A local environmentalist says a threat to the natural habitat of songbirds prompted an appeal to be filed to stop logging in the Cripps Bend area of the Shawnee National Forest.

The original lawsuit against the Forest Service was thrown out by Judge Phil Gilbert on Tuesday. Gilbert’s order stated that the Forest Service had followed the proper procedures to determine the logging project would not significantly impact the area’s natural habitat.

The first suit was filed in July by environmentalist Bill Cronin and stated that the Forest Service did not take the appropriate measures to assess possible impact at Cripps Bend, located near Pamona.

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One of the species cited in the claim was the endangered Indiana bat. The bat has been on the list since 1973, said Joe Glisson, a local environmentalist from Creole Springs.

Glisson said the appeal is being filed to protect the songbird’s natural habitat.

Glisson said if the protesters can keep loggers out of the Cripps Bend area until September 26, the case will go back to court. He said once the case is back in court, a restraining order to halt logging will be sought on the same lawsuit.

We’re just waiting, said Glisson. We’re still in the ballgame.

According to the order filed by Judge Phil Gilbert on Tuesday, the original claim lacked a 60-day notice.

According to Glisson, this means once 60 days has passed, the case will be back in front of Gilbert.

We didn’t lose the lawsuit, said Glisson. The judge ruled against us on one of the four issues. On September 26, we’ll be back in court.

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Glisson and other environmentalists camped at Cripps Bend in protest of the logging, say they are not going to let Tuesday’s ruling deflate their hopes.

We’re going to shut these guys down, Glisson said. This forest is too valuable an iminity. The trees are worth more standing.

Glisson said he and other protesters are willing to stay at the site, despite possible removal by law enforcement.

We’re going to stay here until they cancel the sale or put us in jail, whichever comes first.

According to Jan Wilder-Thomas, also protesting at Cripps Bend, the protesters have received great support especially from SIUC students.

The students have been very supportive down here. There have been people down here every night. Students are fitting this into their busy schedules because they know it’s the future.

Wilder-Thomas said although she had other things she could be doing, she would not leave the site until a decision is reached.

I don’t want to leave this when it’s in danger. Everything else is low priority, she said.

This Sunday, a caravan to the area is being planned by the Student Environmental Center in an attempt to inform more people about the Cripps Bend issue.

The field trip will consist of a tour of the area and informative presentations on Cripps Bend.

Kristen Kordecki, affiliated with Shawnee Earth First, said those interested may meet at 1 p.m. at the Interfaith Center and vehicles will take them to Cripps Bend.