Earth First! Humboldt

Excerpts from a press release that just arrived in our inbox -

SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed lawsuits against the California Department of Forestry for illegally approving clearcut logging projects without properly analyzing the carbon emissions and climate consequences. The 15 logging plans … would clearcut more than 5,000 acres of California forests in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade regions.

Undisturbed forests generally act as carbon sinks, continuously absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis and storing it in the forests’ trees, shrubs, and soil. … Clearcutting, which is also damaging to wildlife and water quality, generates the most greenhouse gases of any logging method.

Read the full press release here

On a recent expedition to a mountain top near Trinidad, Ca. we found a fresh scene of Green Diamonds forest destruction. We came across a logging sign, turned the bend and saw a new clear-cut, strewn with freshly fallen young growth Redwoods and Douglas Fir. Throughout the hike, we saw hardly a tree wider than 2 ft., lending weight to the stories that GD is rapidly running out of large trees.

The forest around Trinidad is said to have regrown on it’s own after the initial clear-cutting of the 1800’s, a forest fire that swept over the region in the 1930’s, and the subsequent ravages of salvage logging. Much of what regrew has now been cut as well. I don’t think a lot of people understand this yet, but we are losing our second growth Redwood forests. As in the McKay Tract, what is left of the second growth is a mere remnant of what was a healthy, recovering forest only twenty years ago. In the McKay, the forest had begun to resemble Old-growth. In Trinidad, it’s not even close.

[these were the largest trees we saw in the clear-cut]

We have heard that much of this low quality, fast grown Redwood lumber was being send east to be made into disposable fruit boxes. Apparently that market fell out and we are following up on rumors that some of the trees are now being made into toilet paper. For the  past several months, all of the GD logging plans visited by activists have targeted small diameter trees. Often, these groves are surrounded by fuzzy stump fields that were clear-cut within the last ten years.

Our destination, a grove slated for plunder, was no different. The trees were tiny. From our mountain top position we could see an awe inspiring landscape of mountains, miles of coastline and the brilliantly blue waters of Big Lagoon. Sadly, the mountains were pocked with numerous clear-cuts. In the distance we could see a huge crane-like “skyline yarder” that is brought in to drag trees off of the steep slopes. We knew that it wouldn’t be long until that machine, or one like it, was perched here.

The company is keeping the forest in a perpetually stunted state, robbing wildlife of their homes and bleeding massive quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. The Redwoods can grow to be thousands of years old. GD wants to cut them down every fifty years and manage them like a tree farm. While we hope to draw attention to the plight of our forests with direct action, the trees here are not tree-sit material. This is a reality check that much larger scale action must be taken if we are to avert the death of our forests from a thousand cuts. Please join the effort.

Strong winds and heavy rain that could last for weeks is on the approach. As one blogger puts it, “For the first time in at least several years, a powerful southern stream branch of the jet stream over the Pacific is expected to roar across CA for at least the next two weeks, potentially bringing a tremendous amount of precipitation and frequent strong wind events.” link

Thankfully, this will mean a lot of water for the forest to drink and will hopefully help the salmon and other fish to spawn. We’re also hoping that erosion is at a safe level. It’s storm events like this that can bring huge landslides and wash out riverbanks and roads.

We are seeking monetary donations to help cover the expense of necessities like tarps, reliable rain jackets and pants and other wet weather gear. If you work at REI or a similar store and would like to help, please contact us and we can send your store, or manager, a letter explaining who we are, what we do, and why the gear is important.

Thank you in advance and to all those that have lent a hand recently, we couldn’t do it without you.

Earth First!

It was late afternoon, and I had just gotten home from a day of tree wranglin’. I was settling down and starting to cook some lunch when the platform started to sway a little, like the wind was kicking up. This was all fine and normal, but suddenly the swaying transformed into shaky aerial wave riding, the platform jerking every which way. I crouched down and held on to the support ropes to brace myself, a little confused. I looked out at the village, which had become a trembling network of traverse highways connecting the giant stumbling trees. This was not wind.
“Oh shit,” I thought, “am I clipped in right?” I grabbed my safety device, and with relief followed it to a locked carabiner clipped around the tree’s trunk.
The second wave came.
“YYYAHHOOWWW!” I let out a yell and jumped around with the platform some more.
By the time the third wave came, I was pulling my climbing harness on over the webbing loop I was already clipped in to, for extra assurance. This wave was way milder though, and felt more like a breeze. Shouts of confusion rang out from the neighborhood. I looked around and was glad to see all of my stuff happened to be clipped in during the excitement, and only the pot with the yam I was cooking rattled off the stove.
“Is everyone ok?” I called out to the rest of the canopy defense ninjas.
“WOOHOO!” Yells of confirmation filled the air, and we settled back into the evening.

Action Needed by December 26, 2009

partial repost

The Six Rivers National Forest has broken the public trust by allowing reckless logging in areas considered sacred sites by the Karuk Tribe. These actions may undermine sensitive collaboration opportunities in the region, if something isn’t done quickly.

Six Rivers National Forest Supervisor Tryone Kelley spent three years working with the Orleans community, tribal leaders, and local environmental organizations, to develop a fuels reduction plan that everyone could live with.

According to the Environmental Impact Statement, the goal of the Orleans Fuels Reduction Plan, or OCFR, is to manage forest stands to reduce fuels accumulation and improve forest health around the community of Orleans, while enhancing cultural values associated with the Panamnik World Renewal Ceremonial District.

Logging crews are not following the plan, and Six Rivers District Supervisor Tyrone Kelley continues to allow them to work.

Workers have been instructed to use heavy equipment in culturally sensitive areas, remove large diameter trees, and harvest hardwoods that were supposed to be maintained for forest health.
continued…

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This is part of a press release from EPIC’s website. They urge you to take action by voicing your opposition to the Forest Disservice.