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.
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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