The young man plunged to his death Tuesday while taking part in a tree-sitting protest against the logging of a redwood forest near the city of Santa Cruz, Earth First said.

"We regret to announce that a tree-sitter who fell from a redwood on Tuesday in Ramsay Gulch has died of his injuries," Earth First said in a statement, adding it did not know the name of the victim, who was homeless.

"We're pretty much in shock and trying to decide what to do," said Tim Ward, a member of the group. A memorial service for the young man, who was not wearing a safety harness, was planned for October 19, he said.

"We've been trying to find out what caused him to fall," Ward said, adding that the man was in his 20s.

Earth First said it trained tree-sitters to climb the giant trees safely and how to remain fed and clean while living in them.

The group launched their anti-logging protest in August, shipping in plywood platforms, buckets, ropes, food, water and other supplies to sustain protesters who held out in four trees as loggers moved into the area.

The protest in traditionally environmentally-friendly California -- the cradle of the free-spirited hippy movement of the 1960s and 1970s -- comes amid a long-running row between loggers and environmentalists in the area.

"This tragic accident should not have happened," said logging firm Redwood Empire, which has permision to exploit the area's wood resources.

"The man and others were illegally trespassing upon private property for which there is a state-approved harvest for second-growth trees."

California's giant redwoods -- some of which grow to as tall as 66 meters (220 feet) and are wide enough to shelter a car -- are one of the state's main tourist attractions.

SPACE.WIRE