The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival brings together the world’s best
natural history broadcasters, producers and filmmakers and other
industry professionals with leading scientists, journalists, and
conservationists, for one remarkable week each autumn. They gather from
around the world in the heart of
Grand Teton National Park
to explore new media technologies and emerging market opportunities,
exchange ideas, and honor notable achievements that have been made in
environmental conservation and media.
To celebrate the International Year of Forests, 2011, the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS) has collaborated with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival with the International Forest Film Festival (IFFF).
The film festival is a key part of the UN's outreach efforts, enabling it to raise awareness on the importance of forests, their relationship with people and the planet we share, and consequently, to inspire a sense of personal responsibility/stewardship for a greener, more equitable, sustainable future. This visual showcase will take place October 3-7 at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Greenfleet, an environmental charity, works with Australian landholders over an extended period to revegetate vast tracts of land. Battery Creek – a catchment for South Gippsland Water in Victoria – is an example of a site that has been planted over a number of years. Greenfleet has progressively planted trees in the Battery Creek catchment every year since 1999.
Over eleven years, more than 44,000 trees have been planted at the 45 hectare site with a 91% survival rate overall.
The site demonstrates the growth of Greenfleet's forests over time, with each year's planting showing an increase in height and trunk diameter. Trees planted in 2006-07 are still saplings, however those planted in 2000 are now well over 10 metres tall, many 15-20 metres, and have established dense canopy coverage.
A rich, biodiverse native forest has grown that is helping to improve water quality in the Battery Creek Catchment area. Species include a variety of eucalypts, wattles and tea trees native to the area. In addition, the hills have been stabilised and the forest is providing shelter for wildlife and capturing greenhouse gas emissions.
Here's Edward Norton, two-time Academy Award-nominated actor, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for biodiversity, discussing the International Year of the Forest 2011.
Forests are home to 300 million people. 1,6 billion people live off them. And as we know, forests are vulnerable.
This video is part of a research project, funded by FPInnovations, looking at ways to provide positive messaging for the BC forest products industry.