NCEF's main focus this spring has been in Freshwater, the small, rural community near Eureka whose wildlife and water quality are paying the price of Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's unsustainable forestry practices. At mid-March, some twenty-five treesits had sprung up in the beleaguered watershed to protect the last remaining ancient redwoods from the relentless onslaught of chainsaws clear-cutting on steep slopes. Well-known treesitter Remedy was looking forward to her one-year anniversary in the tree named "Jerry" and a celebration rally was planned.
But Maxxam/Pacific Lumber chose March 17, the same week the U.S. began its war on Iraq, to launch a major assault on the Freshwater treesitters and trees. Company-hired climbers, assisted by dozens of county sheriffs, began extracting the sitters, using dangerous tactics to lower them from their 100-high perches to the ground. Hundreds of community residents, activists and supporters assembled on Greenwood Heights Road to witness and protest the extractions. Forty-five were arrested over a two- week period of intense nonviolent struggle.
Many of the old growth trees were cut down immediately after the sitters' removal, though not all. Some, including "Jerry", were quickly reoccupied and remain standing to this day.
NCEF! has also been active in the Mattole watershed with treesits and monitoring of new Timber Harvest Plans proposed for the area, and continues the successful treesit in the Grizzly Creek area. NCEF! expects busy summer on all these fronts as they continue to call attention to the unsustainable logging that is ravaging our precious forests.
Behind the front lines, NCEF! has published a newsletter to inform the public and inspire supporters. They continue to disseminate information locally and nationally through tabling, road shows, and media programs. They also offer regular nonviolence trainings to potential activists and provide consistent jail and legal support.
NCEF! appreciates the Trees Foundation support of the media, outreach, and legal aid work, and the resources they provide that help protect our civil rights and safety. You can support these efforts by contacting the NCEF! Media, Outreach, and Legal Support Project, c/o the Trees Foundation.
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TOC for Forest & River News, Summer 2003