storytemplate

HOME

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dams: A Perspective on Temporary Prosperity

By Amy Arcuri
Balance is returning to Scotia, Rio Dell, and all over Humboldt County in Northern California. Charles Hurwitz and his notorious Maxxam Corporation—following their final act of destruction of the Pacific Lumber Company—have finally left the redwood region after almost completely exhausting our county’s forests and taking advantage of our hardworking families. After layoffs, hardship, division of the local community, environmental disasters, loss of human homes and life, and loss of critically endangered species habitat, a merciful light has shown down on our county. Hurwitz the billionaire has now exited. In his place I welcome a company that I am strongly putting all of my faith in, the Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC). They are called Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC) in our county. The once-honorable and lately rapacious name “Pacific Lumber Company” is a thing of the past.

So how can another logging company be any better? Well, MRC has progressive policies on their existing forestlands. They have policies specifically addressing stands of old-growth trees and individual old-growth trees. According to their website, “never-harvested” (FSC Type I) are permanently protected by MRC from any kind of harvesting. Previously harvested (FSC Type II) old-growth stands retaining old-growth characteristics are protected; and only practices such as thinning are allowed to enhance or extend these stands. FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. MRC recognizes that individual old-growth trees need other trees around to support their root systems. MRC is the leading forestland owner when it comes to progressive policy. According to their website, any redwood tree 48 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh) and larger, established prior to 1800, is protected. Any Douglas fir tree 36 inches (dbh), established prior to 1800, is protected.

On August 12, my friend Lodgepole (www.wesavetrees.org) and I (www.Spoonerdirect.org) met with president and chief forester of MRC, Michael Jani. We proceeded together to make the journey to three separate tree-sits: the Nanning Creek “Spooner Grove” located in the Scotia hills, “Fern Gully” located in Freshwater between Arcata and Eureka, and the unoccupied famous former tree-sit, the “Upper Village Jerry Grove,” also located in Freshwater.

At the first tree-sit we visited, at the Nanning Creek “Spooner Grove,” we reflected that for three years people of all ages (youth and elders) including locals from Rio Dell and people from all over America, Canada, and Puerto Rico have walked this difficult hike. The Spooner Grove tree-sit is located on timber harvest plan (THP) #05-097, nicknamed “Bonanza” by Hurwitz for his cash-only valuation of this old-growth endangered species complex. Along with the endangered marbled murrelets, this THP is home to the northern spotted owl, osprey, peregrine falcon, bald eagles, and much more. 192 acres of this 250-acre plan had old-growth groves that filled a small canyon from one ridge to the next, straddling an un-named tributary of Nanning Creek that flows into the Eel River. The tree-sits here have stopped and saved a large portion of old growth. There are many old-growth trees in the Spooner Grove. “Spooner” is the largest grandfather old-growth redwood tree in the grove. It exceeds 45 feet in circumference and 300 feet in height. It is the largest old-growth redwood tree in the world to ever have a tree-sit. Yes, it is even bigger than Julia Butterfly’s tree, Luna. Spooner has four large reiterations. That’s when a branch actually forms a new trunk and continues to grow.

This is an old, mysterious forest with many old-growth characteristics. There are redwoods with deep, plate-like bark patterns. These trees have been in fires and are fire resistant. We need trees like this due to the increase of fires here in California. The accumulated debris forms extensive complex fern gardens on the branches and tops of these trees, including huckleberry bushes. There are burl platforms and caves or cavities at the base or middle to tops of some of these trees. Many species of lichens and moss line the branches. There is so much character in this forest.

My heart is in this forest. I have continually supported this sit, and I named Spooner. I have heard all sides of the story. The loggers love the forest, too. I have a lot of respect for them always providing for their families. I am a single mom of a daughter, River Ruby, who is 22 months old, and I know how hard times can be. I genuinely believe Mike Jani and HRC. It’s simply their policy to protect old-growth trees.
Continuing on to the Fern Gully tree-sit located in Freshwater, we encountered there an old redwood grove with huge individuals—representatives of living history—still standing. But close by are massive clear-cuts dividing the surrounding forest.

Our final destination was the famous Upper Village Jerry Grove on Greenwood Heights Road in Freshwater. Unoccupied due to the expiration of the THP, the small old-growth grove still stands alive and strong. Many good people have experienced severe violence while protecting this grove, by Pacific Lumber hired hands and county law enforcement. Some trees were cut, though some like “Jerry” still stand. So much has happened here in this grove. Even Mike Jani was surprised that Pacific Lumber’s practices were to fall these old-growth redwood trees, as they are part of the road. If you have ever driven up Greenwood Heights Road, you have driven over these ancient roots and these trees have held up the road.

This really was one of the happiest days of my life. All old growth on former Pacific Lumber land, now HRC, is protected by policy. This policy change affects everyone in Humboldt County. People and policies that they practice can change the world. Thank you so much for everyone’s contribution.

Spooner’s Timber Harvest Plan has been renewed with a one-year extension that will now expire on September 12th, 2009. The extension on public file at the California Department of Forestry (CDF) states: “The reason for the extension is to allow time to complete road work associated with the THP. The road-work sites assigned to this plan need to be completed. There were trees, with tree-sitters, remaining to be felled and yarded within the harvest unit that will now be retained as a result of the recent change in ownership and harvest policies.” I hold to their words in writing and policy. I have full confidence in the new HRC without any doubts about its direction of conscious forestry practice. Thank you so very much to the people who wrote those policies of progressive practice. Old-Growth Trees Rule!