 Forests protect and nurture humanity in a variety of ways. Why, then, does deforestation continue? Who is responsible for it? This program analyzes the problem through a socioeconomic lens, drawing connections between corporate interests, food security concerns, and annihilation of the planet’s woodlands. Outlining the history of deforestation from Roman times to WWII, the film focuses on the rise of clear-cut and slash-and-burn practices associated with colonialism, 20th-century capitalism, and the Green Revolution. Viewers will gain insight into political and economic systems that favor lumber, mining, and large agricultural companies—while ignoring the needs of forest ecosystems and forest-dwelling peoples in Asia, Africa, and South America. (47 minutes)
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