The Native peoples of Alaska used wood for fuel, for the construction of shelters, and for a variety of implements. Explorers, fur traders, gold miners, and settlers also relied on Alaska's forest resource. The early 20th century saw the creation of the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in coastal Alaska, where large-scale harvesting began shortly after World War II. By 1955, two 50-year contracts had been signed, committing 13 billion board feet of sawlogs and pulpwood. The commercial forest land base in Alaska has been dramatically reduced by a variety of legislative acts, including the Statehood Act of 1959 and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. Key words: forest history, Alaska, aboriginal use of forests, fuelwood, stemwheeled riverboats, gold mining, land classification, National Forests, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

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Regeneration surveys on nine logged areas in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska indicated low levels of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench.) Voss.) regeneration. In view of the limited field data, Monte Carlo simulation methods were used to estimate the probabilities of obtaining various levels of white spruce stocking by the 1st and 10th years after logging. The simple model developed, combined the irregular seed production of white spruce with a declining seedbed availability to estimate quadrat stocking (4-m2 plots). Results of simulation experiments indicated that the probability of achieving greater than 40% stocking with white spruce by the 10th postharvest year was 0.63. This result was sensitive to initial postharvest seedbed conditions and the frequency of good to excellent seed years and nonspruce revegetation rates. Both the field data and simulation results indicate the prospects of obtaining adequate white spruce restocking after timber harvest by unassisted natural regeneration were poor. However, simulation results also indicate that seedbed management may increase the probabilities of regeneration success significantly.

A pilot study was undertaken to determine drying rates for small diameter, unsplit paper birch firewood that was dried: (1) in a conventional top-covered pile; (2) in a simple, temporary solar kiln; and (3) in tree length. Drying rates were the same for firewood piles whether they were in the temporary solar kilns or only covered on top to keep rain or snow from entering the pile. Trees that were severed at the stump and left to dry in tree length form, complete with branches and leaves, however, dried slower than firewood cut to length, stacked, and top-covered or placed in the temporary solar kilns.