As we move through the winter of 2004-2005, the tree-sitters in the Freshwater Creek and Mattole River watersheds continue to maintain their vigils. A tree-sitter named "Willow" has surpassed his one-year anniversary (Nov. 11, '04) in "Jerry," one of the old-growth redwood trees remaining in the "Upper Village" of Freshwater Creek. In addition to the Jerry tree, three more ancient redwoods stand in Upper Village, so close to a public road that they are most likely in the public easement, yet Maxxam/Pacific Lumber claims to own them and plans to destroy them.
The "Fern Gully" tree village, also in Freshwater, is home to at least a dozen old-growth redwoods and has been occupied for several months now. Fern Gully is one of the last unprotected pristine redwood groves left on Earth, with no stumps, huge ferns, thick canopy, wildlife--in other words, it's stunningly beautiful. Maxxam/PL has been punching a road into the area and plans to destroy this endangered species habitat.
The Mattole tree village was visited by Climber Eric and Company on January 12, 2005, cutting down the activists' supplies in two trees and starting a fire on the forest floor to burn the gear (clothes, plastic tarps, and a wooden platform); they left the fire burning when they departed. No tree-sitters were extracted, and the tree village remains.
We've also relocated our media office to Arcata, which is much more accessible to activists and supporters. Our new contact info is:
NCEF! Media
920 Samoa Blvd., Suite #221
Arcata, CA 95521
707/822-1513
www.northcoastearthfirst.org
All of these projects need lots of support, so please help if you can.
No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth! Earth First!
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TOC for Forest & River News, Winter 2005