By Berberis Nervose – Earth First! Journal, Beltane (May 1) 1988
On March 6, 17 Earth First!ers trekked to All Species Grove, among the world’s largest and most threatened unprotected primeval redwood stands, and planted 400 Coast Redwood and Douglas Fir seedlings on a clearcut. The 750-acre stand is likely the most hotly contested single grove in the United States, site of two aerial redwood occupations, numerous de-flaggings, clandestine field trips by ecology experts and ecoteurs, and increased surveillance by Pacific Lumber’s security forces. Pacific Lumber, taken over in 1985 by Houston-based Maxxam Corporation, is in the beginning stages of cutting 263 acres from the middle of All Species Grove.
The tree planting was Humboldt County Earth First!’s 23rd public antiMaxxam direct action since October 1986. The large group traveled with an NBC National News crew to the drop site, 15 miles southeast of Eureka.
We planted carefully in the compacted mud, constructing barriers from slash to block the hot sun on the south facing slope. As per California’s weak logging laws, the entire 47-acre clearcut at the northeast corner of All Species Grove had been replanted by PL. However, all seedlings on the tract were already dead, victims of uncaring conformance.
A successful planting finished, the group moved into the adjacent, untouched forest. Walking down the ridge we came to All Species Creek and a massive 13-foot diameter redwood with a piece of nylon webbing hanging from the first branch 150 feet above the ground. This was the tree Greg King sat in for a week in September. Across the creek was Jane Cope’s tree, 10 feet in diameter. Both trees are nearly 300 feet tall.
Soon Carl Anderson, PL’s security chief, appeared. Three of us were at the time wanted for other “crimes” and might have been recognized by Anderson. Thus we fled into the forest as the “clean” planters departed through the clearcut. Creeper, the Lorax, and I moved quickly up the drainage, now clogged with scores of giant trees blown over after the clearcut took their protection. Safety—non-PL land—lay a slow half mile away. Lorax led the way toward the property line at the ridge top.
The Lorax is an inspiration. At six-foot-five, 250 muscular pounds, Lorax is the ultimate ecoteur. In L.A. he worked evenings as a security guard at rock concerts, busting heads and tossing punk rock fans off stage. Days he worked with children at a day-care center. Now a four-point student at a university, Lorax spends summers restoring streams in California wild lands. (“I’ve just got to bust rock,” he’ll say over a six-pack.)
We were eager to reach neutral ground, as getting caught probably would mean 30 days or more in jail. My confidence waned, however, when, while moving through thick under-growth listening for adversaries, Lorax turned to me, pointing at a short and then a tall plant that looked similar, and said: “Short Oregon Grape and Tall Oregon Grape—Berberis nervose.” “Oh, so that’s what that is,” said Creeper, his interest sparked as if touring a county flower show rather than California’s hottest forest grove, possibly surrounded by security or large angry loggers.
“What?” I asked, bewildered. Could they really be talking plants?
“Short Oregon Grape, Tall Oregon Grape,” Lorax repeated matter-offactly. “Same genus, different species.” Finally we came to the ridge top and to the safety of a public road. Around the corner, 14 guerrilla restorationists stood. There were no arrests.
Shortly after the above action, EF! staged two other direct actions. On April 4, EF!ers climbed two giant redwood trees on either side of US Highway 101, in Humboldt County, and hung a 20’ X 50’ banner reading: “SAVE PRIMEVAL FOREST / AXE Maxxam / EARTH FIRST!” Four climbers ascended to 150 feet in trees in Humboldt Redwoods State Park to protest the destruction of similar trees owned by Pacific Lumber.
On April 13, one hundred folk from Humboldt County EF! and the Acorn Alliance returned to All Species Grove in response to the start of logging operations by Pacific Lumber. Despite heavy security by a force of hired goons, 60 demonstrators infiltrated the grove and 20 were eventually arrested.
Earth First!’s campaign to save the last redwood wilderness is in its most crucial stages. Maxxam Corporation must this year level massive amounts of forest to meet annual debt payments that next year double to $83 million, and to continue financing its attempted takeover of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation. Clearcutting could this year destroy the remaining habitat viability of Pacific Lumber’s primeval redwood islands, an act that State Fish and Game now says could bring extinction to certain old growth dependent species.
If acquisition mechanisms are not in place by the end of this year, then it will probably be too late. EF! will continue to intervene with direct action and education campaigns. This year we will conduct as many direct actions as money allows. We have the people, places, and drive. Help us slam Maxxam out of the redwoods.