As climate changes become more noticeable in Southeast Alaska, residents are eager for scientific data on what the future holds. According to the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT), the state’s southeast coast is projected to play a unique role as a climate refuge. This isolated area maintains habitat favorable to critical species. “Rainforest scientists such as Dominick DellaSala say we’re warming more slowly than nearby regions,” says ASFT board president Linda Behnken. “They believe there is potential for our region to become a stronghold where everything, from wild salmon to big conifers, can still find habitat.” This information and more is part of ASFT’s SeaBank initiative, a multi-disciplinary approach to identify, assess, and communicate the value of the Southeast Alaska ecosystem. “Our goal is to empower residents, visitors, and policymakers to make sound long-term decisions that promote stewardship and sustainable economics,” said Behnken.
To share this emerging science with the public, Behnken and her team will host an evening SeaBank Summit in Sitka on November 13. Keynote speaker Dr. Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist of Wild Heritage and leading coastal temperate rainforest expert, will guide attendees through the latest climate refuge data. Additional presenters include Gah Kith Tin Alana Peterson, executive director of Spruce Root, who will share thoughts on sustainable Southeast economies. Award-winning author and yellow cedar expert Lauren E. Oakes will also attend, reading from her forthcoming book Treekeepers: the Race for a Forested Future.
Beth Short-Rhoads, who recently produced ASFT’s newly launched podcast, The SeaBank Chronicles, brings the viewpoint of a citizen scientist to current research. “In sifting through this dense material as a layperson, I began to see that our situation in the Southeast Alaska rainforest is both simple and profound. The maritime rain and clouds that we take for granted and sometimes even complain about are really a kind of climate medicine,” she says. “Their buffering influence offers some protection against the extremes of rising planetary heat. That’s a benefit for Southeast and for the entire planet–and the intriguing story you’ll hear when you immerse yourself in a SeaBank Chronicles soundscape.”
ASFT’s Paul Olson, a commercial fisherman and environmental attorney, has also drawn on the research of DellaSala and other scientists, and will be unveiling the 2024 edition of his popular SeaBank Report at the summit. A data-based advocacy tool for policymakers and citizens, this 260-page report captures the economic benefits resulting from Southeast Alaska’s unique geography and climate. “Fisheries and tourism are mainstays of the region’s economy,” he says, “and we owe them entirely to the huge ecological wealth stored in the lands and waters around us. That’s why we call this place the SeaBank.”
“If we make the right choices now, we can positively influence the outcome of our Southeast SeaBank,” said Behnken. “We have the opportunity and the responsibility to safeguard this place– as Alaska’s Native people have since time immemorial.”
In addition to hearing from leaders in rainforest science, climate resilience, and sustainable communities, attendees will enjoy Thai Coho Wraps from Fireweed Dinner Service, non-alcoholic birch spritzers from Crooked Creek Birch, a no-host bar, and cupcakes. Opportunities to mingle with experts, listen to the SeaBank Chronicles podcast, participate in a silent auction, browse The 2024 SeaBank Report, sign up as a Founding SeaBank member and purchase holiday gifts will immediately follow the program.
The Summit is a fundraiser for the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, SeaBank Initiative. Doors open at 5:45, and dinner and the program begin at 6:00. Tickets are $20 and are available at https://thealaskatrust.org/seabank-summit or at Old Harbor Books. The event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on Zoom. Attendees interested in joining virtually can register on the ASFT website or here. For more information, contact ASFT Program Director Natalie Sattler at 907-738-1286 or email [email protected].
Corporate Sponsors for the Summit include Seafood Producers Cooperative, Fireweed Dinners, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, Alaskans Own and many more. Support for ASFT’s SeaBank Initiative includes funding from the Walton Family Foundation, the Edgerton Foundation, the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and many private donors and individuals.
ASFT is a non-profit dedicated to strengthening fishing communities and marine resources through research, education and economic opportunity.
