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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Update on Yellowwood Tree-Sit |
Current rating: 0 |
by blackwidow, Bloomington, IN IMC
Email: Blackwidow (nospam) bluemarble.net (unverified!)
Phone: 812-337-0452 |
17 Dec 2001
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Victory in Brown County, Indiana |
A week has past since members of the Yellowwood Treehuggers dismantled their tree stand in Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, Indiana. Last Sunday the tree-sit was taken down as a sign of compromise toward the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The Treehuggers, hoped that by removing their tree-stand, that DNR would realize that they where rational people who want to have dialogue with the DNR.
Monday December 10, Jim Allen of the DNR, not knowing that the tree-sit was dismantled, went out to the site, and posted harvest area signs. According to DNR, the loggers contacted them and wanted to cut starting December 11. Word spread quickly throughout the environmental community about the site being closed, and people took action by calling DNR, and Mark Kruzan. Kruzan is State Representative from Bloomington and is the Majority Leader. Mr. Kruzan then contacted Assistants to Governor O’Bannon, and John Davis, Deputy Director of Indiana DNR. By 6 p.m. Members of the Yellowwood Tree-huggers where contacted by the Bloomington Herald Times, and by Kruzan that the DNR has cancelled the sale, and is in talks with Taggart Sawmill to purchase the trees back.
"What a roller coaster day" stated Curtis McNeely, avid supporter of the tree-sit, referring to waking up that morning, thinking the trees would be gone, then finding out the news. "Today (Dec 10) is my Birthday, and I want to thank Governor O’Bannon, Mark Kruzan, and Indiana DNR for giving me the best present of my life, 78 trees!" said McNeely.
Mark Kruzan will be introducing a bill in January that if passed, would end all commercial logging on Public Lands. When asked how this action may effect the state forest campaign Rachel Leaneagh said "I think it's fantastic that you have saved 78 trees and I am really excited to be getting all this information via email I really think there is a chance for the bill now. When different people come together for a common cause it's really calming to see results like this."
These organizations below are excellent sources of background information on the issues here and may be contacted as resources:
The Indiana Forest Alliance
812-332-4878
Heartwood
812-337-8898 |
See also:
http://www.bloomingtonweb.com/imc/
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