Julia Butterfly Hill: The Woman Who Lived 738 Days in a Tree to Save Luna
In December 1997, environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill made a decision that would define modern environmental activism: she climbed 180 feet up into Luna, a 1,500-year-old coast redwood tree in Humboldt County, California. What was planned as a short-term tree-sit protest turned into the longest tree-sitting action in history—738 consecutive days living in the canopy of an ancient giant threatened by Pacific Lumber Company’s chainsaws.
This remarkable story of environmental activism not only saved one of California’s oldest redwoods but also redefined tree-sitting protests and inspired a generation of climate activists worldwide. Today, Luna still stands as a testament to the power of peaceful resistance and one woman’s unwavering commitment to forest conservation.
Who is Julia Butterfly Hill? The Accidental Activist Who Changed History
At just 23 years old, Julia Butterfly Hill had no grand plans for activism when she first attended an environmentally-inspired festival in 1997. Born to an evangelical minister father, she grew up constantly on the move, living in a camper and rarely staying in one place for more than two years. Her childhood was spent playing outside, cultivating a deep connection with nature that would later drive her historic tree-sit protest.
After surviving a severe car accident in her early twenties, Julia experienced a life-changing revelation: her life had been out of balance. This awakening led her to Northern California, where she encountered Earth First! activists fighting to save ancient redwood forests from clear-cutting by the Pacific Lumber Company (owned by Maxxam Corporation). When she learned about the tree-sitting strategy to prevent logging, she volunteered—never imagining she would remain in the canopy for over two years.
Learn more about Julia Butterfly Hill’s inspiring journey in this documentary.
Luna Tree-Sit: Extreme Conditions and Unbreakable Resolve
Living 180 feet above the ground in a giant redwood during California winters required extraordinary physical and mental strength. Julia Butterfly Hill’s tree-sit home was a tiny 6×8 foot platform exposed to brutal weather conditions—freezing rain, howling winds reaching 90 mph, and temperatures that plummeted below freezing. She endured extreme isolation, surviving on supplies hoisted up by support activists below.
The Pacific Lumber Company’s attempts to force her down were relentless. Helicopters hovered dangerously close, air horns blared at all hours, and security guards cut off her supply lines. Yet Julia persisted, using a solar-powered cell phone to communicate with media outlets worldwide, transforming her tree-sit into a powerful symbol of environmental resistance. Learn more about the challenges she faced at TreeSisters.org (https://www.treesisters.org/post/story-julia-butterfly-hill).
Watch this award-winning documentary about Julia’s tree-sit and the Luna redwood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lag6WyFqKvg
This 20-minute film won the prestigious Hoimar von Ditfurth Prize at the Okomedia International Festival of Ecological Films in Germany.
The Historic Victory: How the Luna Tree Was Saved
In December 1999, after 738 days of unwavering commitment, Julia Butterfly Hill achieved what many thought impossible. Through negotiations facilitated by Sanctuary Forest, a Humboldt County conservation organization, Pacific Lumber Company agreed to permanent protection for Luna and a 200-foot buffer zone surrounding the ancient redwood.
The agreement included a $50,000 payment for lost logging revenue, which was later donated to sustainable forestry research. Sanctuary Forest became the trustee of a conservation easement protecting Luna, a role they continue to honor today. This victory marked a turning point in forest conservation activism and demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent environmental protest.
Read more about Julia Butterfly Hill’s ongoing environmental work and recent activism at Global Citizen (https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/julia-butterfly-hill-poem-cop28/).
Tree-Sitting as Environmental Activism: The History and Impact
Tree-sitting is a form of environmental civil disobedience where activists literally live in trees to prevent them from being cut down. While this tactic existed before Julia, her 738-day record brought international attention to the strategy and its effectiveness in protecting old-growth forests.
The Luna tree sit inspired countless other environmental protests worldwide, demonstrating how one person’s commitment can catalyze broader social movements. Today, tree-sitting remains a powerful tool in the fight against deforestation, climate change, and habitat destruction.
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