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Woman Lives in Tree for 738 Days, Saves Giant Redwood
16 Jul
Summary
- Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a redwood tree for 738 days.
- She protested to prevent the 1,000-year-old tree named Luna from being logged.
- An agreement saved Luna, and Hill descended on December 18, 1999.
In December 1997, Julia Butterfly Hill, then 23, ascended a 1,000-year-old redwood named Luna in Northern California. What began as a short protest to prevent logging evolved into a historic 738-day occupation. Hill resided on two small platforms suspended nearly 180 feet above the ground, enduring extreme weather and isolation.
Her continuous presence in the tree attracted global attention, turning Luna into an international symbol for forest conservation. Volunteers supplied her with necessities, and solar panels enabled communication. Hill faced significant challenges, including intense storms and pressure from the logging company.
After over two years of negotiation, an agreement was reached in December 1999. The Pacific Lumber Company agreed to protect Luna and its surrounding buffer zone. On December 18, 1999, Hill finally descended, completing her mission to save the ancient tree.
Although Luna survived the protest, it was later damaged by a chainsaw vandal in 2000. Conservationists intervened, and the tree continues to stand today. Following her activism, Hill authored a memoir and became a prominent speaker on environmental protection.
