Second Tree-Sit Launched in Struggle to Save the Mattole

A second-tree sitter has joined the growing struggle to save the ancient Mattole forest in Northern California.

Wednesday, over 60 community members rallied at Monument Gate, the main access point to the Mattole’s #unique #biodiverse #forest #ecosystem which @getredwood continues to log, herbicide and plunder for profit.

Meanwhile, from the crown of Trickster, Rook writes: “Up on long ridge, the weather has been chilly and windy for nearly a week now, but today it has calmed and warmed enough for me to spend some time at the very top of the tree without being quite so wind-tossed.

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Treesitter update! Pascal remains well supplied, though under guard in Candelabra. No logging in the area as of yet! Over the ridge in Trickster, Rook finally received some of the supplies sent their way from the Monument Gate rally – enclosed in an adorable picnic basket! Permanent tree resident, Twigs the Sonoma red tree vole, was reached out to but refused to comment. Their recent activities include dragging small branches over the faces of sleeping tree sitters, and lunging at unprotected fingers. Yikes! #somewhereovertherainbowridge #mueslifuelsme #savethemattolesancientforest #inthetrees #redtreevole #earthfirst #extinctionrebellion #forestdefenders #treeclimber #stopoldgrowthlogging #dreamy #perch #forapicnic

A post shared by Blockade Babes (@blockade.babes) on Jul 5, 2019 at 9:11pm PDT

From up in the crown, it’s easier to look past the new stumps on brushy ridge, the equipment chewing up the forest below me, and the road gouged out from the steep meadow above. I can see the dense, dark forest on Taylor peak, the bands of giant douglas-firs marking springs and streams down the mountain, and the diverse stands of mixed hardwood on the sun-catching ridges further down brushy, safe from herbicides – for now.

Last Tuesday, a second tree sit on Rainbow Ridge was established. Upon being discovered in an ancient Douglas fir tree nicknamed Candelabra, security guards began threatening tree sitter Pasqual and intend to send a climber into the tree to cut out their food, water, and gear supplies. Just three weeks ago, a climber ascended Trickster, a tree occupied by Rook, and forcefully removed the majority of Rook’s supplies. The climber cut and dropped heavy buckets and water containers past them and cut branches close to Rook.