Tree sitting is a form of environmentalist civil disobedience in which a protester sits in a tree, usually on a small platform built for the purpose, to protect it from being cut down (speculating that loggers will not endanger human lives by cutting an occupied tree). Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and Social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the environment. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain Laws demands and commands of a Government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical Protest expresses relatively overt reaction to events or situations sometimes in favor though more often opposed A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Logging is the process in which Trees are cut down for Forest management and Timber. Supporters usually provide the tree sitters with food and other necessary supplies.
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Tree sitters have successfully prevented logging of ancient old growth forests for months at a time, and in some instances have convinced logging companies not to cut trees in some areas. Logging is the process in which Trees are cut down for Forest management and Timber. Ancient Woodland Old growth forest, (also termed primary forest, ancient forest, virgin forest, primeval forest, frontier Sometimes, tree sitting is used as a long-term resistance strategy, with activists occupying trees for months or years at a time. On the other hand, tree sitting is often used as a stalling tactic, to prevent the cutting of trees while lawyers fight in the courts to secure the long-term victories. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person
When tree sitting occurs on private land, it is trespassing. Trespass (Fr trespas a crime properly a stepping across from Lat Sometimes logging companies will hire tree climbers to remove trespassers sitting in trees. Although it is the companies' legal right to do so, some treesitters are suing Pacific Lumber to challenge this practice. Most tree sitting in California occurs on private land. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. In Oregon, where there are more logging projects on public land (National Forests and BLM lands), treesitting is usually not trespassing but treesitters can be fined for violating closure orders or camping limits, or for erecting illegal structures. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. In all modern States some land is held by central or local Governments This is called public land. "National forest" redirects here for the National Forest in England see National Forest England; for those in Brazil see List of Brazilian National Forests The Bureau of Land Management (BLM is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's Public lands totaling approximately
Extractions
Tree-sitters in trees claimed by Pacific Lumber in Humboldt County have been subject to forced removal by hired tree-sit extractors. The practice started with a single extractor in the late 90’s but in 2003 Pacific Lumber hired teams of climbers to remove dozens of tree-sitters, particularly in the Freshwater area East of Eureka, California.
The extractors are not actually deputized but police often show up to assist extractors and arrest tree-sitters. On March 17, 2003, more than 30 police arrived and enforced an illegal road closure of a public road to assist in the removal of two long-time tree-sitters from old-growth redwoods. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Humboldt County sheriffs have also been known to give their handcuffs to tree-sit extractors to use on tree-sitters up in the trees.
Most of the extractions in Northern California are done under the leadership of Eric Schatz of Schatz Tree Service, a well known professional arborist. An arborist is a Professional in the practice of Arboriculture, which is the management and maintenance of Amenity Trees Work can include Schatz testified in court that he has removed 42 tree-sitters from trees.
List of tree sits
- This list is incomplete.
- Tree sitting in the 1970s led to the protection of Pureora Forest in New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island [1]
- Mikal Jakubal was the first American treesitter. On May 20, 1985 he ascended a Douglas Fir in an area of the Middle Santiam region of Willamette National Forest that was in the process of being clearcut. Events 325 - The First Council of Nicaea &ndash the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church is held Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. The Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of Oregon, US. While shortlived, his treesitting action inspired a group treesitting event by Earth First! activists that lasted from June 23rd to July 20, 1985, when two Linn County, Oregon sheriff's deputies wrestled Marylander Ron Huber from his tree after a daylong standoff. Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979 Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Linn County is a county located in the US state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F Since its inception in 1985, tree sitting has become a frequently used tactic by forest defenders around the world.
- Native Forest Action used tree sitting during its campaign to save the West Coast, New Zealand native forests. There was an earlier unrelated environmental group called Native Forest Action Council. Naming To New Zealanders the term 'The Coast' generally refers to the West Coast of the South Island, and 'Coasters' to those that live there In April 1997, the logging company, Timberlands West Coast Limited destroyed one of the sites by deliberately swinging a tree from a helicopter into it without ensuring that it was fully clear of protesters. Timberlands West Coast Limited is a New Zealand State-owned enterprise based on the West Coast. [2] The CAA cleared the helicopter pilot of wrongdoing in a controversial judgment that was appeared to have been interfered with, according to leaked internal documents. Secrets and Lies, subtitled "the anatomy of an anti-environmental PR campaign", is a 1999 book by Nicky Hager and Bob Burton
- Julia Butterfly Hill, an activist in Humboldt County, California became known for her 738 day sit (from December 10, 1997 until December 18, 1999) in a 180-foot (55 m), 600-year-old Coast Redwood tree she named Luna. Humboldt County is located on the far North Coast of California. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Sequoia sempervirens is the sole living Species of the Genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly Eventually, Hill and other activists raised money and paid Pacific Lumber Company $50,000 to spare her tree and a 200-foot (61 m) buffer around it, something which some activists considered an unacceptable compromise. The Pacific Lumber Company officially abbreviated PALCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maxxam Inc. In Arguments compromise is a concept of finding Agreement through Communication, through a mutual Acceptance of terms—often involving variations
- Activists from Greenpeace and the Australian environmental organization The Wilderness Society hold the record for the world's highest tree-sit, in the Styx Valley, Tasmania. Greenpeace, originally known as the Greenpeace Foundation, was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1972 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Wilderness Society (TWS is an Australian Not-for-profit non-governmental environmental advocacy whose mission is protecting promoting and restoring Wilderness The Styx Valley is located adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site on the island of Tasmania. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass
- In 2002, two US environmental activists involved in tree-sitting protests died in separate accidents. [3] [4]
- In 2004, at least six tree sits are erected in Tuart trees at Ludlow Tuart Forest near Busselton in South Western, Western Australia. [5]
- In 2006, two sits are built in Jarrah (Eucalyptus) trees at "Arcadia" Jarrah Forest near Collie in South Western, Western Australia. Two activists are removed and arrested but one had his charges dropped and the other went to court and was acquitted. [6]
- In 2006, following a successful protest lasting over one year, tree sitters in Cathedral Grove (also known as MacMillan Provincial Park), British Columbia, halted the removal of a number of old growth Douglas Fir trees which were scheduled to be to taken down in an attempt to calm traffic and improve the parking facilities. MacMillan Provincial Park is a 157 ha Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. MacMillan Provincial Park is a 157 ha Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae.
- In 2006, 2007, and 2008, protesters in Berkeley, California sat in coast live oak trees to prevent the construction of a new sports facility by the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in Northern California, in the United States. The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley
- In 2007, protesters of the University of California Santa Cruz's Long Range Development Plan set up a tree sit, in red wood trees, on the proposed site of a biomedical research facility.
- In 2008, a tree-sitter, who identifies himself as "fresh," climbed an oak tree on the University of California Berkeley campus to begin advocating the democratization of the UC Regents. The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley
- In 2008, one tree sit is constructed in College Grove (remnant bushland), Bunbury, Western Australia and is removed after being occupied for three months. Another is promptly constructed nearby in the next stage that is threatened by housing development; it includes a functional trampoline. [7]
Tree Villages
A Tree Village is an extension of the tree sit/tree house protest, involving several more tree houses.
The Fall Creek/Red Cloud Thunder Tree-Village was a long running example. It was a 6-year occupation of a small timber sale in the Willamette National Forest at Fall Creek Oregon US which ran from February 1998 to November 2003. The Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of Oregon, US. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It comprised seven houses of up to 5 occupants each tied together with rope 'traverses' 200 feet (61 m) high and up to 125 feet (38 m) between 'platforms'. This tree village was designed to be totally self sufficient with composting toilets, solar/wind power communications, cargo lines between ground and other sits, individual rappel lines and hydroponic sprout farms. An estimated 1000 activists occupied the trees at various times. The forest occupied during the Fall Creek campaign remains uncut to this day.
Winberry Tree Village in the Willamette National Forest was another long-term occupation undertaken by Cascadian tree-sitters. The village consisted of two treehouses (160 feet high and 175 feet (53 m) high) and one suspension structure hung between trees. The Winberry village was occupied for 5 years. One tree house was two story, situated in a huge Red Cedar tree. It featured a bottom story built from branches in the manner of a bird's nest as well as a running water system.
