Understory: A Journey Into the Tongass

Provided by: The Last Stands Project |Published on: February 20, 2022

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Synopsis

This documentary film follows Elsa, a salmon fisher from Alaska, as she fights to protect Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world (Language Warning).
Along with a botanical illustrator and a biologist, Elsa sails around Prince of Wales Island on a 350-mile expedition to examine and document how clearcut logging of this old-growth forest is affecting local communities and the planet's climate.

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Subjects: Social Studies, Biology

Authors: The Last Stands Project

Region: North America, USA - West, United States

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Preparation:

Note that the narrator uses a swear word (holy s**t) at 13:20.

Classroom Implementation:

Use this video to facilitate discussions about land use, deforestation, and the environmental benefits of protecting unique ecosystems like temperate rainforests.

Prerequisites:

Before viewing, consider showing students the location of the Tongass National Forest and Prince of Wales Island on a map.
Define the terms clear-cut logging, old-growth forests, and temperate rainforests before watching the film.

Differentiation:

This film is 40 minutes long. If time is a constraint, consider showing students a clip from 28:47 to 31:18. This clip describes why cutting down old-growth trees is bad for the environment and why it's so important to protect the remaining old-growth forests on Earth.

Interdisciplinary Connections:

Economics:
- Use this film to discuss how the government should regulate national forests and the logging industry.

Related Resources:

Teachers can pair this film with this interactive map on global forests and land use or this article on the formation and destruction of rainforests.

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Understory: A Journey Into the Tongass

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources