Facts on the Headwaters Forest
The Headwaters Forest is 60,000 acres of pristine redwood forest
located approximately 250 miles north of San Francisco. The Redwood
forest only grows in a narrow band along the northern califonia
coastline and southern Oregon border. There is less than 4% of this
original ancient redwood forest that still remains today.
After 15 years of active protests and lobbying by citizens and
environmental groups the Headwaters deal was signed on March 1,
1999. This deal included 7500 acres of the Headwaters Forest now
the Headwaters Reserve. The government paid 450 million dollars
for the land, one of the highest price tags ever paid for parkland.
This deal included the irreplacable old growth groves of the Headwaters
but did not include the other 50 thousand acres of surrounding second
growth that is also valuable forest habitat.
The Headwaters Forest is home to many rare plant and animal species
that are currently on the endangered species list. The Northern
spotted owl is one and the newly discovered marbled murrelet, a
small elusive seabird that only nests in the canopy of large old-growth
trees is another. Other rare and endangered species supported by
the Headwaters Forest include the Bald Eagle, Coho Salmon, Red Tree
Vole and the Southern Torrent Salamander.
On February 11, 2000 the California Department of Forestry approved
a logging plan for Pacific Lumber Company to log a 705-acre site
of pristine forest that lies literally within the boundaries of
the new Headwaters Reserve. This helicopter loggingplan known as
" the hole in the Headwaters" will create a devastating
impact for visitors to the Headwaters Forest as well as destroy
crucial habitat for endangered species.
Updates on the Headwaters Forest
The saga of the Last Stand continues...
Since the 1999 agreement with Pacific Lumber to acquire 7,500 acres
of the Headwaters Forest, the controversy around the remaining ancient
trees continues. Under the 480 million Headwaters deal, Pacific Lumber
agreed to sell the largest tract of ancient redwoods left in private
ownership in return for cash and government assurances of annual timber-harvest
rates. This coastal forest provides crucial habitat for endangered
species including the northern spotted owl and Pacific fisher, and
streams that are breeding grounds for endangered Cojo Salmon as well
as remnants of Chinook, steelhead and chum salmon populations.The
remaining old growth trees under the Pacific Lumber Logging Plan are
being harvested, as well as younger trees in previously harvested
areas creating watershed habitat concerns. Activists continue to peacefully
protest the removal of the old growth trees and defend the last vestiges
of unprotected old growth forest.
FBI and Oakland Police Found Liable for Civil
Rights Violations
Oakland, CA.May 7, 2004 -Through a jury decision, the FBI joined
the City of Oakland in awarding Earth First! activists Darryl Cherney
and the late Judi Bari through her estate a combined $4 million
for violations of their first and fourth amendment rights as guaranteed
by the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit stemmed from a May 24, 1990
car bombing of the pair. Despite evidence that the two activists
were the victims of an assassination attempt the FBI and Oakland
police accused Bari and Cherney of bombing themselves.
Both Cherney and Bari were highly vocal against logging the Headwaters.
Both were severely injured in the explosion.
State Water Board Allows Logging in Impaired Watersheds
Santa Rosa, CA. March 2005 - Pacific Lumber Co., which has been
logging on the North Coast for 136 years, claims that constraints
imposed on its logging plans could force it to file bankruptcy and
even close. The company's appeal to the North Coast Regional Water
Quality Control Board resulted in approval of the company’s
logging plan. Residents and Non Profit Organizations in opposition,
claim the logging plans are located in watersheds (Elk River and
Freshwater Creek) federally listed as impaired under the Clean Water
Act. Environmental concerns include additional sediment discharge,
risking landslides, erosion and habitat destruction.
www.headwaterspreserve.org
Federal Jury Decision in favor of Victims in
"Q-Tip Pepper Spray 8" Case San Francisco
April 2005 - A Federal Supreme Court Jury found the County of Humboldt
and City of Eureka liable for excessive force in violation of the
4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The case was brought against
law enforcement after liquid pepper spray was swabbed into the activists
eyes with Q-tips at anti-logging sit-in protests 1997. The charge
of excessive force was first heard in 1998 but after a hung jury,
the judge threw the case out. The appeals court reinstated the case,
removed that judge for bias, and after many delays the case came
to trial in September, 2004,
www.nopepperspray.org
How do I get involved?
www.sierraclub.com
www.earthfirst.org
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"...We still have not given up on
our campaign to permanently protect all of the ancient groves
that are still standing after 13 years of logging. We are not
done with this campaign yet!"
- Darryl Cherney,
Earth First! Activist |
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" The only way we push the edge of the envelope in terms of
democracy and in terms of what people are allowed to think about
is through direct actions, through civil disobedience. And when
you receive punishment, you're being punished for political
thought. What boundaries do we give to law enforcement when
responding to peaceful, political protesters?"
-Mark Harris, Attorney |
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