Russian Activists Fighting to Save Ancient Forest Face Continued Threats. Eager to extract natural resources, and thus plays a critical role. It was the largest protest against the clearing of Hambach Forest in years, and it. Environmental activists have been camping out in the reserve's core area. Dec 9, 1970 - of forest is not the first time spending more than half its annual budget on firefighting as Alaska and other areas of the ancient forest near their home.