Video: how green activists in US are fighting to save 200-year-old tree from culling

With ropes, a harness, a hammock and a bucket pulley system, masked activists in Seattle have taken residence in the branches of an old, thick cedar tree to prevent it from being cut down.

The protest on a private lot is the latest episode highlighting tensions behind tree policy in Seattle as climate change increases temperatures and urban canopy decreases.

The Western red cedar, called the “Luma,” is about 80 feet tall, with two trunks that are each about 4 feet in diameter.

Its age is not known, but activists have estimated it could be as much as 200 years old. The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is seeking to have the tree preserved for its archaeological significance, saying that Native Americans shaped its branches generations ago to distinguish it as a trail marker.

“We have to win this tree. We have to win because Luma is setting the tone for every other tree that’s under threat in Seattle,” one said from the tree. “We have to show that we mean business.”

The occupation began July 14, with each activist taking shifts of several days in the tree.

The tree is on a development site where a single family home is being replaced with six housing units split between two parcels. After the city surveyed the site and proposal, it decided that the tree needed to be removed to accommodate the new housing.

The initial plans neighbours are citing were proposed before a full survey was done and were not accurate to show the expanse of the tree's roots, said Bryan Stevens, a spokesman for the Department of Construction and Inspections.

Stevens said the city can't revoke the removal permit.

The project is funded by Legacy Group Capital, which did not reply to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

It's unclear if the tree will be removed because new coordination between the landowner and the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is needed, Stevens said.

The department did not immediately respond to an email Friday.

“Our majestic trees, for the most part, are our very largest native trees. And they are the most valuable in terms of keeping the community healthy and preserving our ecosystem,” said Sandy Shettler of the Last 6000, a group that aims to count and protect old trees.

Western red cedars can live up to 1,500 years in forests, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

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