Tree-Dwelling Environmental Activists Finally Come Down

Protecting the redwoods of Northern California has been a full-time job for a rotating cast of environmental activists for two decades now.  They’ve taken turns living in the trees to ensure that the ancient redwoods weren’t cut down, but the activists are finally convinced that the forest will be safe without them.

The details from Green Daily:

The last two tree sitters who were among many during protests that lasted two decades in Humboldt County came down last week, according to the Associated Press, having been convinced by the new owners of the forest they would “spare the ancient trees from the saw.”

For all intents and purposes, the great timber wars there ended, quite peacefully actually, despite the violence that marked the long battle between the lumber company that formerly owned the old-growth redwoods and environmental activists. The long battle included pepper stray, a car bombing and a civil lawsuit decided in activists’ favor. The new owners, operating as Humboldt Redwood Co., have reportedly promised to protect organisms that have been alive since B.C. and avoid clear-cutting, a practice the company had aggressively practiced under its previous owner, Maxxam Inc.

A great war has ended.  We won this one.  All of the time that people like Julia Butterfly Hill have devoted to save these beautiful trees has made an undeniable impact.  Hopefully Humboldt will stick to their word – and if they don’t, you can bet that the tree-protecting activists will be back.

Link [Green Daily]

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