Mike Jani at Fern Gully Tree Village speaking to Forest Defenders
Can you believe it! Both current Humboldt County tree-sits are officially saved and protected. Yesterday I, other Forest Defenders, and a crew from National Geographic accompanied Chief Forester and President of the newly formed Humboldt Redwood Company, Mike Jani, to Fern Gully Tree Village, Freshwater, CA, and the grove around the tree known as “Jerry,” that has been a major part of the struggle. Earlier, activists also hiked Jani in the well known Nanning Creek Tree Village, headed-up by long time Forest Defender, Amy.
Jani and Forest Defender of Spooner, Amy
“I promise that none of these trees will be cut in the groves,” earnestly stated Jani after asked about the protection of the tree-sits. Jani was extremely amenable and responsive to the succession of questions asked by the numerous activist present for such an monumental occasion.
Each tree grove will become a class 1 wildlife preserve with a class 2 wildlife boundary. Which means that no trees can be cut in the direct grove, they are fully protected. Second-growth trees can, potentially, be harvested in the class 2 zones “to build up growth and allow expansion,” Jani explained to us.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m in shock,” said a Forest Defender who has been involved for over a year at the Fern Gully tree-sit. The overwhelming joy and immense happiness was palpable as the morning fog. Ear-to-ear smiles and warming-loving hugs were exchanged in excess and activists spoke of the years of struggle that it took to save these ancient groves.
Fern Gully was a 5 year struggle and Nanning Creek was started around 3 years ago. Without the determination, perseverance, and infinite resolve of the numerous activists and Forest Defenders involved in the protection of these groves, they wouldn’t have remained standing to this day; they’d be the patios and jacuzzis of affluent homes in the hills.
Thank you Forest Defenders!
“You can call me anytime and I’m totally willing for people to come out to our land in groups of 20 or 30 to review and observe and research any of our Timber Harvest Plans. If people come onto our land, we won’t call the police but remind them of our policy and suggest that they get a permit,” Jani responded when asked about trespassing on now Humboldt Redwood Company land.
“So are the tree-sits safe to come down? Would it be possible to get drive up and carry out the wood and supply,” asked a Forest Defender. “Absolutely. I’ll help any way I can. Just give me a call and we’ll arrange something. You may have access to our roads and garbage bins if needed,” responded Jani in a sincere tone.
Mrs. Jani as well as two Humboldt Redwood Company employees were also present at the road alongside of the Fern Gully entrance. The land owners of the neighboring property were also amongst the entourage, asking questions and sharing stories. “I remember a time when there were 70 logging trucks right in front of my home. I’m happy that the logging will now be limited in this area,” stated the landowner standing next to his wife. He and Jani spoke about salmon conservation and how this is now a new era and things are going to change for the best.
Jani speaking to landowner near Fear Gully road area
Lodgepole, longtime activist and tree-sitter, spent a great deal of time explaining the various actions that took place over the years; David “Gypsy” Chain, Climber Eric brutality, various tree-sitting campaigns, et al. Jani seemed very interested and told Lodgepole that he has been “carrying around a piece of David “Gypsy” Chain’s clothing for years now, ” since he learned of his tragic death.
“Will there ever be a case when old-growth trees are cut ?” I asked. “No, that’s not likely… if they are [as for building a road], they will be left on the ground and not harvested for revenue,” responded Jani.
A 2500+ year-old tree such as Spooner in Nanning Creek now has the opportunity to grow another 2000+ years. “My heart feels so relieved now,” said Amy who oversaw the Nanning Creek defense. When Fern Gully tree-sitter “Tree” was informed of the news, he jumped in joy and began to dance. “Yes!! Victory! Victory!,” he yelled with his arms in the air (even his one broken arm, too!).
Mike Jani Discussing “Variable Retention” [VR] and Old-Growth Logging Practices
“We protect a 15% minimum! …” from each cut - Mike Jani
Indeed, it truly is a victory for everyone — Humbolt County, Forest Defenders, Environmentalist, and above all, Mother Nature. The entire world benefitted yesterday. However, as much as I would like to call it a day and go to sleep worring less about ancient forests, there are still companies destroying the remaining old-growth and Forest Defenders, not for a minute, are going to rest.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
[...] Both tree-sits were granted a class 1 and class 2 (boundary) preserve status, which grants full protection over the direct groves. More details can be found on this article here. [...]
Thank you, Tree Sitters. You are courageous, persistent, defenders for whom we are eternally grateful. Thank you — Thank you.
Thank YOU, Ruth. We couldn’t have done if without the support of people like yourself
I have known Mike for over 30 years and am firmly convinced that he will deliver what he has promised. I think all of us who have been a part of the struggles over how (or whether) redwood forests should be managed hope that a new era is opening where solutions to poor management practices of the past can be effectively implemented. What has occurred in the past is now history. How we adapt redwood forest management practices so that they help repair, enhance and maintain forest ecosystems while allowing for long- term economic sustainability is the task of the future. Finding true solutions will take unbiased science, trust and co-operation from all sides of the debate over forest management.
I just read my emails and I am truly blown away to tears. I cannot believe it. I truly can’t. It’s absolutely amazing. I got to spend the night in Kiandora (sp?) at Fern Gully a few weeks ago-what an amazing coincidence that I finally did that before the tree sit was saved. Love to all treesitters!!!
