True To Form, Company Logs Remnant Legacy Forest - SPI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 13, 2002

CONTACT INFO:
Peter Elias
petrelias [at] hotmail.com
S.I.E.R.A- Sierra Institute for Ecological Resource Advocacy
530-288-0823

Fran Burgard
Scenic Corridor Preservation Group
530-862-1367



TREE-SIT PROTEST REMAINS ALOFT AS
SIERRA PACIFIC INDUSTRIES (SPI)
CUTS THROUGH RENOWNED
PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC HIKING TRAIL


- True To Form, Company Logs Remnant Legacy Forest-

SIERRA CITY, CA. -- Ignoring the hopes and appeals of hundreds of citizens from all walks of life, Sierra Pacific Industries, America's largest private
timberland owner, has carried out its plans to log through the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, including cutting some of the last remaining
old-growth forest stands in this part of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The trail stretches from the U.S./Mexico border, northward to
the Canadian border.

At press time, one grouping of ancient firs and pines still stand tall along the National Scenic Trail, only because they have been cabled together by
the ropes of a protest tree-sit by trail advocates. As long as community members stay atop the trees, they cannot be cut down by Sierra Pacific Industries. The scene of the action is due northwest of Lake Tahoe, near the Sierra crest at the top of the Yuba River watershed.

Peter Elias, of the Sierra Institute for Ecological Resource Advocacy (SIERA), said, "Sierra Pacific Industries failed to negotiate a compromise,
and engaged in a devastating harvest plan. SPI could easily have reached an agreement which would satisfy both legitimate environmental and business
concerns.The National Scenic Trail has been severely damaged, and a wonderful ancient forest laboratory, a true scenic gem with easy family access, is lost forever."

Local citizen's groups had petitioned the timber corporation to spare sensitive areas within the logging operation.

Sierra Pacific Industries' 2,880 acre Milton Timber Harvest Plan is bisected by three miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. It also contained
three remnant ancient forest groves, the largest one immediately on the National Scenic Trail. They are classified as Sierran mixed-conifer forest
type, including trees from three to six hundred years old and the equivalent of ten to fifteen or more stories tall. In the wording of the harvest plan, these old-growth forest stands "will be harvested selectively by removing no more than 50% of the volume by specie and size class or less..." It is a matter of dispute between timber industry and environmental scientists
whether such a harvest, if carried out, can successfully maintain the wildlife habitat characteristics and other ecosystem functions of old forest which are considered to be critically imperiled. Estimates put the amount of original or old-growth forest remaining nationwide at between one and four
percent.

SPI is best known for its ownership of a million-and-a half acres of forest in California, and its plan to clearcut, or remove all the trees, on more
than a million of those acres, preparatory to establishing industrial timber plantations. Thus, from industry eyes, the Milton harvest plan may be
considered a conservative operation. "We're trying to minimize any effect," company spokesman Ed Bond has said. The National Scenic Trail enjoys a
five-foot public easement which allows it to cross the timber corporations' land, without affecting land use.

Local sheriffs and an arborist/tree climber have visited the trail-side trees occupied by still-defiant young protesters, but, other than logging in the close vicinity, to date no attempt has been made to dislodge them.

*The tree-sit and remaining old-growth trees on the PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL are a short (one hour plus) walk from a Sierra City
campground/trailhead. Guided visits for press on the public easement trail will be arranged.
Call: 530-288-0823 or email: petrelias [at] hotmail.com

Visuals/Background material are available at
http://yubawatershed.org

Press Trips To the Area Can Be Arranged
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