California: Treesit ends and Redwood forest is Clearcut at UC Santa Cruz

Over four hundred days ago, a handful of activists climbed up into the
trees on Science Hill as a symbol of resistance to the university’s
plan to destroy 120 acres of campus forest. For the past 13 months,
the tree sit has drawn attention to UCSC’s reckless plan to develop
upper campus without regard for the welfare of one of Santa Cruz’s
last wild ecosystems.

At approximately 8 AM this morning, the tree sit
drew to a close as police seized control of Science Hill, arresting
one Tree Sitter. Later, a tree cutting service hired by the university
cut down a grove of 100 year old redwood trees to make way for
construction of a new Bioscience building. The three clusters of
redwoods which have now been clearcut were inhabited since November 7,
2007, when over 500 students, alumni, and community members rallied in
opposition to the University’s “Long Range Development Plan”. The Tree
Sit and the University entered mediation to find a solution to this
conflict, but the University was unwilling to modify any of their
plans, despite the devastating effect that upper campus development
will have on the Santa Cruz ecosystem. Precious watershed regions,
unique manzanita groves and hundred-year old redwood forests will be
destroyed by the University’s development of the wild lands just north
of campus. The homes of such rare native animals as the burrowing owl
and the endangered red-legged frog will be irreparably damaged. The
Tree Sit tactic was employed due to the University’s failure to
meaningfully address the concerns of Santa Cruz city and county
officials, community members, environmentalists and UCSC faculty and
students. Instead of acting upon the concerns of the thousands of
people who have voiced opposition to increased University
construction, UCSC has spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to
hire riot police to intimidate community members who oppose their
plans. The end of the Tree Sit is not the end of resistance to the
Long Range Development Plan. The determination and integrity that
sustained the 13 month occupation will continue to incite action
against the Long Range Development Plan. The diverse communities that
united to oppose the destruction of upper campus are renewed in their
commitment to resistance. LRDPaction.media@gmail.com

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous