Guardians of the Forests: Rescuing New Zealand's Sacred Kauri Trees | SLICE EARTH

Although remote, New Zealand is not spared from global warming, vulnerability to ultraviolet light and the often devastating human presence and mass agriculture. The country has kept its sanctuaries, especially thanks to the symbiotic relationship the Maoris have with nature. But it also has its scars. Thousands of hectares of forest were devastated up until the beginning of the 20th century, in order to expand farmlands and make space for a growing population. The king of the New Zealand forests paid a high price for this. The Kauri is one of the biggest trees in the world. Its dimensions attracted lumberjacks, and now only 4% of the kauri forests are left. And nowadays, another scourge is plaguing these green giants. A bacteria that spreads through soil is wiping them out one after the other... Today, by returning to their ancestral customs and values, the Maori are bringing nature back to the forefront and leading the way, bringing the western world along with them. Documentary: New Zealand, A Legendary Land – Episode 2: Pearl of the Pacific (2018) Direction: Pierre Belet Production: ZED #documentary #freedocumentary #ecology #earth #environment #sustainability #climatechange #science #trees #sacred #maoriculture #newzealand #kauri #biodiversity #forests #preservation