Humboldt Earth First! Canopy Communique #1
Cutten, South Cascadia, the McKay Tract canopy. The landscape unfolds below us as a patchwork quilt of war. Looking west, one sees the suburb, progress enacting its will upon the occupied countryside. More development is planned, but it is not yet happening. We have primarily met friendly people who live here, and enjoy hanging out in the forest. We asked them if they want their suburb to grow, to continue to “develop,” and they emphatically do not.
Among the second- and third-growth trees to the south lay a few erroneous mini-mansions encroaching upon the landscape, with stumps in their yards wider than any of the three SUVs in their driveways. The residents enjoy a quiet life until one of them starts running powertools.
We look east and see the tops of enormous old-growth redwoods towering above the hundred-year-old second growth. Some friends live here, including spotted owls, ospreys, turkey vultures, black bears, newts, voles, flying squirrels and arboreal humans.
To the north lies a clearcut. Three years ago, Green Diamond (GD), formerly Simpson Timber Company, came in and cut down every last tree in the unit, leaving a few huge burned-out snags. Pampas grass and milkweed grow to human height in the trees’ absence, but this area is dry and getting dryer.
They planted a few baby conifers, redwoods and others after they cut. Those trees are now three years old, meaning they can cut a couple more units and then start re-zoning the land from timberland to residential. More mini-mansions are planned. So it goes.…
However our forest friends disagree with these plans. They want to live, and our solution is to live with them. For the past several months, we’ve been occupying two tree villages in the McKay, tying in as many giant trees as possible with traverses to protect them with our own bodies from being cut down. Tree-sitting has been used to defend forests in Humboldt for decades, and traverses enable a few humans to defend a large number of trees without leaving the canopy.
We chose this grove because the trees stand directly against the march of Leviathan in the form of suburban development, and the neighbors (in house down below) stand with us, and give us love and support. The other grove, (also slated to be clearcut), features an osprey nest, at least one spotted owl nest, flocks of turkey vultures circling overhead, a trail and campsite used frequently by bears, and a creek that serves as watershed for the Humboldt Bay’s healthiest population of Coho salmon. These critters have also shown much love to the treesitters, particularly the flying squirrels who share our food at night and the owls who hang out, provide moral support and watch us climb.
GD, is now the most-active transnational timber corporation remaining in Humboldt. They have clearcuts scheduled every year across the Northwest, and have largely escaped public scrutiny by a process of 21st-century greenwashing and alliances with the state. For example, the GD Habitat Conservation Plan for spotted owls gives the owls a vague, constantly shifting zone of “habitat” on GD land and a few remaining “wildlife trees”, usually of low monetary value, on land that they clearcut. In return, GD gets a bunch of “incidental take” permits for owls, which is a license to kill them at will. The GD plan for the McKay Tract is clearcutting, followed by residential development to double the size of Cutten, California, adding more residents to the near city of Eureka.
So far, no chainsaws have fallen upon the McKay this year. However, Summer operating season is upon us, logging could begin any day of any week. Neighbors are continuing to raise their voices in support. They hike, bike, and ride horses along the logging roads in solidarity with residents of the forest. Treesitters are still needed to live in the canopy, protecting this last refuge of wild creatures from the perpetual war that is human progress. Anyone wishing to spend part or all of the summer up in trees is encouraged to contact Earth First! Humboldt at (707) 834-5170; www.efhumboldt.org.
“May the forest bewitch you,” the canopy ninjas of EF! Humboldt.
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********Newsflashes:
Cascadia Summer Continues…
July 13th, 2009
The logging blockade in Oregon’s Elliot State forest was raided by a reported 60+ police accompanied by a bulldozer. 27 people were arrested. This marks only the beginning of Cascadia Summer.
Meanwhile, here in Humboldt we are steadily continuing the occupation of our local rainforest canopy to stop Green Diamond from logging 41 acres of Redwood forest over 100 years old. The grove is home to Spotted Owls, Osprey and Black Bears. It is a refuge that is surrounded by young tree plantations, clearcuts and suburbs.
We have set up multiple tree-sits and a traverse rope network tying up a large area of forest near the Spotted Owl nest. The ropes allow above ground travel and increase the effectiveness of the tree-sits by linking many trees together.
