Solicitation for Public Input: Gauging Community Interest on Establishing a Kenai Peninsula State Forest – Public Meetings Scheduled

BackgroundThe Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is interested in the public’s input on potentially expanding the state forest system by establishing a new state forest on the Kenai Peninsula to secure long-term investment in Alaska’s forest resources. This initiative would transfer primary management of state lands from the Division of Mining, Land, and Water to the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) and retain land within the state forest in state ownership for timber management under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield. In a state forest, timber production, regeneration, and active management remain the primary goals while maintaining opportunities for recreation, hunting, fishing, and other public uses.Under Alaska law, only the Legislature can formally designate land as state forests. Designation would provide long-term certainty for the State, industry, and local communities by protecting investments in reforestation, roads, and other infrastructure; supporting jobs and local economies; and sustaining healthy, resilient forests for future generations.Solicitation for Public InputThe DFFP is soliciting input from communities and stakeholders to gauge whether there is interest and public support for establishing a state forest on the Kenai Peninsula. DFFP is also accepting input from interested parties including the timber and forest products industries, local governments, Alaska Native Regional and/or Village Corporations, Federal and partnering State agencies, individual members of the public, and any other group or person interested in the management of Alaska’s forest resources.Public Meeting ScheduleThree in-person public meetings are scheduled for local communities on the Kenai Peninsula followed by one virtual public meeting. A recording of the virtual meeting will be made available to view online for those who cannot attend live.Monday, December 8, 2025 – Ninilchik2:00 – 3:00 p.m.Ninilchik Community Center15763 Kingsley Rd., Ninilchik 99639Tuesday, December 9, 2025 – Soldotna6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Soldotna Public Library177 N. Birch St., Soldotna 99669Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Seward6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Seward Community Library239 6th Ave., Seward 99664Thursday, December 11, 2025 – Virtual Meeting6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Microsoft Teams MeetingSee attachment below for link and dial in informationIf you are a person experiencing a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this meeting, please contact Lily Coyle at lily.coyle@alaska.gov or (907) 317-5057, no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting to make any necessary arrangements.Submitting Written InputThe DFFP is also accepting written input on establishing a state forest in the Kenai Peninsula. Comments can be submitted by email to stateforests@alaska.gov or by physical mail toAlaska Division of Forestry & Fire ProtectionATTN: Special Projects Coordinator550 W. 7th Ave. Ste. 1450Anchorage, AK 99501Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 16, 2026.Any information submitted during the scoping period will be reviewed and considered during future development of state forest proposals and retained as part of the public record for this planning process. Please do not include any confidential information as part of your input on establishing a state forest on the Kenai Peninsula.QuestionsFor questions, contact the DFFP Special Projects Manager at stateforests@alaska.gov.More information about state forests proposals is available at http://forestry.alaska.gov/proposals/stateforestexpansion. If you would like to be added to a list of individuals and organizations interested in the development of the state forest proposal and would like to automatically receive a copy of notices related to this project, please send a request to the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection at stateforests@alaska.gov. Please include your name and either your email address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices, in your request.Individuals can sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including future public notices related to the expansion of the Alaska State Forest System, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx