Julia Butterfly Hill

Environmental activist who lived 738 days in a redwood tree to prevent deforestation

Julia Butterfly Hill (born 1974) became an environmental legend through her extraordinary 738-day tree sit in Luna, a 1,000-year-old redwood, from 1997 to 1999. This unprecedented act of eco-activism drew global attention to old-growth forest preservation.

After surviving a car accident that changed her perspective on life, Hill joined Earth First! activists in Northern California. Her Luna tree-sit involved enduring El Niño storms, corporate harassment, and media scrutiny. Through satellite phone interviews, she turned her protest into an international symbol of environmental resistance.

The successful negotiation with Pacific Lumber Company preserved Luna and established a 200-foot buffer zone. Hill later founded Circle of Life Foundation, promoting sustainable living through educational programs. Her book The Legacy of Luna details this transformative journey.

Hill's activism pioneered direct action environmentalism, inspiring movements like Extinction Rebellion. As noted in The Guardian, her blend of spiritual resolve and tactical brilliance created new possibilities for ecological advocacy.