Understory: A Journey Into the Tongass
Videos
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APSocial Studies, Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by The Last Stands Project
What it is
- 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.
Teaching tips
Preparation:
- 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.
From the scientist review
This video identifies the impact of forest logging in Tongass National Forest. These impacts further exacerbate extreme weather events and climate change. It gives a significant new insight into forest mapping, CO2 inventory, advocacy to reduce deforestation, and climate change impact on vulnerable communities of Alaska. This is recommended for teaching.
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