Feature Archives

The chief culprits of clearcutting in northern California include Pacific Lumber Company (owned by Maxxam), Sierra Pacific Industries, Mendocino Redwood Company (a division of the Fisher family's Gap empire), and the California Dept. of Forestry itself, which approves Timber Harvesting Plans (THPs) after reviewing them for compliance with the Forest Practice Act and other state and federal laws.

Voices of the Mattole Forest Defenders: RealAudio MP3

April 10, Rainbow Ridge: Residents and activists in the Mattole, now faced with a Pacific Lumber Co. lawsuit, are maintaining their struggle against logging plans that threaten to level endangered old-growth forests and despoil sensitive watersheds. On April 10, Humboldt County Sheriffs again stormed the Mattole Free State; blockades were dismantled and burned along with plastic tarps, buckets and sleeping bags. One activist had to be jackhammered out of her cemented lockbox to be taken into custody. Three others were run down in the woods by Sheriffs and Fish and Game officials. One of these activists was being chased by a Fish & Game officer when he slid off a cliff, falling 40-50 feet into a creek drainage. He had to be air-lifted out of the area by CDF Fire & Rescue to a hospital in Eureka. X-rays and cat scan revealed no broken bones or internal injuries, only a bruised hip. The three lockdowners arrested on April 5 - Verbana, Osprey and Acorn - were released from custody on April 9 after being charged with tresspassing and resisting arrest. No logging has yet been attempted in the Free State, but law enforcement will likely maintain their position and begin escorting in logging crews. Mattole residents have pledged to keep a presence at the outer gates to slow law enforcement's progress and support the forest defenders remaining in the woods. The free state has been under siege since Tuesday April 3. April 10 Morning and Evening Reports from the Mattole

PL/Maxxam is attempting to log "Lesser Cathedral." Urgent action is needed to save the "Lesser Cathedral" redwoods in Allen Creek. Pacific Lumber recently submitted a proposal to log 73 acres in Allen Creek, an area se aside as one of the six Marbled Murrelet Conservation Areas established by the infamous Headwaters Deal. Read about Gov. Davis’ empty promise to preserve the ancient forest.

In Humboldt County La Tigresa, the topless poet, and 8 bare breasted forest defenders halted logging in the "Hole in the Headwaters" for several hours by blockading the road leading to the PL/Maxxam logging plan. A 1/4 mile long traffic jam of semi-trucks, pick-ups and passenger vans transporting timber crews was backed up for 2 hours. See a QuickTime video of the action. Read the latest update about the actions.

On October 12, Pacific Lumber/Maxxam settled out of court a wrongful death lawsuit that had been levied by Gypsy?s family. Gypsy was killed on September 17, 1998 when an irate logger fell a tree on him. The settlement by PL/Maxxam includes a monetary distribution to the Chain family, the creation of a memorial in Gypsy?s honor and the creation of a ?community roundtable? to address violence toward protestors during forest protests.

PL/Maxxam has settled other lawsuits levied by wronged individuals just before trial. The Stafford mud slide lawsuit was settled out of court in March of this year when PL/Maxxam agreed to award 26 residents of Stafford, whose houses had been destroyed, the sum of $3.3 million dollars.

PL/Maxxam began logging the Hole in Headwaters on Oct 23. If the logging continues, the South Fork of the Elk River which borders the THP will be severely impacted as one of the last spawning streams in Northern California for Coho salmon. The logging will also fragment the continuous mature forest of the Headwaters Preserve and the surrounding forest. Nine activists were arrested on Oct 24 while engaged in non-violent protests of the destructive logging. PL has filed a new SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public participation) suit against those protesting logging of the Hole in Headwaters.