Activist marks 2 weeks in tree to protest logging near Port Angeles, WA
A tree sitter has spent two weeks protesting the "Parched" timber sale in the Elwha watershed near Port Angeles, living 60 feet up a fir tree.
The sale targets mature state forestland, drawing backlash from conservationists and tribal members concerned about environmental impacts.
Logging has been temporarily halted by court order, while public support for the blockade and calls for forest protection continue to grow.
CLALLAM COUNTY, Wash. - A local activist has now spent two weeks living in the canopy of a fir tree on state-managed lands in the Elwha River Watershed, near Port Angeles, protesting a controversial logging project approved by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The unnamed activist, only known to be affiliated with the Olympic Forest Defenders, ascended the tree in the early morning of May 7, rigging their perch about 60 feet high and using a blockade system that prevented authorities from removing them without risking collapse.
Keep reading to learn more about this tree-sit protest taking place in Clallum County, and if there's an end in sight.
What we know
According to social media posts on Instagram, the action is in protest of the "Parched" timber sale, which includes 183 acres of mature low-elevation forest near Little River Road in Clallam County, forest that conservationists argue should be protected as legacy habitat.
In an Instagram post on May 10, the activist gave an update on their efforts, and said law enforcement tried to coax them down during a windstorm, but they didn't budge.
What we don't know
It is unclear if the activist now remains alone in the forest canopy or is still surrounded by supporters.
According to Joe Smillie, aspokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the perch is "rigged by cables to the ground and would collapse if that rigging is disturbed."
"We closed off the recreation area out of concerns someone would trigger that rigging; and because of later crowds of sympathizers who visited the site." said Smillie. "That initially prompted concerns it would interfere with the Dry Hills mountain bike race last weekend, but after further investigation we determined the race was out of the way enough to proceed as planned, which it did without incident."
A round-the-clock guard from DNR law enforcement officers is on site, according to Smillie.
"We hope the demonstrator will come down soon. Smillie told FOX 13 Seattle in an email Wednesday. "Their safety, being on a platform high in a tree, remains our top concern. They have told us they will come down if Clallam County Superior Court issues an injunction to stop activities within the Parched sale area."
The protest has grown into a broader community-backed blockade, drawing dozens of supporters to march past police lines on May 9 and rally at the site.
The logging plan has sparked widespread backlash, especially from members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who launched a petition signed by over half the tribe's members and more than 7,000 people demanding protection of the watershed.
The Earth Law Center and Legacy Forest Defense Coalition have filed suit, and a court order has temporarily halted logging pending further hearings later this month.
Dig deeper
The Elwha River is considered one of the most important ecological restoration sites in the country, following the removal of its dams in 2011 and 2014. Conservationists argue that cutting down mature trees in its watershed threatens decades of recovery work aimed at restoring salmon runs and reducing erosion.
Despite Commissioner Dave Upthegrove's campaign promises to pause logging of legacy forests, activists argue that sales like "Parched" — approved before he took office — undermine the spirit of that pledge. The Commissioner has issued a moratorium on future sales but has allowed some previously approved plans to proceed.
Forest defenders vow to continue the tree-sit protest indefinitely.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
Is Tacoma's Teekah Lewis cold case finally coming to a close? Here's what we know
Nordstrom to go private after acquisition with family, Mexican retail group
Marymoor Park announces 2025 summer concert series lineup in Redmond, WA
Olympia, WA man dies at Grand Canyon after lengthy hike
Washington raising price of Discover Pass
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Download Cubby's Free Printable 'First Day of School' Sign!
