text: Deforestation is a main cause of climate change and the Tongass is our last remaining coastal rainforest. Its in the public's best interest to let it stand.    This forest is the most cost effective way to combat our changing climate!  And we have an obligation to pass it on to the next generation - fully functioning - with all life supporting eco-systems fully intact.  It takes hundreds of years (perhaps thousands) to grow a forest. The Tongass is over 2000 years old!