So far the company has held off from logging though the plan has been approved for months. Green Diamond says they won’t send climbers up to take activists out of the trees because it’s “too dangerous”.
If you would like to live and work in the Redwood forest canopy or help support our activities please give us a call or write us an email.
contactefhum@gmail.com
707-834-5170
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Earth First! Blockades Logging Road in Oregon
July 7th, 2009
Early yesterday morning, a large team of activists (including Humboldt EF!ers) skillfully and valiently blockaded a logging road to protect over 70 acres of 100+ year old coastal forest that was being cut down. This kicks off the “Cascadia Summer” campaign to highlight ongoing environmental damage and shut down highly destructive logging activities in the Pacific Northwest. Some of our comrades are locked to the van in the picture as well as barrels full of concrete that block the road. Others are perched high atop structures that have support ropes that are attached to the gate and to the overturned van. Any attempt to move the van or gate and the structures would collapse and harm the activists. They are still there and have put out the call for more to join the effort.
Here are some links to stories about the ongoing action in Cascadia.
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Green Diamond Threatening Tree-sitters With Extraction
June 19th, 2009
Early this morning, tree-sitters in the McKay Tract recieved threats from Green Diamond employees. The GD employees stated that if the activists did not come down that GD would send climbers up to arrest them.
Yesterday, at least 2 GD employees spent nearly the entire day on the ground around the tree-sits and attempted to get ahold of a rope hanging from one of the sits. It was quickly pulled higher by a sitter.
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Rainy Spring Days
May 15th, 2009
Update from the woods: There have been no signs of trucks or heavy machinery as of yet. Well timed spring rains are keeping the roads muddy and undrivable. We are on the lookout for any signs of company activity.
What we have seen lately are Spotted Owls, Osprey, large Black Bear tracks in the mud and a Green Diamond surveyor. The wildness and beauty of this forest is an inspiration. The ongoing assistance from our local supporters is crucial, thanks for all the help!
If you would like to join us in the forest or help from town please do, more tree-sitters and ground crew are always needed.
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Flying Squirrel Discovers Tree-sitters
March 17th, 2009
This Northern Flying Squirrel arrived at the tree-sits last week. It was the first of it’s species to be seen by activists living in the Redwood canopy since the first tree-sit went up in August of last year. The squirrels are nocturnal and are sometimes preyed upon by Spotted Owls. They mate in May and June and live in groups in the cavities of large trees. They have often been seen in the past in tree-sits in old-growth groves.
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Alert- GD Employees In McKay Today
March 13th, 2009
Though logging hasn’t started, Green Diamond is frequently visiting the tree sits, sometimes bringing sherrifs along. Today, two activists were chased through the forest by loggers but safely got away. Ground support is on alert and tree-sitters are prepared to defend the tree-villages in the event that logging begins. If you want to be part of our action alert list please let us know. You don’t necessarily have to trespass to support the tree-sits. There are many things to do in town and one of the sits can be witnessed from Northridge Rd. in Cutten, east of Eureka.
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McKay 09 Update: No Logging Yet
March 6th, 2009
Tree-sitters are maintaining their vigilance as logging could begin any day. More trees have been added to the traverse rope networks, there are now over 20 Redwood and Sitka Spruce trees being defended. They range in age from 70 to over 100 years old. Tree-sitters are requesting camp stoves with re-usable fuel bottles, large tarps, climbing gear, reading material, and most importantly- more people to join them in the defense of this forest and our planet.
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EF! Humboldt Tree-sit Update
February 25th, 2009
* Spotted Owl nesting season protections to begin on March 1st. Green Diamond cannot cut within 1/4 mile of the Owls nest until they determine whether or not the Owls have successfully mated. If they find that the Owls have mated, the so called protection would only last for a matter of months. If not, they can go ahead and log. Green Diamonds findings will most likely be kept secret. The fox is guarding the hen house.
* Earth First!ers are occupying part of this territory to defend not only the Owls habitat but as much of this diverse eco-system as we can.
* The numerous activists occupying trees here are weathering the storms and continuing to expand the defended areas.