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. Can you believe it? It's back-to-school time already! The first day of school is always a bit exciting (and even nerve-wracking!), which is why Cubby wants to help you celebrate and commemorate it with a free printable PDF package you can download right here. We first shared this downloadable PDF last spring, but if you missed it then, you can still grab it now! In addition to first and last-day-of-school signs for preschool through sixth grade, our PDF includes a 'A First Day of School Letter to Me!' printable and a fill-in-the-blank 'My School Year' report to hold on to for the end of the year. Capture your kid's feelings, thoughts, nerves, and excitement for whatever school adventure is about to begin! If you'd like, take a photo and then tag us on Instagram @cubbyathome. We'd love to see! Download Cubby's Free Printable 'Last Day of School' Sign! Celebrate and commemorate the end of the school year with Cubby's free printable PDF package. Sign up to download it now! Subscribe to Cubby! Enjoy the new year! — The Cubby Team Further Reading We Used Our New 'Room Plan' Tool to Give This Living Room 3 Distinct Styles — See How, Then Try It Yourself The Design Changemakers to Know in 2025 Create Your Own 3D Room Plan with Our New Tool Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
14 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Strike suspends service on railroads, street cars and elevated lines
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 1, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1922: More than 20,000 employees walked off the job starting at 4 a.m. and joined another 400,000 railroad workers as part of the Great Railroad Strike, which suspended service on all Chicago street car lines and elevated trains. Vintage Chicago Tribune: In 1922, 400,000 railroad workers walked off the jobSubscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
South Florida pilot dies in plane crash while trying to fly around the world
Ahn-Thu Nguyen had already made history. After becoming the 10th woman to fly solo around the world, the South Florida woman took off again this month to embark on a similar journey. The 44-year-old Nguyen, who was known as a groundbreaking aviator, educator and fierce advocate for women in aerospace, died on Wednesday in a plane crash near Greenwood, Indiana, during the early leg of her second global solo flight. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Indy South Greenwood Airport around 10:45 a.m, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash. The agency identified the plane as a Lancair IVP. The NTSB investigation is ongoing and will examine the aircraft, pilot qualifications, maintenance records, weather conditions, and additional data, including air traffic control communications and surveillance footage. Nguyen, a Pembroke Pines pilot who chronicled her flight journeys on her social media page, made her last post the day her plane crashed. In a video posted to her Instagram, with over 166,000 followers, Nguyen is seen sitting in a small aircraft and excitedly tells the camera that she has just completed the first leg of her solo flight around the world. In the video, she says that she is getting ready to fly from Indiana to Pennsylvania. A resident of South Florida Nguyen was founder of Asian Women in Aerospace and Aviation, a nonprofit based in Miami and Pembroke Pines that empowers Asian women and girls through scholarships, mentorship and flight training. She also operated Dragon Flight Training Academy at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, where she mentored the next generation of pilots. Her 2025 solo journey was the continuation of a mission that had already made history. In 2024, Nguyen became only the 10th woman in history — and the first Vietnamese woman — to complete a solo flight around the globe. 'This isn't just a flight — it's a movement,' a GoFundMe page to help Nguyen in her journey reads. Her proposed route covered 26,800 nautical miles across 25 countries, promoting aerospace education for girls worldwide, according to the fundraiser. 'Anh-Thu was an inspiring pilot, instructor, and advocate for girls and women in aerospace, engineering, and aviation,' AWAA said in a statement. 'She lived with boldness, curiosity, and drive.' Born in a remote village in Tuy-Hoa, Vietnam, she attended a UNICEF-built school and grew up without electricity or running water, according to her bio. She arrived in the U.S. at 12 as a refugee, not speaking English, and her family relied on welfare and food stamps. Nguyen went on to graduate as valedictorian of her high school, earn an engineering degree from Purdue University, and went on to pursue a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. As a student, she worked for $6 an hour as a math tutor, took out student loans, and often lived out of her car while completing flight training, her bio reads. She eventually became a Boeing 767 pilot for a major airline and earned recognition as an AOPA Distinguished Flight Instructor. Even with her achievements, Nguyen often faced skepticism. In her bio she recounted repeated instances of being stopped at airport gates and having to prove she was, in fact, a pilot. In 2018, she founded AWAA with a mission to break barriers and provide opportunities for underrepresented girls in STEM. Through the organization, she helped create scholarships and provided discounted flight training for aspiring female pilots. Her nonprofit, headquartered at 7201 S Airport Rd. in Pembroke Pines, says it will continue her legacy. Donations can be made in her honor to Asian Women in Aerospace and Aviation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to fund scholarships and mentorship programs. 'We will use the funds to continue her dream of helping young girls pursue their dreams,' the nonprofit said. In her last post to the internet Nguyen told her audience 'Let's keep flying forward together.'
