Customer Reviews

From the Redwood Forest : Ancient Trees and the Bottom Line: A Headwaters Journey

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This book explains in simple terms the descruction that P.L unloads on our earth. We are all suffering from the greed of hurwitz. When they "take" a tree alongside a stream, the sun hits the water. Then the water becomes silted, and the water heats up. Then the salmon do not come anymore. Then the eagles have nothing to eat, so they leave. With no trees, no air is cleansed, and with bad air we die. Somone else needs to leave.

Earth First!, Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club - what images do these names conjure up in your mind? In the minds of many, including the author, Joan Dunning, before she got involved in writing her book From the Redwood Forest, hearing those groups made them think of long-haired, young activists who chain themselves in front of bulldozers just to save trees - "America's Renewable Resource." Joan Dunning got involved with the campaign to save California's headwaters forest and realized that these stereotypes, although partially accurate, are still far from the truth. Saving not just old-growth forests, but old-growth ecosystems, should be a top priority for a true citizen. She contends that whether we want to or not, one day, like her, we will have to stand up and face the reality that these trees and their ecosystems need saving.

Dunning begins this book: "I never intended to get involved with the controversy surrounding the Headwaters Forest, let alone write a book about it." She writes this book in a unique first-person view, as her journey of learning about the Headwater's forest, including clever anecdotes and stories of her family and past. She puts in excerpts from what appears to be a journal, giving you a first-hand look at what she was feeling. She writes in a way that you feel as though you were there and can feel her feelings.

Dunning says that this book is "about the satisfaction that comes from action, effective action, activism." She believes that many Americans are almost activists. They know that they care, they need to do something, but they are afraid to act. Just as she, an almost activist, emerged out of her cocoon of fear, she believes that soon others will also. She first began this emergence, September 15, 1996, when a friend invited her to a meeting of the Taxpayers for Headwaters. She agreed reluctantly and then ended up reading an excerpt on the marbled murrelet from her book Secrets of the Nest. While touching members of the audience, she was moved herself. She went to an Earth First! Rally and after hearing a speaker describe the deliberate sawing down of a Sequoia sempervirens (coast redwood). Then, in ultimatum, she attended a slide show by Doug Thron, a "war correspondent," to determine if she would or would become involved with this issue. The shocking photographs of clearcuts and slash fires that took out forests convinced her that this was not something to be taken lightly. So, after talking with Doug, she agreed to write a book in which he could publish his pictures.

Headwaters Forest is in Northern California, south of Redwood National Park and small towns such as Eureka and Arcata. Headwaters Forest is made up of six groves: Headwaters grove, Elk Head Springs grove, Shaw Creek grove, Allen creek grove, Owl creek grove, and Yager camp. Throughout the book, the author describes her journey through the Headwaters Forest controversy and through the six groves of Headwaters Forest. She and Doug are the only ones besides MAXXAM employees who have visited all six groves, since several of the groves are private property owned by MAXXAM. Pacific Lumber Company (PLC) had forested Headwaters Forest for nearly a hundred years. They had forested it wisely, thinning out trees and planting more, using proper foresting techniques. PLC supported the communities in Humboldt County and was a popular household name, a symbol of pride for residents there. Then in 1985, Charles A. Hurwitz, of MAXXAM, staged a takeover of PLC. To repay the debt incurred, he had trees chopped down at alarming rates, followed by clearcut fires to which burned all growth to provide short-term nutrients for more trees, but eliminated long-term nutrients, by destroying the entire ecosystem. The author concludes that PLC practiced good forestry techniques which preserved nature, while MAXXAM just chopped down wood as fast as they could to repay Hurwitz's $864 billion debt. MAXXAM tore apart Humboldt county and their forests.

When Dunning travels through the groves, she uses illustrative language to attempt to describe the natural beauty and the artificial horror that can be seen in Headwaters Forest. However, she is still able to blend in scientific lore about the magnificent ecosystem that is trying to survive. For instance, the mycorrhizal fungi which cover the soil and a tree's rots. The mycorrhizal fungi and the tree's roots have a symbiotic relationship, the mycorrhizal fungi creates a connective layer between the soil and root to extend the roots' reach into soil and increase the tree's capacity to absorb water and nutrients. This is especially critical with seedlings. In addition, the mycorrhizal fungi, which lacks chlorophyll, derives sugar from the roots of the tree. In fact, 51% of the biomass of an old-growth forest is fungal. Clearcutting, a common practice by MAXXAM, destroys the fungus that is so crucial to the survival and growth of redwoods. And it goes on; there are the salmon in the creeks, the flying squirrels, the marbled murrelet, and more, all essential to the ecosystem of an old-growth forest. The author says that while PCL preserved them, after MAXXAM's takeover, ecosystems were rampantly destroyed.

Dunning goes on hikes with both Doug and her nine-year old son, David. She gives us a picture of what it might be like for her David to be experiencing this, not realizing that when he is older, this may all be gone. Dunning, goes so far as to even climb "Luna," a redwood in which Julia "Butterfly" Hill has lived since December 10, 1997. After a quick lesson in climbing trees, she, in her early 50s, climbed 180 feet up into the tree to interview Butterfly. Her description of that gives you an awe of the massive size of the tree. She stresses the importance that people know about this. She wants people to know how valuable these forests are. Dunning has heard the feeling that one forest is enough for humans to go look at and is trying to get people to realize that these forests are important to more than just man.