* Unidentified persons wearing hard hats have made multiple threats to cut the trees down.
* The defense of this forest continues…
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More Eco-Warriors Ascend Threatened Redwoods in McKay Tract
February 19th, 2009
There are now two tree-sit villages defending areas of forest in the threatened Redwood groves of Ryan Creek. Green Diamond employees and Humbldt County Sheriffs visited both sites yesterday and inspected the situation. Today, different workers appearing to be loggers visited at least one site and also inspected the tree-sits. This escalation of activity by the company may indicate they are preparing to log very soon.
There are multiple traverse lines throughout both of the tree-sit areas. These are not always clearly visible from the ground. Activists have put red DANGER tape around many of the trees that, if cut, pose a deadly threat to the tree-sitters.
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Arboreal Protesters Occupy Threatened Redwoods
December 2nd, 2008
Tree-sitters unfurled a large 30 ft. wide banner this morning on the edge of the great Redwood forest, east of Eureka, Ca. The banner reads “Hey Green Diamond, Stop Clear-cutting -Earth First!”. The sitters remain aloft and are occupying several large second growth trees that are slated for logging. We invite the public to come and see the threatened forest for themselves. (Directions below).
The Green Diamond Resource Company plans to log 60 acres of large second growth and residual old growth Redwoods here in the near future. The two groves represent the oldest remaining forest and best habitat for old-growth dependent species like the Northern Spotted Owl. The owls are nesting in the other grove where trees over 1,000 years old still stand. Green Diamond has a permit to destroy the habitat of this endangered species. The Green Diamond land is located in the “McKay Tract” and totals 7,200 acres. Nearly the entire Tract (and the entire California Redwood range) has been clear-cut once already since the 1800’s and over half of the tract has been logged within the past 20 years. The McKay Tract encompasses the Ryan Creek watershed. Green Diamond also has plans for residential development here, threatening the health and survival of the largest Coho Salmon population in the Humboldt Bay watershed. We’ll have more info and updates on this in the near future.
Directions:
From Arcata go South on 101.
Turn Left on Myrtle Ave.
Turn Right on Harrison.
Harrison turns into Manzanita.
Turn Left on Dolbeer St.
Turn Left onto Walnut Drive at 3 the way intersection.
Stay on Walnut and look for the big green watertanks.
Shortly after that turn Left onto Northridge rd.
The forest will be on your left and the big white banner is visible from the road.
Please be respectful to the neighbors, thanks.
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Mass Extinction – It’s Real – Fight It!
November 20th, 2008
Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Marbled Murrelets and Northern Spotted Owls are just a few of the species that are rapidly declining in our immediate area. Both Northern Spotted Owls and Chinook Salmon are facing assaults from Green Diamond, a company we have been building a campaign against since this spring.
They have an upcoming logging operation in the “McKay Tract”, directly east of Eureka. Green Diamond is planning to clear-cut Spotted Owl nesting groves after February 15th and is working to get Humboldt County planners to set in stone plans for future development of the area. Please contact us to join multilateral grassroots efforts in building a coalition to advocate for protection of this area . EF! Humboldt is actively organizing against the upcoming logging and housing development proposals. We are seeking more participants, any amount of time or material contributions are much appreciated.
Human beings are on the verge of causing a mass extinction of life on Earth. A majority of the world’s biologists now believe that if current trends continue, half of all species of plants and animals living today will be extinct in less than 100 years. The general public, however, is almost entirely unaware of this crisis. – Species Alliance
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Latest EF! Humboldt Action Press Release
August 25th, 2008
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 25th
contact: Jeremy Jensen (707) 834-5170
Earth First! Turns Attention To Green Diamond Resource Co.
Eureka, Ca.- A new Earth First! tree-sit in a Green Diamond Resource logging plan east of Eureka ended as suddenly as it began.
With the new owners of the former Pacific Lumber Company pledging to not log Old-Growth trees, a proposal by Green Diamond Resource Company to log Ancient Redwoods grabbed the attention of Earth First! Humboldt.
Most of the trees range from 80-100 years old but in one of the two groves there are numerous scattered Old-Growth trees that were not cut during the original logging of the area in the late 1800’
s. The company is also proposing residential development in the same area under Option B of the Humboldt County General Plan Update.