The Nanning Creek treesit ("Bonanza") is centered around Spooner, a 290-foot (88 m) Redwood with a near 40-foot (12 m) circumference, one of the oldest unprotected trees remaining in the area. This is also a village setup. Nanning Creek is located in the hills overlooking the town of Scotia, America's last company-owned town and the site of Pacific Lumber's headquarters. The area was long protected as a Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat, but recent changes in environmental law keep loggers out only for the nesting season.
"Fern Gully" is located south of Arcata, California, and north of the Nanning Creek sit. It is one of the few remaining tracts of old-growth in the Freshwater area. Fern Gully was started as a "Pirate" sit, unconnected at first from any organizations such as Earth First!. By 2005, it had 22 trees tied together for transarboreal travel. The village was equipped with a raincatch system that transported water 40 feet (12 m) down to a running tap at the platform, as well as a solar panel at 207 feet (63 m) in a tree named Watsi. Around that time it was raided by Pacific Lumber contracted climbers. They did not extract a single person, instead cutting out unoccupied traverses, platforms and dreamcatchers. This was a major blow to the village, but the sit continues, and the area remains uncut.
"Upper Village" was a set of 3 redwoods, Jerry, Everstine/Diversity (a double trunk tree) and Anastasia. Jerry was one of Humboldt County's most famous redwoods. A woman named Jeny Card (aka "Remedy") stayed without touching ground for 361 days, and later a young man named Willow did the same for over 18 months. Amy Gershman (aka "Wren") stayed in Everstine for almost ten months, and was later extracted, arrested, and jailed. She was later released on bail and her case ended in a "hung jury". Upper Village appeared on Da Ali G Show, and Willow was interviewed from the platform of Jerry by Tom Greene, who was doing a segment for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. No other tree has the extraction history of Jerry. Activists were forcibly removed from the tree on three separate occasions between March 17, 2003 and June 17, 2003. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Each time, the tree-sit platforms were destroyed by climbers, but immediately replaced by activists. The Timber Harvest Plan for Upper Village expired in 2005, and friends of the trees removed the platforms and traverses. These trees are located directly alongside Greenwood Heights road in Freshwater, California.
The "Ludlow" tree village consisted of three basic sits, one large traditional Western Australian sit and two new sits that were two levels and three levels consecutively; each allowed the sitter a separate area for sleeping and relaxing and one for storage, cooking and other activities; one featured a "sun-deck" for outdoor living. The Ludlow Tuart Forest was targeted, by the Cable Sands mineral sands mining company, for Titanium Dioxide, for products such as white paint, toothpaste and to fortify the coating of depleted Uranium weapons. One person remained in one of the sits for 29 days, without leaving the tree once. The sits were removed but the concept has been used several times since.
Tree houses
In the United Kingdom permanent tree houses are common. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Tree houses, treehouses, or tree forts, are buildings constructed among the Branches around or next to the trunk of one or more mature One treehouse, BattleStar Galactica at the Manchester International Airport, held 12 people. Manchester Airport is a major Airport in the vicinity of Manchester, England, and the largest airport in the United Kingdom outside the [8] Permanent treehouses can be occupied for a year or more. They often have lock-on points for protestors to chain themselves to during evictions. Eviction is the removal of a Tenant from rental property by the Landlord. Tree houses have also been used at Newbury bypass. The Newbury bypass, officially known as 'The Winchester-Preston Trunk Road (A34 (Newbury Bypass' is a stretch of Dual carriageway Road which bypasses
See also
External links
- Audio recording of first EF! tree sitter making first climb 5/20/85
- Movies of tree-sitters living in 'Tree Village' at Fall Creek Oregon
- July 23, 1985 group treesit coverage in Oregon newspaper
- Review of 1985 Earth First! - treesitting actions in Oregon. New Zealand Beech trees that were being logged in 1998 in the Tuatapere area were spiked Eco-terrorism, also called ecoterrorism or green terrorism, is Terrorism committed in support of ecological, environmental, or Direct action is political action which happens outside normal political channels via indirect actions such as electing representatives.
- Greenpeace - Styx Valley: Global Rescue Station
- Timber firm begins bringing down tree sitter - Article from when Wren and Remedy were extracted.
- Hung Jury in Tree Sit Case - Information Wren's trial after her extraction
- Free Petition website
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