Environmentalists Act as “Arbor Armor” in Silver County                           

Activists Go to Extreme Measures to Protect Forest      

By Sammie Snoop, Staff Reporter

Silver County, Colorado - Activists from the environmental group Pure Nature stopped a logging truck from entering Silver County Forest last Friday, saying they oppose any future logging or development on Forest land.

“The truck couldn’t move and we were determined to stay as long as it took,” Pure Nature spokesman Jay Jacobs told the Silver Times yesterday. “The forest cannot absorb any further environmental degradation and we will not let it happen.”

About 20 environmentalists, all wearing “Arbor Armor” t-shirts, surrounded the Silver Lumber Company truck, refusing to let it pass. One of the members even chained herself to the truck’s wheel well. 

The truck was held up for over two hours until Vermillion police began making arrests.  In total, three of the demonstrators were arrested and one was issued a citation for disorderly conduct. 

The demonstration was spurred by an announcement by the Silver County Forest Planning Team that public hearings regarding long-range planning for the Forest will begin next week.  The Team announced three plan alternatives for the Forest region, each varying in its friendliness towards environmental preservation.  Pure Nature Activists are dissatisfied with each alternative as they feel that Forest officials are not doing enough to protect the future of the region. 

“Human presence in the Silver County Forest has resulted in the practical annihilation of our natural environment.  Future plans must not facilitate any further human destruction of our forest,” said Jay Jacobs, Pure Nature spokesperson.  He feels that extreme measures are necessary to get a response from forest officials. 

Public meetings regarding Forest planning will be held next week at Vermillion Public Library.  Pure Nature plans to have a loud presence at the meetings and hopes that Forest planners will by sympathetic to their cause. 

For more information about the public hearings, please contact Mike Mills, Forest Ranger at 555-555-555.