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Indybay Feature

Third day of arrests in Mattole

by Mary Bullwinkle
The forest defenders protecting the endangered old-growth Douglas Fir forest of the Mattole again came under siege as a large contingent of Humboldt County Sheriff's vehicles, Pacific Lumber Security, and heavy equipment rolled into the Long Ridge area at 6:30am this morning.
Mattole Forest Again Under Siege
Activists Block Logging Crew Access

Tuesday April 10, 2001

The forest defenders protecting the endangered old-growth Douglas Fir forest of the Mattole again came under siege as a large contingent of Humboldt County Sheriff's vehicles, Pacific Lumber Security, and heavy equipment rolled into the Long Ridge area at 6:30am this morning. Early reports from the woods indicate that one woman is locked down and likely to be arrested as the Sheriffs work to extract her from her cemented lockbox. The Humboldt County Sheriff, acting on behalf of Maxxam/Pacific Lumber, aim to clear the seasonal road that leads to Timber Harvest Plan (THP) 475 that clearcuts 50 acres of old-growth Douglas-Fir. At this time no Columbia Helicopter logging crews have been seen entering the area.

Today's raid comes on the heels of last week's Tuesday and Thursday raids that saw three Mattole Forest Defenders arrested for locking down to blockading devices that have prevented logging crew's access into the area. All three activist have been charged with misdemeanor trespass (602j) and resisting arrest (148a), they were released yesterday by Humboldt County Courts on their own recognizance.

A large committed crew of people remain on Long Ridge, determined to stop the desecration of the amazing old growth Douglas Fir forest. This non-violent direct action, nicknamed the Mattole Free State, has been successful in halting logging in the Mattole watershed for more than 133 days. Activists lives were endangered on November 27th and 28th when Maxxam logging crews, shadowed by Humboldt County Sheriff deputies, cut 50 trees dangerously close to non-violent activist in THP 1-99-475.

During the past year, Maxxam/Pacific Lumber has initiated an onslaught of timber harvest plans in the most sensitive regions of its holdings: the Mattole river watershed. These THPs are clearcuts, exclusively in old growth Douglas Fir forests, and are planned in drainages which have extreme seismic activity (1992 saw 7.1, 6.9, 7.2 earthquakes in a 24 hour period,) intense rainfall (up to 200 inches per year,) and easily erodible soils on steep mountainous terrain. Maxxam calls for the near liquidation of their Mattole holdings within the next eight years.

The 3,000 acres of old-growth Douglas Fir is the largest unprotected coastal old growth Doug-Fir forest left in the Pacific Northwest. It is a crucial habitat that link between the old growth refuges of the Kings Range, Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Gilham Butte.

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