of Forestry will host an open house in Haines along with staff from the UA Land and Facilities Management office to continue engaging residents of the Haines community. Here’s some information for your reference:

• The current timber sale came about after the university solicited proposals to harvest timber from a smaller group of parcels near Haines. That sale was ultimately set aside, but it did induce interest from a qualified purchaser who wants to develop a larger volume of timber in the area. This led to the current proposed negotiated timber sale, and the public discussion we are undertaking.
• Public comment for this project is open through Monday May 7^th to give residents and others time to learn more about the project, talk with the three participating partners and provide input. The university will review and consider all comments to help inform the final harvest plan and project implementation. The plan may be amended as a result of information gathered from public comments. Periodic updates also will be provided to the community.
• University staff will summarize public comments for Board of Regents’ review at its meeting on May 31^st. The university also will consider the comments in the project’s next steps including additional field surveys and timber cruising. This work will help refine the project’s infrastructure needs and viable harvest areas.
• Harvesting timber in certain parts of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, allowed under state law, is a possibility. The university is working with the American Bald Eagle Foundation to ensure development protects the eagles. The project partners and contractors will comply with all applicable laws, orders, ordinances and regulations of federal, state or local authorities to develop the university’s land within the preserve’s boundaries, which was set aside by the state legislature for multi-use when the preserve was established. All entities must and will follow the Forest Resources Protection Act.�

The Board of Regents has given the university the approval to proceed with project development and has established the terms under which the University of Alaska Facilities and Land Management Office would negotiate the final contract with the buyer. Information about the buyer will be made public along with all of the terms of sale once the negotiations are finalized and a contract established.

Maps, answers to frequently asked questions and all other project information can be found at www.ualand.com