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When most people think of saving rain forests, they picture warm, tropical climates and palm trees dripping with vines. Few people realize that there are also extensive rain forests outside of the tropics, and that the one of the largest and most pristine temperate rain forests in the world is found in the United States against a backdrop of snow and ice. More than one-fourth of the world's coastal temperate rain forests occurs in the North Pacific coastal forests ecoregion of southeast Alaska. Here, in the Tongass National Forest, Chugach National Forest, and Glacier Bay National Park, you will find thousands of islands supporting beautiful old-growth forests and large concentrations of bears, eagles, and salmon that are unparalleled in all of North America.
The North Pacific Coastal Forests lie on thousands of small islands and several large mountainous islands with steep, sculpted peaks and irregular coastlines. Snow-capped mountains rise nearly 15,000 feet (4,500 m) above coastal beaches with protected coves, deep fjords, and freshwater lakes.Sinkholes, caves, and underground streams are also part of this ecoregion. With a unique combination of moderate temperatures and very high rainfall, the climate makes fires extremely rare. Instead, natural disturbances are caused by wind, landslides, avalanches, and floods.
Although the rain forests here are shadowed by huge glaciers, they are diverse and abundant in life. This is the place to find some of the highest nesting concentrations of bald eagles and marbled murrelets in North America. Some of the highest densities of brown bears in North America are found in southeast Alaska and Kodiak Island, where the bears feast on salmon and annual crops of wild berries. In fact, this ecoregion is known for some of the most productive salmon runs in North America. Throughout the islands, dense, lush forests of sitka spruce and hemlock give way to alder and Alaskan paper birch in low-lying areas, providing homes to many distinct subspecies of invertebrates, birds, and mammals. The lush vegetation provides the perfect habitat for marmots, porcupines, voles, and mice. In fact, many species that are threatened in the lower 48 states are present in great abundance here. Occasionally, you can even catch a glimpse of a blue or glacier bear, a rare color phase of the black bear. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in Glacier Bay National Park alone, where thousands of seabirds nest on the bay's rocky shores. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of life in the North Pacific Coastal Forests is what happens near the ice, as pioneer species quickly invade and flourish in areas that have recently been exposed by retreating glaciers.
Over the next 150 years, it is estimated, logging and extensive road building will destroy up to 70 percent of the total old-growth forests in this ecoregion. Some of the species most affected by such widespread logging will be northern goshawks, Alexander Archipelago wolves, martens, northern flying squirrels, and brown bears. What's more, the tourism business is booming in Glacier Bay National Park, and this could cause trouble for the very forests and wildlife that people travel there to see. Roads and highways are being expanded to accommodate the explosive growth in tourism. And more cruise ships can lead to pollution as well as the disturbance of whales and other marine mammals. Other threats include pollution from pulp mills and mines. For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report. All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
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