Rally in Scotia for the Mattole Forest

Dozens of protesters rallied today in Scotia to protest against logging in the Mattole forest.

Tree-sit Video Released

Here is a new video from the Humboldt tree-sit in the McKay tract.

Green Diamond to Clearcut near Grizzly Creek

Green Diamond Resource Company is proposing several clearcuts in a Marbled Murrelet buffer area near grizzly Creek State Park. Forest defenders that are monitoring timber plans on the North Coast, hiked in three units of THP 1-11-026. Unit A contains several residual old-growth trees, mixed in with 60-80 year old second growth.

Six Arrested Today in Richardson Grove Protest

Six activists were arrested this morning while protesting against the widening of Highway 101, at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting in Eureka. The Times-Standard has the story and photos here.

Trainings Done at Action Camp, as RGAN Gears Up

Richardson Grove Action Now! just concluded an action camp at Richardson Grove State Park. There were direct action trainings and meetings to plan for future actions. Much was accomplished and enthusiasm was high following the rally and arrests on Feb. 7, which got a large amount of media coverage. The weather was nice and sunny on the weekend, but was rainy for the last half of camp.

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.

Forest Defense Convergence Sept. 10th-12th

Earth First! Humboldt is having a Forest Defense Convergence on September 10th-12th. The gathering will take place at Clam Beach Campground, 10 minutes North of Arcata. Camp set-up begins at 1pm on Thursday. There will be direct action trainings, hikes, campfires, skill-shares, and music. The Earth first! Humboldt website has more information.

Just Got Back from Action Camp

Action Camp at Grizzly Creek State Park was great! There were the usual non-violence, climbing, and backwoods trainings. There was a hike up Gypsy Mountain, which always brings back lots of memories. But the best thing was coming up with a new strategy for forest defense in Humboldt.

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Now playing: Guns N' Roses - Pretty Tied Up
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Fern Gully and Spooner are Saved!

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Humboldt Redwood Company said that the ancient redwood groves, that tree-sitters have been defending for several years, will be protected. For more details read this article.

EF! Humboldt Announces September Action Camp

Earth First Humboldt has just announced that an action camp will start on September 5 and run through September 13. Tree climbing, backwoods, and non-violent direct action are some of the trainings that will be happening at the camp. More details will be coming soon, and more information is posted at http://efhumboldt.org/

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Tree-sit Evacuated Because of Fire

A new tree-village in Six Rivers National forest was recently evacuated because of the nearby Hells Half wildfire. The air in the area has been very unhealthy due to heavy smoke. The tree-sit was in the Burnt Ranch and the Underwood Mountain area. Forest defenders were trying to stop the building of a road in a roadless area. Sierra Pacific Industries is hoping to use the road to access old-growth on their property that is adjacent to the National Forest. A press release about the action was posted today by Earth First! Humboldt on their website at http://efhumboldt.org/

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Earth First! Rising

If you are interested in Humboldt County forest defense, keep an eye on a new website: efhumboldt.org. There is not much there right now, but I expect that to change soon. I see a lot of new energy coming into the movement and this new website is the first publicly visible sign. People may think that with the entrance of MRC, that there is no more reason for forest defense, but that is not the case at all. Green Diamond, Pacific Lumber, and Sierra Pacific all have bad plans coming up.

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Now playing: Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
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Mattole Skillshare is Big Success

I spent last week at the Mattole Wildlands Defense Skillshare at the Mattole Beach. I thought it went quite well. The most surprising thing was that there was not a drop of rain for all seven days. One of the most popular wokshops was the Coyuntura, which is Spanish for conjunction. It taught us a new way of analysis and finding solutions to problems. Other worshops were: pocket pouch survival kit, plant identification, rebel media, foraging, yoga, and history of Mattole forest defense. As a blogger and photographer, I was particularly interested in the rebel media workshop.

Students Protest Cuts to Native American Studies Dept.

This morning, about sixty students entered the office of Humboldt State University President Rollin Richmond, and occupied his office for one hour. Ricmond tried to engage the protesters in conversation, but for the most part the students remained silent with arms locked together to make their point. Many of the students wore t-shirts saying "Support Native American and ethnic studies" and "Stop Academic & cultural & spiritual genocide". They are unhappy that two or three instructors are to be let go. University police showed up shortly after the protest began, but there were no arrests.