“Clearcutting and Old-Growth logging are crimes against nature and humanity,” said Jeremy Jensen of EF! Humboldt, “Development is the nail in the coffin.”
Activists conducted multiple searches of the area and made several discoveries. The locations of several Old-Growth redwoods that were slated to be cut, and the presence of at least three Northern Spotted Owls in the threatened forest.
Days after stealthily establishing a tree-sit in a giant Old-Growth Redwood that was clearly marked to be cut, the sitters worried that they had been prematurely discovered when field surveyors were heard walking around on the forest floor.
Though no words were exchanged, a dangling cluster of white 5 gallon buckets made the tree-sit highly visible.
Three days later, a Green Diamond employee returned to mark the occupied tree and at least two other imperiled Old-Growth Redwoods as “Wildlife Leave Trees”, seeming to indicate that they won’t be cut.
This surprised EF! Humboldt activists because the California Department of Forestry had already approved the logging plan.
While the activists suspected it was a deceptive move to trick the tree-sitters into coming down, another piece of information came to light.
An Earth First!er reviewing the logging plan document discovered that GDRC would not be allowed to log the area until next February 19th at the earliest. This is due to the fact that lumber companies are required by California law to allow trees in adjacent clearcuts to reach three years of age before logging neighboring forests.
The Earth First!ers decided to remove the platform and gear from the tree, assess the new situation and re-calibrate the defensive strategy for the threatened groves.
“At least now they know we’re serious,” said a tree-sitter by the name of “Crossroads”.
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Breaking News: EF!H Tree-sit in the McKay Tract
August 22nd, 2008
Earth First! tree-sitters have been discovered in a gargantuan Ancient Redwood by a Green Diamond Resource Company employee just east of Cutten in the “McKay Tract”. Green Diamond is planning for residential development of large sections of the McKay Tract after they log all they can. This is a classic cut-and run strategy, make money by taking the trees and then sell the land to developers.
The Ancient Redwood was located a few weeks ago by EF! Humboldt activists during exploratory searches of the area, triggered when the plans to log two Redwood groves in the Tract were made public. The tree bore the blue paint designating it for cutting and was quickly occupied. Most of the 60 acre logging plan is to be clear-cut under Green Diamonds plan. The Green Diamond employee has now reportedly marked the tree as a “Wildlife Tree” and it’s possible that it will not be cut. Strangely, this logging plan has already been approved and we are not assuming that the company is sincerely planning to leave the tree.
This may be a tactic to get the sitters to come down. There was company activity in the area several days ago but no contact was made. The tree-sit may have been spotted at that time and this could be a direct response by the company.
The tree, named “Millennia” by activists, appears to be well over 200 ft. tall. It is countless hundreds, if not over one thousand, years old.
The sitters vow to remain in the tree until it is definitely protected. Though the sitters occupy only one giant tree, both of the groves are defacto wildlife refuges and need be protected in their entirety. The mature stands harbor many animals that have no where else to go in the logging-ravaged landscape east of Eureka, Ca.
During the initial search of the area, the activists were visited by a Northern Spotted Owl. The California Dept. of Forestry refuses to protect this area as Owl habitat even though the Spotted Owls are endangered and still in decline. We suspect that the Owls are nesting here because of the frequent visits from them, the large number of owl pellets on the ground, and the fact that this is one of only 2 or 3 isolated groves in the McKay Tract where dense stands of large trees remain standing.
The grove where this tree stands is comprised mainly of 100 year old Redwoods that grew following the original logging of the area around the turn of the century. This was one of the first places logged due to it’s close proximity to Humboldt Bay. The Ancient Redwoods that remain here were left standing due to either an undesirable shaped trunk, tree caves, or the steepness and instability of the ground around the tree.
The trees in the clear-cutting zone are not marked for logging, in those areas only the scattered trees to be left are given a distinguishing mark. This tree is within a geologically unstable area next to a creek were the company is limited to only selection logging. This type of logging requires that the trees selected for the cut be marked.
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For more info & photos, visit http://efhumboldt.org