Photos and Update from Jacoby Creek Sit

I just got these photos from Jacoby Creek taken from over 100 feet up in the canopy, that show the nearby logging and the tree-sit platform. It is reported to be quiet there today - no loggers, just the security guard.

Times-Standard Covers Jacoby Creek Tree-sit

This article about the actions in Jacoby Creek actions against Green Diamond, appeared in this morning's Times-Standard.

Loggers Falling Trees Near Treesits

Redwood Forest Defenders just sent out this press release:


PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 25, 2010


Contact: Joe (707) 267-8148 stopclearcuttingnow@gmail.com
For more information and daily updates go to http://forestdefender.blogspot.com/


Green Diamond Threatens Lives of Protesters

Century Old Timber Company Continues to Clear cut Redwoods


ARCATA- Tree sitters lives were threatened Tuesday morning, when they awoke to the sound of Green Diamond Resource Company (Simpson Timber) chainsaws roaring, while trees were felled directly adjacent to the non-violent protesters’ tree-top demonstration. The ongoing protest intends to highlight widespread, destructive logging practices of the company by showcasing recent clearcut logging in the Jacoby Creek Watershed, just outside of Arcata, California.

Earlier this week, August 23, the four activists ascended trees within a cutting unit, to make a last stand for the threatened forest. This skilled platform installation 100 feet up came after an initial blockade of a logging road where a woman ascended 60 feet above the road in a small platform. When loggers arrived at the scene during last week, they cut through the rope that provided a lifeline to the activist.

These two incidents are the most company-caused danger forest activists have encountered since the days of struggle against Maxxam’s Pacific Lumber, said Shawna of the Redwood Forest defenders. We don’t want to hurt anyone, we just want them start listening to the people and stop destroying our watersheds by clear cutting redwoods. Maybe the timber wars aren’t over, after all.

The two logging plans Green Diamond is operating on in the Jacoby Creek Watershed provide a small example of the systemic clear cutting Green Diamond is engaged in, across their entire 430,000 acre ownership in northern California. In 2004, the century old logging company changed its name from Simpson Timber to Green Diamond, in a strategic greenwashing move. Kamilche Group, a Washington-state based conglomerate and parent company to both Simpson and Green Diamond, also owns California Redwood Company.

Green Diamond’s insistence on short-rotation, clear cut logging degrades the forests for the future, and contributes to the climate crisis, said Shawna. The company needs to get out of the dark ages of liquidation logging, to provide for more sustainable jobs and a better future for everyone. We cannot stop our campaign targeting their practices, until they do.

New Tree-sits in Jacoby Creek

Two forest defenders established two tree-sits in a stand of 150 year old redwoods last night. The activists are trying to stop Green Diamond from clearcutting the trees in THP 01-08145.

Breaking News: Road Blockade in Jacoby Creek

Activists calling themselves Redwood Forest Defenders put up a road blockade in Jacoby Creek this morning to halt Green Diamond timber operations. An activist called Fly is sitting in a sky-pod to keep loggers out. At last report at least five Humboldt County Sheriffs were on the scene. The action is near a public road, so forest defenders are encouraging members of the public to come out to support and witness the action.

Update at 7:50 am: One activist arrested at the blockade. Loggers managed to get through but pod-sitter is still in the air above the road.

Update #2 at 8:33: Press Release from Redwood Forest Defense:

Redwood Forest Defense
For Immediate Release: August 18, 2010
Contact:
Jay Freeman (707) 845-8268

Forest Activists Blockade Clear-cut Logging In Jacoby Creek!

Early Tuesday morning forest defenders set up a 60 ft high road blockade to stop the active clear-cutting operations of Green Diamond Resource Company in the redwoods near Jacoby Creek Road north of Eureka in Humboldt County. These clear-cut logging plans represent a mere fraction of the ongoing clear-cut logging operations in Northern California.

“We are not coming down voluntarily until the reckless logging in the Jacoby Creek watershed is stopped,” said "Fly", one of the activists from atop the 60 ft high hanging platform

Citing concern for the local redwood eco-system as well as global climate change, the activists scaled rope structures made to block the entrance of a logging road. The blockades were constructed so that if moved or damaged, the activists could fall from a considerable height. Several pickup trucks and a van full of workers had to turn back when they arrived. One of the workers from the van started cutting the rope before supporters on the ground could stop him.

“This is about global eco-cide,” said Fly , “We are doing this to preserve life on this planet, to fight climate change, loss of species and threats to our ability to survive.”

Recent studies from botanist Steve Sillett, of Humboldt State University show that Redwoods grow faster as they grow older, storing huge amounts of carbon and slowing the rate of global warming. There is currently a collaboration of conservationists and scientists using highly advanced technology to decode the information stored in redwood tree trunks, branches and leaves to study the effects of climate change on these giants.

It has also been found that fog decrease is threatening California’s Redwood forests as reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. University of Berkley Professor Todd Dawson commented, "As fog decreases, the mature redwoods along the coast are not likely to die outright, but there may be less recruitment of new trees. They will look elsewhere for water, high humidity and cooler temperatures." (Reuters, Feb.15, 2010)


Location: From Bayside post office take Jacoby Creek Rd, go right on Quarry Rd 0.2 miles


THP Information:

Green Diamond THP # 1-08-145
Name: G-127
50.6 acres total
33.1 acres clearcutting
15.3 acres selection
2.2 no-harvest
Green Diamond THP # 1-08-153
Name: Rocky Washington
66 acres total
39.5 acres clearcut
14.0 selection
12.5 no-harvest

Update #3: More info at http://efhumboldt.org/2010/08/breaking-news-jacoby-creek-clearcut-logging-blockaded/

Correction:
I first wrote that the activists were associated with Earth First! Humboldt and later learned that they were actually with another group.