Harvesting Wood

Also see: Handling & Hauling Wood »

Less than 1% (1) of the land base in Alaska is "private land" ownership. Private lands total approximately 9 million acres in Alaska. Government entities including federal, state, and municipal lands make up 88% or 327 million acres. Of that total the federal government controls 60%, while the state and municipalities hold approximately 105 million acres or 28%. Alaskan Native lands comprise approximately 44 million acres which is a bit more than 11% of the total land base. These lands are owned by regional and village Native corporations.

These statistics mean you will most likely need a permit to cut firewood. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service (USFS) offer firewood and personal use timber cutting permits. On state lands contact the local Division of Forestry office for more information. See:

The BLM and USFS also have firewood and personal use timber programs, contact the local Bureau of Land Management office and the USFS office Tongass National Forest or Chugach National Forest for more information on those lands. See:

There are 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations, 12 of which own private land. Each corporation manages land as it sees fit. Some corporations allow firewood cutting by anyone who pays a fee and obtains a permit, while others only allow access to share-holders. See:

1. "Land Ownership in Alaska." Division Fact Sheets. 01Mar2000. AK Dept. Natural Resources. 18 Jul 2006 ~ http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/factsht/land_own.pdf.

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