[Click here for more images from Briger forest]
The images of cut trees are from the initial tree sit location. Ring counts estimate the trees at 50-70 years old. At the time of being cut, a banner was still being displayed. Rather than cut the banner down, multiple trees were felled, seemingly in retaliation for the attention brought to the development plan. These were some of the largest trees on the property, and were in an area listed as a “preserve” in the approved development plan. The site was still in use by those occupying the Briger forest. Around the same time (3/15/2011), a tree sitter at the Donald Ross site was threatened by a person claiming to be ‘the owner’ of the property, saying that he could cut trees wherever and whenever he wanted. Luckily no one was hurt by the trees being cut.
“The disregard shown by this act leaves us concerned about the fate of tree sitters and endangered species in the forest, but our commitment to defend this forest has only grown stronger.” —an anonymous tree sitter of Briger Forest
[UPDATE 3/21: Following this post, on the Spring Equinox, two tree sitters were arrested, gear was stolen and three more occupied trees were cut by the Palm Beach Gardens Police along Donald Ross Road—which is public land, owned by the people of Palm Beach County. The tree sitters were released later the same evening on their own recognizance. For more info, read the Palm Beach Post story here.]