What Now, Treesitter?
Happy activists bask in the Humboldt Redwood Co. chief’s vow to not cut old growth, but they say there’s still plenty more forest to save
(Aug. 28, 2008) An eerie dreamlight slanted in from the west, a spray of pale gold shot through a crack in the late-day cloud ceiling. It struck a small remnant of ancient redwood forest, where one sky-vanishing tree towered taller than the rest, wider, older — 2,000 years old, some say. Straight up, up, until its bulk was interrupted by a reiteration — a smaller tree, just like itself, jutting out from its trunk and then also rising, side-by-side the big old boy, up, up, to where an array of branches fanned out and the green canopy of feathery redwood leaves began. Nearby, an osprey — whose nest sat like a cartoon haystack atop a snag — screeched.
Near the base of the ancient tree, a toddler, 21 months old, gamboled barefoot in the leafy dirt, while her mom — brown dreadlocks draping long — kept close watch. A handful of other adults gathered nearby, sitting on the ground. One, a white-haired older woman, a pre-school teacher, kept saying she felt like Alice in Wonderland, like she’d fallen down the rabbit hole. The others, mostly younger, sounded just as giddy. And then a smiling young man dropped out of the sky, out of the big-big tree, suspended from a rope with his legs in front of him. He untied and joined the group. And not long after, the faintest crackle of leaves crushed underfoot announced the arrival of one more — she skipped into the small alcove in the forest where the others sat, softly giggling and calling cheerily, “Hello hello!” and plopped crosslegged to the ground.
As the light faded, they talked and talked. They still couldn’t believe it. Spooner, the landmark old giant here within whose presence they’d gathered and in which a succession of treesitters have sat was saved. Grandma-Grandpa, a nearby massive double redwood conjoined at the base and balanced above a ravine aflood with soft thimbleberry plants, and in whose branches the latest treesitter, the laughter-prone “Cedar,” had been living for nearly 11 months, was saved. And so were the other old growth trees in this grove and elsewhere on former Pacific Lumber Co. lands.
They won’t be cut, ever. That was the word, delivered in person on Aug. 12 by Humboldt Redwood Co. President Mike Jani, who hiked into the woods to two treesitter villages with his wife and several activists to see the old trees and talk to the treesitters. He told them it wasn’t his company’s policy to cut old-growth trees such as these. He said if they hadn’t sat in these trees, the trees surely would have been cut under the former company’s plan. He shook their hands and said, “Thank you.” Then they all walked around attaching pink “Do Not Cut” tape to the trees.
Gone were the bad old days, as of mere weeks ago, when with one lapse in vigilance — a night unattended by a sitter — a centuries-old tree could fall to a Pacific Lumber Co. feller’s saw lickety-split. Enter the bright days of Mendocino Redwood Co., the “greener” timber outfit owned by the Fishers, the San Francisco family that grew The Gap clothing company, who’ve promised to reorganize the bankrupt, ravaged, Maxxamized Pacific Lumber Co. into an eco-conscious and sustainable prospect to be called Humboldt Redwood Co. It was like a dream.
But apparently it is real. So what now for these defenders of old growth and, especially, for their steady influx of eager treesitters, now that their big trees are saved?
Last Thursday at 5 p.m., Humboldt Redwood Co. area forester Jim Adams arrived to unlock the gate near the bridge that spans the Eel River between Scotia and Rio Dell. This is the gate that treesitters and their support crews have sneaked over regularly at night for the past three years, tossing over piles of fresh food, gallons of water and other provisions to be hiked a couple miles down the road into the Nanning Creek treesits in company timberland east of Scotia.
Adams worked for Pacific Lumber Co. and was recently hired back to work for the new owners.
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11 Comments
Comment / By grannyj / Aug. 29, 2008, 7:29 p.m.
To Heidi Walters: This is a great piece of writing! Your choice of words had me right in the woods. You dug up the answers we wanted to hear. I have lived through this horrible time and my heart has been so sad for these trees. I won’t go into detail but know that this article had me crying and still does. To think that we’ve come to the end of greed and mismanagement of the forest, and that RIGHT WON OUT. I am ecstatic. I don’t have a paper copy of this, but I will get one soon before they are all gone. At long last, Humboldt County and the trees are free of Maxxam’s grip. There is one left-over here in Fortuna that I would like to see go back to his homeland tho.
Comment / By Jeff Muskrat / Aug. 30, 2008, 1:51 p.m.
Let’s hear it for ALL of the HUNDREDS of unsung heros and heroines that were crucial to the successes of Nanning Creek and Fern Gully over the past 3 to 6 years.
Most importantly, let’s remember the Legacy of Humboldt’s Forest Defenders over the past two decades, and pay our respects to those who have given their lives for our trees, such as Jungle and Gypsy.
Everyone knew the Nanning and Fern Gully THP’s would eventally time out and expire. That was the minor goal.
The major goal was to permenantly protect these areas, aside of course from token verbal promises from a salesman representing a greenwashed corporation that is still clearcutting on steep slopes and using herbicides.
