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Tree-Sitters' Gear Burned By Pacific Lumber

by repost of NCEF!
Humboldt county, CA.-After an early Wednesday morning visit by tree-sit extractor Eric Schatz, two tree-sitters in the Rattlesnake Creek forest that feeds the headwaters of the Mattole River are now threatened with extraction as Maxxam/PL security arrives on the site today.
North Coast Earth First!

For immediate release January 13, 2005


Tree-Sitters' Gear Burned By Pacific Lumber
Activists Vow To Defend Forest In Mattole River Watershed

Humboldt county, CA.-After an early Wednesday morning visit by tree-sit extractor Eric Schatz, two tree-sitters in the Rattlesnake Creek forest that feeds the headwaters of the Mattole River are now threatened with extraction as Maxxam/PL security arrives on the site today. The tree-sitters are teachers at a local environmental school, and the sits were put up last summer to save the old growth Douglas Fir grove and call attention to the crisis in the steep Mattole River watershed caused by Maxxam/Pacific Lumber's clearcutting, helicopter logging, road building, herbicide use, and cutting of old growth trees.

Pacific Lumber (PL), local front for Texas-based Maxxam Corporation, now outsources all of their logging and contracts with Eric Schatz of Schatz Tree Service, to forcibly remove tree-sitters. For nearly seven years, Schatz has been yanking people out of the high treetops of ancient redwoods using sometimes violent and reckless means. In fact, Schatz, a man with a record of domestic violence, is currently being sued by five tree-sitters for assault, battery, negligence, and other violations of civil rights.

On Wednesday morning, Schatz arrived with PL's land manager and PL head of security and cut down the activists' supplies in two trees, starting a fire on the forest floor to burn the gear--clothes, plastic tarps, and a wooden platform-and left the fire burning when they departed. Forest defenders expect Schatz will be back soon-possibly today-to attempt to forcibly remove the people from the forest canopy.

The Mattole tree-sits are in a logging plan (THP 1-03-235-"Foxtrot") in the upper Rattlesnake Creek drainage that has seen more logging in the past five years than any drainage in the Mattole. In fact, state Forest Practices Program staff urged the Dept. of Forestry (CDF) staff to question the rate of harvest in this watershed, as it suffers from ongoing cumulative impacts that include huge geologic instabilities. In addition, State Parks Dept. filed a non-concurrence due to their issues with the plan, stemming from the proximity of park land. Despite these objections, the plan was approved by CDF and has been mostly cut, except for the grove where forest defenders remain.

More non-violent direct actions are planned to protect this unique and diverse coastal forest, crucial habitat for endangered species including the northern spotted owl and Pacific fisher.
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by B
"Despite these objections, the plan was approved by CDF and has been mostly cut, except for the grove where forest defenders remain. "

I wonder if anyone can name a single grove that the forest defenders have managed to protect. Or a single Unit. Or a single THP. All their combined efforts over the many years have done nothing except save a individual tree in a few locations.
The true reason that they continue in this manner is self -glorification, and hero-status within their own community. The activists that rally support in the city (BACH) are welcomed when they come up north, and the activists in the trees are welcomes when they hitch down south. Activists in the game for a while can eventually build a career in it, as they organize the new cannon fodder that arrives each September.
by Spotty OWL
Spotty OWl, err mr biostitue jeffrey barrett,

not withstanding the hundreds and hundreds of acres of fragmented forest edge habitat, you forgot to mention the parisitism rates from the fragmented habitat. the lack of old growth habitat for the pacific fisher and the detriment to the stream quality from pacific lumber liquidation logging. wall street setting your cut rates to pay back those timber junk bonds from the headwaters scam should be illegal, oh wait, see state of california v. pl, for the fraud committed on the headwaters scam.. shame on you and your BIOSTITUTES for working at a eco terrorist organization like maxscam/pacific lumber.


RESPONSE OF PASSERINE BIRDS TO FOREST EDGE IN COAST REDWOOD FOREST FRAGMENTS
Issn: 0004-8038 Journal: The Auk Volume: 118 Issue: 3 Pages: 678-686
Authors: Brand, L. Arriana, George, T. Luke
DOI: 10.1043/0004-8038(2001)118<0678:ROPBTF>2.0.CO;2

ABSTRACT

The response of passerine birds to forest edge was examined in old-growth and mature second-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempivirens) forest in northern California. The study objectives were to determine which common passerine species are sensitive to edges during the breeding season and to estimate edge width for forest interior species. Response to edge was measured along twelve 100 × 400 m plots extending from the edge into the forest interior to obtain relative density of birds. Plots were surveyed 4 to 5 times in 1996 and 8 to10 times in 1997. We found that 14 common passerines showed a gradient of edge sensitivity. Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) and Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) had higher relative densities near edges than in the forest interior (P < 0.05) and were categorized as edge species. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis), and Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) had lower relative densities near edges (P < 0.05) and were categorized as interior birds. Based on exponential regression models, estimated edge widths were 140 m for Varied Thrushes, 85 m for Brown Creepers, 120 m for Winter Wrens, and 125 m for Pacific-slope Flycatchers. Creation of edges would probably benefit Steller's Jays (which may be a nest predator), may not benefit Swainson's Thrushes, and may be detrimental to species that avoid edges. We recommend that edge effects be taken into consideration when planning for the conservation of bird species in the region.
by to hide in the forest
hey, forming a ralley is hard work, when i can just go sit in some tree
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