My name is Julia Butterfly Hill. I am writing this letter from 180 feet up in the ancient redwood tree Luna, on the ridge above the town of Stafford, California. I write to you today on behalf of one of the last wild places left in our countryÑthe remaining 3% of our ancient and old growth forests. I write to you on behalf of the animals, ecosystems, and people whose lives are being destroyed by the destruction of these incredible forests. I write to you on behalf of our country, which holds the balance of temperate rainforest survival in our hands. I write to you on behalf of all that is our past, everything and everyone that is our present, and all that will be our future for the rest of time. On behalf of all of us I thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
I have lived here in Luna since December 10, 1997, to protest the destructive logging practices of Pacific Lumber under Charles Hurwitz's Maxxam Corporation. The knowledge I have gained in this time has come through reading, talking to various individuals and groups, as well as incredible and indisputable first hand experience. My purpose in writing you today is to ask you to respect the decision of the Budget Subcommittee on Resources, chaired by Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin, to remove appropriations for the Headwaters Forest agreement from the upcoming budget. Assemblywoman Strom-Martin is the representative of the district where I reside and in which the Headwaters Forest is located.
There are many reasons why this decision is vitally important. But I'm only going to take your time with one for now. The Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a deciding factor on the outcome of the Headwaters Forest agreement. The California State Legislature and voting public should be allowed proper time to review this potentially 1,000 page document. Under current law it is indeed required that a 60-day public comment period take place in regard to the Headwaters Forest agreement and HCP. The taxpaying citizens of the state have a legal right to know exactly what their money will purchase.
Pacific Lumber was convicted of criminal violations of the California Forest Practices Act on May 22, and at the time of this writing is awaiting sentencing. Pacific Lumber has committed over 250 violations of these laws since 1995. Since this company repeatedly breaks existing laws, how can we expect them to provide a plan that will properly safeguard critical habitat for threatened and endangered species? Why should we now expect them to adhere to the laws that protect those species? With their continued cutting in Timber Harvest Plan 1-97-188 HUM in the Bell Creek watershed they are already breaking the proposed rules of their Pre-Permit Application Agreement in principle. Located just north of All Species Grove in the 60,000-acre Headwaters Forest, Bell Creek is a critical component in the ecology of downstream Coho salmon spawning habitat in Lawrence and Yager Creeks, and hosts its own population of steelhead trout. Look at Pacific Lumber's record thus far and know that if funding for this proposed deal is pushed through without proper public review and control a horrifying precedent will be set. That precedent will be a death sentence for the ancient forests, our local community, and forests across the country for the rest of time.
Should you allow the headwaters Forest agreement appropriation to be included in the budget, the mass destruction that will result will rest on your shoulders. You will be held personally responsible for violating the public trust. I beg of you to distance yourself from political and corporate pressure and examine this issue for what it isÑa matter between right and wrong. To allow appropriations for the Headwaters agreement to be bulldozed through is wrong. To take the time necessary to ensure the preservation of life is not only right, it is vital.
Because of these considerations I urge you, as a representative of the public trust, to remove appropriations for the Headwaters Forest agreement from the Governor's budget proposal. Thank you for your consideration in this matter
In defense, respect, and love for all life,
Julia Butterfly Hill
[This message was transcribed on behalf of Julia Butterfly by her on-ground support team.]
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1998
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited