Forest Defenders launch blockade to stop clearcut of the ‘Chameleon’ Timber Sale
The Capitol State Forest, WA
Forest
Defenders today have launched a blockade to prevent the clear-cut
logging of a 100-year-old forest west of Olympia on the traditional
territory of the Chehalis people. The forest, part of the critically
endangered Puget Lowland Eco-Region, was auctioned off by the Department
of Natural Resources as the “Chameleon Timber Sale” to the Elma based
Murphy's Logging Company. Protesters have set up a blockade preventing
road building and logging in one of the largest and most biodiverse
units of the timber sale. The site is home to a late-successional
Douglas Fir forest (over 100 years since it was last logged), which is
gaining old growth characteristics that support endangered wildlife.
"It's
absurd,” one protester said, "That the state of Washington under the
leadership of the ‘climate change candidate’ Jay Inslee is still
sanctioning clearcut logging on public lands.” Recent fires have been
testament to the northwest’s vulnerability to the climate crisis, yet
our elected officials are carrying on a business-as-usual approach as
the world burns. Older forests such as those targeted by the timber
industry not only store massive amounts of carbon and support tremendous
biodiversity, but are less prone to wildfire and are more resilient to
climate change.
“Not
only are we in a climate crisis but we are in an ecological crisis,
with more species going extinct today than at any point in millions of
years. Every wild place that we can save today, every species we save
from extinction will quite literally shape the future of life on earth
for millions of years.”
In light of the ongoing climate emergency and ecological apocalypse, protesters are demanding:
An end to industrial logging on public lands in the State of Washington.
A complete ban on clear-cut logging in the State of Washington.
The
return of “Capitol Forest” to the Chehalis and Quinault
peoples, for DNR to completely fund the restoration of that area, and
for DNR to return all stolen lands.
Until
these demands are met and the Chameleon timber sale is canceled,
protesters will maintain and expand the blockade to prevent industrial
clear cutting on public lands.
Contact:
Joshua Wright – jawrighter@gmail.com 360-989-8076
This kind of logging on old growth mature temperate rainforest is unconscionable and completely unforgivable. Congratulations to all who are trying to prevent it!
ReplyDeleteMature trees are carbon sinks, they help stop climate change, they help stop forest fires, they help Mother Earth. Stop the cutting of our old WA State forests. The WA Dept. of Natural Resources, does not make money cutting down these forests, the funds from the logs help to build more roads into the forest. The money goes into the pockets of the one log truck, one log cutter. The log money does not really do much for WA schools. Cutting down forests only increases climate change. Stop this farce. Save our forests.
ReplyDeleteWe need to support these brave people- we need a moratorium on logging in this state of washington.We need to save these large forests and large trees for purpetuity! These are a legacy of a Northwest gone by - we need to save this for future generations to behold- to enjoy, and engage in our Northwest legacy of forests and wildlife!!
ReplyDeleteis this blockade still happening and in need of support?
ReplyDeleteum, trees are good. voting is important. Knowing what foresting is is up to our Governor, he spent all his green money, and more, to save the orcas. His #1 priority for Washington State was to protect Orca whales. Puget sound and our lakes and rivers are so polluted that the Orcas wash up on our beaches, we can't fish or swim in our waters, still. In my opinion we need to cut regulations and taxes for the people who can clean our waterways, control our dams, let our fish be free. Let us drive to capitol peak and hang out like we used to, and not let homeless humans destroy our forests.
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ReplyDelete