THE AGE OF NATURE

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THE AGE OF NATURE, a three-part documentary series, explores how an increased awareness of the natural world is leading to a new chapter in the story of both humanity and the planet.

With stunning photography, the series focuses on the resiliency of Earth’s ecosystems through stories of success, as scientists, citizens and governments act to fix past mistakes and restore the environment.

With the current pandemic exposing the fragility and vulnerability of humankind, the balance of nature and our relationship with it is more important than ever. Narrated by Uma Thurman.

Filmed on seven continents, THE AGE OF NATURE presents creative ideas from around the globe for dealing with such pressing issues as climate change, animal extinction, and environmental degradation.

Each episode highlights some of the latest scientific research that helps us understand the workings of the planet and explores effective strategies for restoring the environment, re-wilding landscapes and maintaining a balance between species.

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The series examines the work of a diverse international scientific community as well as indigenous citizen activists committed to bringing about change in their local communities.

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EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1: “Awakening” repeats Sunday, April 18 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Discover how a new awareness of nature is helping to restore ecosystems from Panama to China to Mozambique. See how innovative actions are being taken to repair man-made damage and restore reefs, rivers, animal populations and more.

Episode 2: “Understanding” repeats Sunday, April 18 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Explore how a new understanding of nature is helping us find surprising ways to fix it. From the Pacific Northwest to Yellowstone to Scotland, scientists, citizens and activists are restoring the environment, benefiting humans and animals alike.

Episode 3: “Changing” repeats Sunday, April 18 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Discover why restoring nature might be our best tool to slow global warming. From Borneo to Antarctica, the resilience of the planet is helping us find solutions to cope and even mitigate climate change, providing hope for a more positive future.

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John D. Liu was a journalist when he set out to film the Loess Plateau in 1995 but what he saw made such an impact that he retrained in Soil Ecology and is now an Ecosystem Ambassador spreading the message that restoring the earth is possible. His archive footage provides a tangible timeline to the amazing transformation that took place here.

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The Chagres River Panama is the lifeblood of the world's greatest trade corridor - the Panama Canal. But this water only continues to flow thanks to the discovery of the secret role of the forest which is now a National Park.

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A landscape that was barren just 25 years ago is now green and fertile. These terraces were carved into the landscape to help retain water in the land and to make farming more efficient. Steep slopes were to be returned to nature. The results speak for themselves.

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The rolling hills of the Loess Plateau used to brown, windswept and bare, now they are lush and green for as far as the eye can see. The restoration of the Loess Plateau is one of the most compelling examples of how people can have a positive impact on nature with the right approach.

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A hummingbird in Chagres National Park Panama. Biodiversity here is higher than in the US and Canada combined and it's protected because it was discovered that these forests are essential to the function of the Panama Canal which underpins the National Economy showing that the interests of humans and nature are often more similar than we realize.

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Norway provides half the world's cod, exported as far afield as Spain and North Africa. Racks like these have been used to air dry cod since the Vikings. In the end of the 1980's the centuries old fisheries here faced collapse but swift action to relieve the pressure on nature led to a remarkable recovery. Norway now takes care not to push nature's limits and is seen as the most sustainable fishery in the world.

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Harvest is now a busy time on the Loess Plateau now that the fertility of the land has returned. These farmers are bringing in the corn to be turned into flour and stored over winter.

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Paola Bouley and Lion Project Team monitor the growing lion population in Gorongosa National Park - an indicator of the Park's return to health years after it was destroyed by Civil War. The numbers of lion here have increased from just a handful to 150 in the ten years that the Park's restoration efforts have been in place. None were reintroduced.

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Research assistant Eba, the orca dog, helps scientists locate orcas in the Salish Sea in Washington.

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Endangered orca in the Salish Sea.

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Stingray swims across seagrass

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Protected coral reef in Belize.

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Tshering Tobgay contemplates climate change

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Shepherd watching over her flock of sheep.

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Dean Peterson on his cattle ranch in Wisdom, Montana.

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Watch On Your Schedule:

The series is available to stream on demand with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

Credits:

A carbon offset production, the series is produced by Brian Leith Productions Ltd. in association with BBC Studios Distribution and PBS. Executive Producers are Brian Leith and Patrick Morris. The series producers are Verity White and Pete Lown. The director of photography is George Woodcock and the editors are Dan Glendenning for episode 1, Mark Fox for episode 2 and Bobby Sheikh for episode 3. Music is by John Wygens. Executive in charge for PBS is Bill Gardner.