Forest defenders work in solidarity as individuals; no single person or group has authority over another. Decisions are made through the consensus process by those who wish to participate. It is consensed upon that treesitters and forest defenders need to attend nonviolence training and climbing training prior to participating in actions. Each of these trainings are generally four to six hours long and offered as often as possible, depending on the availability of training facilitators.
Treesitters are needed! If an individual would like to sit in a tree they must ask themselves these questions. Can they-
  • go without a shower for more than seven days?
  • be alone with their mind for extended periods?
  • be cold, wet, and rocked sleepless for days by a winter storm?
  • poop in a bucket and pee (women use a funnel) in a milk jug?
  • live 150-200 feet in the air on a small tarp covered platform?
  • stand their ground in nonviolent direct action under heavy pressure from authorities?


Not many people jump right into a tree for an extended period. Most people start gradually, finding their nich along the way. Ultimately, the trees tell people what they need to do. All people need to do is listen!

Most treesits are in villages. The Trees are tied together and accessible to each other by way of traverses. There is usually a large tree with a communal donut platform (Poseidon to left) where people gather to play music, sing, share stories and eat! Treesitters are well fed and supplied. Most people gain weight treesitting! Individuals set traverses and do daily climbing to stay fit.

Treesitting is a waiting game. One never knows exactly when "Climber Eric" or his helper buddies will attempt to lower sitters out. First they will try to talk sitters down. No matter what they tell sitters, if a sitter winds up at the bottom of the tree, the sitter will be arrested, and the sitters gear will be confiscated. If a sitter refuses to come down on their own, they will try to use pain compliance techniques to get a harness around the sitter and lower them down. Treesitters do not fight back, instead they are nonviolently resist. To avoid arrest treesitters climb out of reach, or "lock down." Whether treesitters decide to "lock down" or climb out of reach, everything on the platform will inevitably be kicked off, cut up and possibly confiscated. They can do this because, according to the law, treesitters are trespassing. Treesitters need to keep this in mind when thinking about what they want to bring up into a tree.



Climber Eric attempted to remove three treesitters on this day from two different trees. All three attempts were unsuccessful. In the past few years, however, Climber Eric has successfully removed more than 15 treesitters from their perches high in the Oldgrowth Redwoods and Douglas Firs they are trying to protect. This act is very dangerous and can be seen on our Movie Page
Ground Support Needed!
Ground support is a vital part of the movement, without ground support tree sitters could not survive. Ground support involves: tabling at local stores, doing supply runs, helping out at base camps, participating in nonviolent direct actions and/or what ever else you as a nonviolent individual decide to do. Most people rotate, they'll spend a week or two in a tree, then come down and help with ground support while someone else defends the tree, then rotate again.

In the cold rainy season its all about wool, fleece, synthetic long underwear, and gore-tex
No cotton or down! Cotton and down are the last things a person wants to be wearing in a wet cold climate. Cotton and down loose all their insulating characteristics once they get wet. With wool and fleece a person will be wet but warm. Plastic rain paints and jackets are o.k. if a person is not going to be moving around and hiking a lot. Plastic doesn't let body moisture escape and a person winds up drenched in their own sweat. Gore-tex rain gear is best, it lets moisture out but not in.
Essential things treesitters need
  • Wool socks
  • Wool pants
  • Waterproof boots
  • Synthetic long underwear
  • Gore-tex jacket/pants or other rain gear
  • Wool Hat
  • Sleeping bag
  • Bivey sack or tarp
  • Headlamp
 Extras things treesitters bring
  • Climbing gear / rope / harness
  • Backpack
  • Camera your not afraid to loose
  • Drums / Musical instruments
  • Books / Notebooks
  • Propane stove
  • Tents
  • Lantern / flashlight
  • Friends!

When an individual decides to treesit, they generaly bring what ever they have. The most important things to have are courage, and desire. If a person has these, all else will follow. Gear and supplies are regularly donated to individuals committed to the cause. May The Forest Be With You!

For more info on forest defense, contact:
wesavetrees@gmail.com
or call us at 707-834-9561

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