Julia Butterfly-HillWhen Julia Butterfly Hill climbed 200 feet up into an ancient redwood tree in the United States to protect it from being cut down in 1997, she was dismissed as a stupid young girl. The assumption was that she would grow tired and come down. The critics were proved wrong.

Pacific Lumber-Maxaam Corporation were lining up to cut the 1,000-year-old tree down, part of their clear-cutting program.

Hill, then 24, had other plans. She stayed. She refused to come down until Luna was permanently protected the tree, which she named Luna. Withstanding death threats and gale force El Niño winds, she lived on a tiny platform in Luna’s branches for 738 days, while the lumber company cut down vast areas of the forest.

Persistence pays off

Hill and her team successfully negotiated to save Luna and a 3 acre buffer zone around the tree into perpetuity.

Her brave and inspiring action brought international attention to the plight of our dwindling ancient redwoods. For many years after she returned to the ground, she toured the world speaking abour her experience in the media and to audiences large and small and about the many lessons she learned. She wrote a bestselling book, The Legacy of Luna, which is available in 11 languages, followed by her environmental “handbook”, One Makes the Difference.

Her story, in active development as a major motion picture called LUNA, will continue to inspire millions around the globe to take action in their own communities.

Circle of Life NGO Julia Butterfly-Hill is a co-founder of the Engage Network and is the inspiration behind What’s Your TreeWhat’s Your Tree.

Tree Woman

Tree Sit – Spirit of Resistance

Ten years later

There are no accidents – You are who you are meant to be