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Indybay Feature

Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Blockaded From Liquidating Mattole

by repost
Early this morning, activists blockaded a road entering the old-growth ecosystem that is the headwaters of the Mattole River in an attempt to halt logging of Timber Harvest Plan(THP) 1-01-413, a THP that includes fifty acres of old growth slated to be clear cut.
For Immediate Release Monday, July 8, 2002

Contacts: Ash (707) 496-2956, Sara March (707) 443-3663

Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Blockaded From Liquidating Mattole Old-Growth Ecosystem
Community Calls For Neutral Observers

Early this morning, activists blockaded a road entering the old-growth ecosystem that is the headwaters of the Mattole River in an attempt to halt logging of Timber Harvest Plan(THP) 1-01-413, a THP that includes fifty acres of old growth slated to be clear cut.

Despite continuing litigation, the potential for acquisition, and staunch community opposition, Maxxam/Pacific Lumber (PL) continues to clearcut this geologically unstable terrain. Maxxam intends to "liquidate" the 3,000 acres of irreplaceable old-growth forest they own in the Mattole.

Recent clearcut logging of this area has already caused landslides, sediment degeneration and degradation of salmonid habitat, and impacted human residents and the Mattole River downstream to the ocean.

The Lower North Fork area owned by PL contains the largest, low-elevation, coastal Douglas-fir old-growth forest in California. It is located on some of the steepest and most unstable terrain in the country. Coupled with the area's high annual rains, the likelihood of more landslides occurring is extremely high.

Mattole resident, Jane Lapiner, stated, "A culture concerned with its own survival would find ways to protect this island of remaining old growth instead of caring more for short-term economic gains."

Because of past violence perpetrated against activists by workers and sheriffs in the woods, activists are now concerned for their safety as they attempt to protect this area. Violence against activists has been particularly frequent in the Mattole area because of its remote access. For years, environmentalists and the human rights community have requested the presence of human rights observers while direct action is occurring in the woods. Recently, Pacific Lumber President Robert Manne indicated to the Forest Peace Alliance that PL would be willing to allow these neutral observers on PL land.

It is up to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to deploy human rights observers.
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by I need a break
Anyone know about this thing called the roll on the mattole?
by Clay (clay.henderson [at] verizon.net)
As many folks that have visited N California are sickened by the likes of exterminators of the land = Pacific Lumber, MAXXAM, ??, and the likes. Why is it after some research I came to realize many Governments within third world countries have banned Old Forest cutting and clear cutting.There is a slight difference here, there trees they protect are not redwood giants 500-2000 year old wonders. The people of the world are uninformed of the wildlife and land extermination happening here. Do these Corporations pay the media off to keep quiet? I read 70% of Americans disagree with the 100 year ongoing extermination but why the continuance. Proud to be a American?
by Clay Henderson (clay.henderson [at] verizon.net)
As many folks that have visited N California are sickened by the likes
of exterminators of the land ,Pacific Lumber/ MAXXAM, etc and the likes.
Why is it after some research I came to realize many Governments
within third world countries have banned Old Forest cutting and clear
cutting.There is a slight difference here, there trees they protect are not
redwood giants 500-2000 year old wonders. The people of the world are uninformed of the wildlife and land extermination
happening here. Do these Corporations pay the media off to keep quiet? I read 70% of Americans
disagree with the 100 year ongoing extermination but why the continuance.
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