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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Activist

Julia Butterfly Hill

Julia Butterfly Hill is an American environmental activist best known for living in a redwood tree named Luna for 738 days to protest the logging of old-growth forest.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Julia Butterfly Hill is an American environmental activist who lived in a 1,000-year-old redwood tree named Luna for 738 days to protest old-growth logging.

What it is

Hill's tree sit was a form of civil disobedience aimed at stopping Pacific Lumber Company from cutting down Luna and surrounding old-growth forest. The protest lasted from December 10, 1997, to December 18, 1999, drawing international media attention to forest conservation.

Why it matters

Her action became one of the most famous environmental protests of the 1990s, highlighting the conflict between logging and ecosystem protection. It remains a reference point for activists in Canada and elsewhere debating old-growth forest preservation.

Key details

Born Julia Lorraine Hill on February 18, 1974, in Mount Vernon, Missouri, she later worked as a speaker, author, and co-founder of environmental organizations. Sources also describe her as a tax redirection advocate. Her current residence is reported as Oakland, California.

In short

  • Lived in a redwood tree named Luna for 738 days.
  • Protest targeted Pacific Lumber Company's logging of old-growth forest.
  • Became a widely cited example of environmental civil disobedience.
  • Continues as a speaker and advocate for forest conservation.
Canadian angle

Her story is relevant to Canadian readers as a widely cited example of environmental civil disobedience and forest activism, themes that also resonate in Canadian debates over logging and old-growth forest protection.

Quick questions

Who is Julia Butterfly Hill?
An American environmental activist known for living in a redwood tree for 738 days to protest logging.
How long did she live in the tree?
738 days, from December 10, 1997, to December 18, 1999.
Why is her story relevant to Canada?
It serves as a key example of forest activism, resonating with Canadian debates over logging and old-growth protection.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Butterfly_Hill
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, tree sit duration, environmental activism, and later work.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Julia-Butterfly-Hill
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, tree sit duration, and the purpose of the protest.
  3. Encyclopedia of Arkansashttps://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/julia-lorraine-butterfly-hill-2947/
    Supports: Birth details, activism, duration in Luna, and reported residence in Oakland, California.
  4. Julia Butterfly Hillhttps://juliabutterflyhill.com/julia/
    Supports: Her own account of the Luna tree sit, the 738-day duration, and later nonprofit work.