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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

Meet Julia Butterfly Hill: The 23-year-old woman who climbed a 1,000-year-old tree and stayed there for 738 days to save it from being cut down

At 23, Julia Butterfly Hill climbed nearly 180 feet into the canopy of a towering 1,000-year-old redwood in northern California, expecting to spend only a few days there as part of an environmental protest. Instead, the ancient tree, known as Luna, became her home for the next 738 days. Living on two small wooden platforms suspended high above the forest floor, she endured violent storms, freezing temperatures, isolation and constant pressure from loggers, determined to stop the centuries-old giant from being cut down. Her remarkable act of courage became one of history's longest and most famous tree protests, helping save Luna and inspiring environmental activists around the world. Her stand also drew global attention to the rapid loss of old-growth forests, proving that a single determined individual could influence public opinion, encourage conservation efforts, and leave a lasting mark on the environmental movement.

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