Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
The Ghost Forest — Radicals and Real Estate in the California Redwoods
A Personal History of the Ancient Redwood Ecosystem and the Struggles to Protect It
Historical Presentation by Humboldt Author-Activist Greg King
Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Greg King is an award-winning and nationally published Humboldt County writer and photographer who is credited with discovering and naming Headwaters Forest, in 1987, when he was a leader of Humboldt Earth First!.
In this June 12 presentation, “The Ghost Forest,” at 7:00 p.m. in the Coleman Auditorium at Gualala Arts Center, King examines this intense era of ancient redwood liquidation by Maxxam Corp., the equally fervent efforts to save the last of this unparalleled ecosystem, and the current state of the forest.
King played a critical role in protecting Headwaters Forest. His talk explores the natural history of the redwood ecosystem, illustrated by his own beautiful and widely-published photos. His presentation also chronicles the redwood’s wider collision with Western humanity and discusses key elements of state, federal and corporate timber policy.
King moved to Humboldt County from Sonoma County in 1987 specifically to fight Maxxam’s liquidation of the last significant ancient redwood groves outside of parks. During the 19th century King’s family owned one of Sonoma County’s largest redwood mills, the King-Starrett Mill in Monte Rio. The King Ranch in Sonoma County and the King Range Mountains in Humboldt County are named for his ancestors.
In 1999, King founded the non-profit Smith River Project, dedicated to protecting California’s wildest river, and in 2004 he founded Siskiyou Land Conservancy, a land trust. He is currently writing a book, The Ghost Forest, a history of the redwood ecosystem and redwood logging and protection efforts. His latest book, Rumors of Glory, the co-written memoir of Canadian rock star Bruce Cockburn, will be published by HarperOne in November 2014.
“Over and over, Greg King told himself that this butchery had to be stopped. Not just controlled, not just regulated, but stopped — altogether, in its tracks, and once and for all.” — David Harris, The Last Stand.
Sponsored by Friends of Gualala River