How is that a victory?
And what kind of COMPROMISE is that for an EarthFirster!?
Nothing has been set in stone as far as permenant protections for these two groves. If HRC was serious about saving the last large stands of Old Growth left on Old PL property, they would take permenant steps to protect the future of these groves. Those who are concerned about the future of these two groves would demand permenant protection from this “feel good” greenwashed company’s ploy.
And you all bought it, just like a lemon used car that breaks down later down the road.
MRC came to Humboldt to make money. When the importance of profit shifts from their current focus on public relations, they will change their greenwashed tune.
Don’t get me wrong, the glass is half full and we should all be proud of this victory. But HRC and MRC are not what they appear to be. Profits are their focus, not trees.
See you for the 5-7 year THP renewal reunion.
Comment / By Jeff Muskrat / Sept. 1, 2008, 12:46 p.m.
To top it all off, I read in another article that Mike Jani has been carrying around a piece of Gypsy’s clothing for years since he learned of his death. Doesn’t anyone else find that statement creepy? Why would Jani say that, aside from a shameful public relations stunt?
Comment / By M. D. Vaden of Oregon / Dec. 24, 2008, 10:02 p.m.
It’s nice to see progress to protect old growth redwoods. And hopefully people involved continue to realize that the logging machine that took over a century to put into motion, just won’t stop in a few years.
If it’s taken decades to slow the momentum - people should be thankful, and just remain patient.
For those who really enjoy grinding their mental gears over forest preservation - ponder this:
http://www.mdvaden.com/redwood_climbing.shtml
Now that’s something to keep brain cells busy.
Cheers,
MDV
Comment / By Jeff Muskrat / Feb. 5, 2009, 2:37 p.m.
Save Richardson Grove! Save Humboldt! Join the opposition at http://saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com
Comment / By amy arcuri / March 22, 2009, 1:02 a.m.
For the latest information on the 100 acre Spooner Grove and Humboldt Redwood Company visit us at www.spoonerdirect.org I also have many video clips and facts on the latest progressive happenings with Humboldt Redwood Company. I have lots of faith, love and respect for HRC and have the proof that they will and are fullfilling their promises. Learn what’s really going on and stay positive. Love conquers all.
Comment / By Jim A. / Sept. 27, 2009, 5:40 p.m.
I DO applaud these kids. They really did save a wonderful thing from almost certain destruction. Its awesome.
Want to keep it going? Make sure these guys arent cut?
I would like to respectfully offer a suggestion: Lose the dreads and bongos. Go to school, get a job, something. Become as knowledgeable and powerful as those you are fighting.
I’m just saying NO ONE takes a white dreadlocked tie-died kid seriously. O.K.? Get. Over. It. That time has passed. I know. I’M a proud ‘hippie’! (Yes, from the 60’s.)
‘Live’ like someone on the ‘other side’ for a while! Think of what you will learn to help you.
But the image of dready moms with the kids eating dirt under an overpass in NOT how to win the public’s support.
Sorry-just had to say that.
Comment / By Tom Casey / Oct. 3, 2009, 10:26 a.m.
Soul of the Redwood by Tom Casey in Seattle (206) 849-6752
If time ringed life within me the way it marks your years, my courage would stand as tall as yours and hold back amber tears that purify the daylight and protect you through the night when gales howl and thunder roars and cordite lightening strikes.
If my roots tapped the earth like yours and drank from ancient springs, drawing strength from rich, dark soil while ravens and blue jays sing the songs of life and death and change that echo high and far beyond our brief encounter with this planet and its star.
So when condors soar again above your summer canopy and salmon swim cool streams in June that run down to the sea, II know they’ll recognize you then as the Keeper of the Hours tho turns the months to centuries and hears the children’s prayer for one last chance to find a place in a new world twice restored where trees have souls and bear and elk and deer and wolves come home.
Comment / By John Town / Oct. 15, 2009, 8:47 p.m.
Good job guys!!! I admire and envy your courage. I hope to come and visit up there this Summer with my girls.
Comment / By Spurwing Plover / Dec. 26, 2009, 6:06 p.m.
Tree sitters out of their minds as stupid as that ding-bat JULIA(BUTTERFLY)HILL like most of these granola munchers are
Comment / By Jeff Muskrat / Feb. 22, 3:58 p.m.
Amy Acuri said: “For the latest information on the 100 acre Spooner Grove and Humboldt Redwood Company visit us at www.spoonerdirect.org I also have many video clips and facts on the latest progressive happenings with Humboldt Redwood Company. I have lots of faith, love and respect for HRC and have the proof that they will and are fullfilling their promises.”
Of course you have faith Amy.
Your brother works as a programmer for GAP clothing, which happens to be owned by the Fishers, who also happen to own MRC and HRC.
How about a permanent protection, Amy? You know we all worked too hard to lose this grove if HRC changes hands, or changes their policies. Why don’t you demand it?
No compromise in defense of Mother Earth!