Who. Owns a Tree? Julia Butterfly Hill versus Maxxam

i£~¥1::1~'!:~~ or most of its history, northern California's Pacific The ultimate goal of a tree sit is to remain in a tree long Lumber Company was a leader in environmental enough to save it from logging. However, many such actions stewardship. It pioneered the practice of selec­ merely delay the inevitable. Still, activists support tree sits tively cutting some trees on its land while leaving . because they gain time for further legal proceedings and nearby trees intact. Unlike the usual practice of increase media awareness. But Julia Butterfly Hill proved clear-cutting-clearing all the trees from an area of land­ indomitable. In her most famous tree sit, she occupied Luna, a selective cutting allows the roots of the remaining trees to 55-meter (180-foot) redwood tree that was nearly a thousand

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retain water and hold soil in place. In addition, the surviving years old, and resolved to remain there until Maxxam agreed trees allow forest regrowth that more closely mimics natural to spare the tree. She spent 2 years in the tree without coming succession after a disturbance. Pacific Lumber developed a down once. She stayed through gale-force winds, two winters, 100-year sustainable logging plan that ensured relatively intimidation tactics, the death of another activist, and the cut­ healthy forests as well as job security for the loggers and their ting of most of the trees in the stand that she occupied. Julia's families. efforts were rewarded when Maxxam agreed to protect Luna, In 1986, however, Pacific Lumber was purchased by new and a 61-meter (200-foot) buffer around it, in perpetuity. In a owners and renamed Maxxam. To increase revenue from the separate, complex deal that included many stipulations about company's land holdings, the new management clear-cut hun­ logging practices, Maxxam and another company also agreed dreds of thousands of acres of redwood forests. Because the to sell the U.S. government 3,035 hectares (7,500 acres) of new harvesting method removed vegetation and tree roots, ancient forest for $480 million. That property has now become Maxxam's practices left the forests susceptible to soil erosion the Headwaters Forest Reserve. and landslides. On December 31, 1996, an immense land­ Hill's actions cost Maxxam slide began on a steeply sloped Maxxam site above the town millions of dollars in delays of Stafford, California. The landslide destroyed a number of and lost revenue and brought homes and drastically altered the natural environment. unsustainable logging practices The adjacent uncut land, owned by Maxxam, was home to the attention of many people. to the largest remaining intact forest of ancient redwood Because of its large debt load, trees and to a number of endangered species. Environmental Maxxam filed for bankruptcy activist Julia Butterfly Hill was appalled by Maxxam's forest protection in January 2007, and management practices. In response, she joined a "tree sit" its depleted assets were reorga­ on Maxxam's land organized by the direct action group Earth nized and transferred to a new ! First! i company in 2008. Although ..,.. ~ Julia Butterfly Hill sitting in Luna. ij ! ~ Hea dWaters Forest Reserve. 261 •; . i::.:.\· iill.;j•. 'H' Maxxam's logging practices appeared to have placed profit her as having made a personal sacrifice to save an ancient be.fore sustaTnability, the new company has stated that it will tree and to bring the issue of unsustainable logging practices returrho more sustainable practices with the trees that remain to the public's attention. Others see her as a lawbreaker who on its holdings. trespassed on private property in an effort to prevent a legal The conflict over logging practices raises many questions. activity.~~ Do citizens of the United States have the right to influence Sources: ]. B. Hill, The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, what activities occur on private lands? What if the land is .,t 'i- and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods (HarperCollins, 2000); public? Was Julia Butterfly Hill a hero or a villain? Some see H. Sims, The scion, North Coast journal, July 20, 2006.