RHINELANDER - In July of 2000 5 members of the Earth Liberation Front or ELF cut down five hundred trees at the Institute's Hugo Sauer Nursery In Rhinelander and defaced on-site, government vehicles. Two of these ELF members were sentenced to prison time and ordered to pay for damages Thursday.
At the Institute for Applied Ecosystems Studies researchers investigate fast growing trees for wood products and bio-energy.
One of the main trees they work with is a hybrid poplar, a combination of a poplar and an Aspen.
Eric Gustafson is the Director for the institute and he says the trouble arose with ELF when they had mistaken ideas about how these trees are bred.
ELF was apparently concerned the institute was genetically engineering the trees, but Gustafson says they use a traditional, natural breeding method for the trees.
Bryan Lefay of Olympia, Washington was sentenced to three years and Katherine Christianson of Santa Fe, New Mexico was sentenced to two years for the crime.
Story By: Alex Ronallo