TO Janet McCrary Webb:
Thanks for your comment. Yes, we, too, hope and feel that Jani will stand by his word. He seems like such a person.
Amy: Hey, I remember you! Thanks for all your support and love. We hope to hear from you soon. Be well
Gosh…What a profound relief this has brought to hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands and thousands, of us. This definitely would have not succeeded if not for STRONG-WILLED tree-sitters like yourselves!! You simply did the absolute right thing to do. THANK YOU for caring SO much about this matter for every one of us and our Earth! I live in Davis, CA, and keep an eye on your activism via e-mail ever since day one and wished so much it was viable for me to commute daily to tree-sit with you all and not having to worry about losing my full-time job and my three pets.
Thank you SO much, Sarah. You care,support, and positive energy towards what we are going is GREATLY appreciated. You absolutely rock! Please continue to support us and help spread the awareness of what we’re doing. Thanks again
you hit the nail on the head janet.
I’m a tree-sitter up here in Bc, and so I have been following events in Humboldt for years, as well as learning a thing or two about how forests are ’saved’ here in the Great White North. I’m telling everyone in my network this this is a victory, but I am keeping an eye out. we have ‘variable retention’ here in BC, and I’ve seen with my own eyes that it is a scam. Not saying that this is the case down there, but lets hope they can do varible retention better than up here. In the stand I saw, a small amount of trees was left on a ridge. No way that wind won’t blow them down, as open as they are. And this has happened in other VR areas. And guess what? Here is canada, when trees fall over in a VR stand, the company doesn’t pay stumpage. So it ends up looking just like a clearcut, and it costs the company less to harvest. brilliant.
Hopefully those fellas down there learn from that, and keep their word.
F’in eh! Right on. DIRECT ACTION GETS THE GOODS!!!
Hey Fiach, thanks for your support! Absolutely, we’re keeping an eye on ALL the timber companies out here.. including HRC. The battle is still waging, indeed. Please keep us in the loop of what’s going on in BC. I’ll email you.
Yeah, thanks for all your hard work on protecting Nanning Creek and Fern Gully. It must have been hard for you to hike in all that food, hike out all that trash, oraganize all of those people, raise all of those funds and equipmen and stay so long up in those trees over the past 3-6 years.
Let’s hear it for ALL of the hundreds of people that have been involved with Nanning and Fern Gully over the past 3-6 years.
Most importantly, let’s remember the thousands of those who have been saving Humboldt’s forests over the past two decades, and pay our respects to those who have given their lives for our trees, such as Jungle and Gypsy.
Everyone knew the Nanning and Fern Gully THP’s would eventally time out and expire. That was the minor goal.
The major goal was to permenantly protect these areas, aside of course from token verbal promises from a salesman representing a greenwashed corporation that is still clearcutting on steep slopes and using herbicides.
How is that a victory? What kind of compromise is that for an EarthFirster!?
Nothing has been set in stone as far as permenant protections for these two groves. If HRC was serious about saving the last large stands of Old Growth left on Old PL property, they would take permenant steps to protect the future of these groves.
MRC came to Humboldt to make money. When the importance of profit shifts from their focus on public relations, they will change their “green” tune.
See you for the 5-7 year THP renewal reunion.
To top it all off, Mike Jani has been carrying around a piece of Gypsy’s clothing for years since he learned of his death. Doesn’t anyone else find that statement creepy? Why would Jani say that, aside from a shameful public relations stunt?
Hey Jeff,
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated. I look forward to meeting you and talking about the movement in person. Congrats on the success! I know that you were/are a major part of the defense throughout the years.
As per Mike Jani carrying around a piece of the clothing, I suggest you speak to “Lodgepole” about that. Jani told him the story directly about carrying the clothing.
Thank you SF. I just wish everyone wasn’t in such a hurry to commend HRC/MRC for basically doing nothing but putting up flags and giving a verbal promise that can be broken by their documented business plan.
Was there any kind of negotiating before everyone hopped in bed with the media and HRC/MRC?
We had a chance to protect the groves forever. Why did the people who were involved at that crucial point in time blow it?
I promise, I’m not a complete pessimist. I’m stoked about our victories and how they will inspire others to take action.
But the energies that went into defending both actions were not meant to make a greenwashed company more money from a better public image. Furthurmore, the media message that we “Saved the Redwoods” again just like with Julia Butterfly, Headwaters, etc. furthur confuses the public into believing that our redwood forests are protected.
As you know SF, they are not protected. And HRC/MRC is not a green company. I will not compromise to herbicides and clearcuts for a photo op with a snake.
The message that our actions were trying to convey the past 3-6 years was never picked up by the major media because the public was already saturated with Treesits and Butterflies from the past two decades.
Our big opportunity to propel our message of the continued assault on our redwoods turned into a Chevronesque feel good advertisement for the GAP.
That’s what makes me sick.
But we did it. We saved Spooner. And Libertal. And Grandma. And Her Majesty. And the minute amount of big trees left on PL property. And I’d do it again if I knew that this would be the outcome. No matter what the outcome, it is still a victory worth every effort that we made.
See you at action camp:)
[...] Mike Jani Promises that Fern Gully and Nanning Creek Tree Villages … [...]