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"This is a substantial victory, the Fern Gully tree-village has been sat in for the last 5 years. So many people have put their energy and time into this, every single bit of it was worth it," said "Crossroads," one of the latest in a long line of tree-sitters dedicated to occupying ancient trees in immediate danger from logging.
Mike Jani, Chief Forester of the new Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC), was accompanied by forest defenders to the tree-sit villages to see the old growth for himself and to speak personally with the sitters.
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On a recently broadcasted interview with KMUD radio news, Mike Jani shared his thoughts and feelings about the events that day.
"It was apparent that the trees that they were in... and having protected for a long time, were trees (that under our old-growth policy would not be cut," said Jani. "Moreover, the stands that they were in, based on our policy for old growth, those stands would be off limits for harvest."
The gravity of the situation struck Jani when Crossroads descended to speak with him.
"It was very emotional for me," said Jani. "One sitter came down from the tree...he was concerned, he said `is it safe to come down?' And I said, well of course, nobody's going to arrest you or hurt you. He (Crossroads) said, `No, I don't mean that. Are you going to cut the tree?' I said, no, this tree won't be cut under our ownership. When he (Crossroads) came down he was near tears and so grateful, and the immensity struck me of what these people had been through, for so long, and how significant this is for them and for their life, you know a lot of them have been at this for many years and they succeeded" said Jani.
The fight against the rapacious logging practices of Maxxam is over but terrible logging practices continue here. Though Forest Defenders are concerned about the likelihood that HRC will use herbicides and variations of clearcutting, companies such as Green Diamond (a.k.a. California Redwood Company) and Sierra Pacific Industries continue the antiquated practice of old-growth logging.
Earth First! Humboldt is carrying on the struggle and organizing front-line defense of ancient forests and the life they support, including our own.
To all those who put their blood, sweat, and tears into the fight to save our remaining ancient forests, your efforts have not been in vain. Though we have lost many ancient groves, thousands of acres remain standing that would have been cut. Maxxam may be gone, but the struggle to defend our temperate rainforest continues.
For more information: http:///efhumboldt.org or call (707)834-5170.