California's forest defenders

Tens of thousands of people reside in communities near Sierra Pacific Industries' (SPI) logging destruction. Many are standing up to stop it. Below are a few of the people and groups who are committed, like us, to saving the Sierra.


SMALL communities standing up to a BIG company

Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch (EPFW) is a group based in the tiny Sierra town of Arnold, California that is at the forefront of the fight to change Sierra Pacific Industry’s devastating logging practices. Roughly ten years ago, SPI began aggressively clearcutting the forests around Arnold causing an uproar in the local community. Shortly after this destruction began, over 300 people turned out in a local gymnasium to do something about it, and EPFW was formed. They now work closely with us, pressuring SPI to update its outdated logging practices with more environmentally-friendly alternatives. You can read more about EPFW here.

On Valentine's Day in 2008, ForestEthics teamed up with EPFW to recognize "Businesses with a Heart." These are businesses that have signed the Save the Sierra Pledge, urging Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) to reform its destructive logging practices. More than 160 of those signatures came from communities like Arnold that are located near clearcut logging.
Learn more about our Save the Sierra campaign >>

David Rink is a general contractor and forestry technician who has lived, worked and raised his children in the forests and mountains of Northern California for nearly 40 years. During that time he has been part of the sustainable forestry movement that has risen from the ashes of the 20th century's destructive timber practices. 

David owns seven acres near the Stanislaus National Forest and has observed and monitored the massive clearcutting occurring on SPI's timber holdings near Stanislaus.  He believes it is reminiscent of the "cut-and-run" logging mentality of the last century that served neither the industry nor the environment. He feels that there are many alternatives to SPI's timber practices and is optimistic about the future of sustainable forestry in California. David is working hard to bring together loggers, builders, environmentalists and other stakeholders to conserve and enhance the resources in the Sierra that they all value so highly.

Marily Woodhouse has lived in the foothills of Mt. Lassen since 1989 on a road that leads to thousands of acres of SPI property. About five years ago, Marily witnessed her quiet, little-used road transform into a "logging truck superhighway," and has since become a dedicated activist to stop SPI's destruction.

To Marily, this is a very personal issue because of the proximity of SPI's clearcutting to her home. But she feels that this is a personal issue for millions of people who do not live nearby because this area is part of the state's watershed and provides all California residents with clean, fresh water. Marily currently works with ForestEthics to inform her fellow California residents of SPI's archaic and unsustainable logging practices in the hopes that more people will stand up to SPI and save the Sierra.

Susan Robinson recently retired to the Sierra Nevada and lives in an area where nearly half of the forest is being clearcut. Susan's father was a district forester and regional park manager in Pennsylvania, and she was raised to appreciate sustainable forestry and all of the biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Her deep love for the Sierra Nevada and its diverse forests has driven her to action to protect them from being clearcut on an industrial scale. 

No matter where she goes to enjoy the majestic beauty of the Sierra forests, Susan now expects to find large tracts of ugly clearcuts and tree plantations. Based on what she sees frequently in her area and what she knows from her father, she finds the extent of SPI's reckless destruction of habitats, watersheds and forests appalling. She currently sits on the board of directors for the Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch and works with ForestEthics to protect, promote and restore healthy forests and watersheds in the Sierra Nevada.

Stand up to save the Sierra: Get involved today >>