Update on Tree Sitters in the Stoltmann Wilderness
8/10/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: UPDATES FROM THE TREEHOUSES IN THE STOLTMANN WILDERNESS
Source: PATH & FAN
www.enviroweb.org/PATH
path@envirolink.org
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 10, 1999
Two tree sitters are purched 60 feet high in the trees on platforms in
the Stoltmann Wilderness. The 500,000 hectare proposed Coast Mountain
National Park Reserve was being logged and roaded 7 days a week, 14
hours a day. Road building has been halted by the tree sitters who are
located in a blasting zone and a falling zone on a new road
International Forest Products (Interfor) was pushing through the
Ancient Forest.
"Our demands are clear, no more logging and no new roads in this
Ancient Forest!", stated Barney Kern, People's Action for Threatened
Habitat (PATH) spokesperson.
A private members bill is to be presented this fall to the House of
Commons by Liberal MP Charles Caccia, and backed by other Liberal MPs
Clifford Lincoln and Karen Kraft Sloan to protect this Ancient Forest,
and home to the oldest Douglas-Fir trees(1,300+ years) in the world.
"This area must be protected," explains Barney Kern, "This is the
largest remaining intact wilderness left in the Lower Mainland of BC,
and home to threatened Grizzly bears and endangered long tail frogs.
There are two First Nations claiming this area to be part of their
traditional territory as well, we'd like to see these land issues
settled before any more destruction happens here."
Activists from PATH and the Forest Action Network, Vancouver (FAN-Van)
pledge to stay in the trees until the all logging and roadbuilding
stops in the Stoltmann Wilderness.
Aug 9, 1999 - Update: At 8:15am one Interfor employee came up to the
zig zag road, looked around our camp and the drill machine (which our
camp is blocking) and said "have a good day Barney", and then left.
He did not go to the tree platforms. He did not ask us to leave. The
fire crews are still working, so I don't think Interfor is allowed to
work back here.
Aug 9, 1999 - 9:20am Pete Bukoski and the drill operator came by and
made some threats, they went to the tree sit and saw Mustard on the
platform. There video camera wasn't working - they'll have to come
back and film the action in order to get an injunction.
They asked us to move the camp and my truck so they could use the
drilling machine somewhere else. I asked them to make a deal with me
to not harrass us and I would let them move the drill rig. No deal,
drill rig is still here, they said they would be back later.
Aug 9, 1999 - 2:31pm Two loggers in black pickup truck drove close ton
our camp driving a black Dodge RAM pickup truck, BC license 2403 DB.
They asked not to be filmed, Barney Kern, spokesperson PATH, relied,
"Then don't come here." The loggers then backed up and left. Partway
down the road they yelled, "We'll be back tonight, and we'll bring
Andy."
Please spread this info far & wide, it will help assure our safety.
Photos & updates (updated as the news happens via satellite) available
at http://www.enviroweb.org/PATH