Dunning writes an inspired book about the controversy surrounding Headwaters Forest filled with cheerful stories and her journey through discovering the forests and what the controversy was all about. While she leaves the end up in the air stating that she had to quit writing to give it to her publisher. However, a bit of research on my own part helped me to discover that, in fact, just yesterday, November 10, 1998, the California Department of Forestry revoked MAXXAM/PLC's license to log wood in any of the Headwaters Forest. Dunning concludes that the most important thing is to get involved in what you believe in. While she is trying to save Headwaters Forest, that may not be your place, but you should be active in what you support. She makes this point in through rich journal entries and narratives of her discovery. That combined with 57 full-color photographs in the middle leads me to give this book two trunks up.

No book has ever moved me the way this one has, I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I've just read many of the other reviews, and I don't have the way with words that some do, but they tell it like it is. Joan tells it like it is. Books don't get any better, and this one will change your life, like someone said it isn't all about happiness, and I have become informed and aware of too much to not so something about what is being done to our Redwood Forests, and what is being allowed to be done to our envirnment and watersheds. It's a true story, happening right now, this book documents it succinctly with amazing one of a kind pictures. It will open your eyes. Something needs to be done about Charles Hurwitz from Houston, Texas and his company MAXXAM. He is savaging The last of the Virgin Redwood Rainforest in California. I cannot beleive the CDF and the department of Forestry are "letting him get away with it." Not to mention the way he "aquired" the land, which is explained in the book. Please read this book. This book will light a fire in you, and like me you will have to do something. There are several websites listed in the back to point you in the right direction. I beleive this book is THE BEST one on the subject and if you plan on reading only one this should definitely be it. It has the most facts, information, and insight and is so well written, I couldn't say enough. And 57 pages of priceless color pictures! I am buying used copies for people, I would give one to EVERYONE if I could, and I have only said that about 2 books, and I read alot. The book is priceless. Thank You Joan

This journal is a tough analysis of an unscrupulous corporate raider's methods of mining the temperate old growth redwood rain forests of Humboldt County, California. Joan and Doug's curiosity and observations lead her and us through all the resent events and to many victims of such a mass liquidation of forest, soil, waterways and wildlife. As a resident of the area, I have read news accounts regarding the Headwaters Forest, but none have even come close to the articulate passion that Joan has focused on to repeatedly hit her mark. The natural descriptions of the remaining groves and wildlife are tender and capable of grinding the callousness from even the hardest of hearts. I find myself walking in circles of despair for all of the destruction that has already taken place. Doug's photo journal validates every accusation made against this corporations blatant grab for money at the expense our community, our children's future and everything sacred. Read this book, then make it required reading for all of your friends and family.

It's urgent that you and your children visit the redwoods! This book will inspire you to do so. Joan, the author, takes you on a journey through the redwood forest and through your conscience. Her artistic expression of her humanity in words and in nature drawings often made me laugh with the insights ("Humboldt County, Log it or Leave it - a bumper sticker she saw), yet also cry with the vulgarities. It's a wonderful read, but one should also be aware of the astounding photography in the middle section. I kept referring back to the photos the whole time while reading the book. I'll offer TWO of my FAVORITE QUOTES that epitomize the book's strenghts: "Like Kristi, and many other residents of various watersheds who have suffered loss of private property and peace of mind, Mike seemes strangely perfect to be one of the people who have no choice but to stand up to MAXXAM. He can't sell his house because he would have to disclose the danger it is in. He can't rent it out for the same reason. His insurance company has canceled his house insurance. He doesn't have the money to buy a new house and walk away from the situation. Right now his house stands abandoned, simply a liability, while Mike is forced to rent at his own expense in Rio Dell." (p.145) ALSO, Joan includes her 12-year-old son in her adventures. At the end of the book they have this conversation: "At one point he said, 'I forgot what I was going to say.' 'Well, it'll come back to you,' I reassured. 'Yes, but I was just making conversation before. This was something I really wanted to say.'" (p.259) I'm not ruining the end for you by saying that you'll really want to say something, do something, express something when you finish this book!

Dunning tells the story of the true cost of industrial logging as practiced by the Maxxam Corporation after the take over of Pacific Lumber Co. The effects touch not only the species of the forest but also the the neighbors downstream of Maxxam's property. Her first person account is filled with facts, insights and interviews which brings home the responsiblity each of has in regards to protecting our enviroment.She makes me want to jump up and do something. I love her writing. The book's a great read.

Very heartfelt book describing the terror that is going on in N. California with respect to the ancient redwoods.A very sad but moving picture of the reality of corporate greed. Beautiful/ugly pictures of the redwoods before and after Maxxams blade.

I learned so much by reading this book. Joan Dunning has a way of tackling difficult, cumbersome and emotionally charged subject matter and making it easily digestible. It's a compelling read and the photography by Doug Thron is extraordinary.

I had the opportunity to listen to Joan read from this book. It touched my soul, and I have started to give it to some of my friends to read.

A fascinating first-hand read about the struggle to preserve the ancient giants. Amazing interviews with activists, including an incredible 16 year old woman that had her eyes doused with pepper spray by the cops during a protest. This is an inside account, written from the field in the midst of the war over clearcutting, not from the top floor of an ivory tower.