The Story

A tale of two temperate rainforests

Roots of Resilience is a feature film in production, weaving a story of two communities linked by latitude, ecology and a shared struggle. 

The film introduces defenders and stewards of two great northern rainforests, which are among the world’s rarest ecosystems. 

On the emerald coast of the North Pacific, people are rising to protect what remains of the world’s most intact temperate rainforest. Southeast Alaska, home to America’s vast Tongass National Forest, now faces urgent threats. The recent repeal of protections imperils the forest, as well as indigenous communities entwined with this ecosystem. 

On the emerald isles of the North Atlantic, rural communities are starting to rediscover and restore what was lost centuries ago. Ancient woodlands once blanketed Scotland, Ireland and the rainy coast of the United Kingdom. The open moors of this landscape offer a foretaste of former rainforest. Long ago, Scotland’s great Caledonian wood teamed with salmon, wolves and bear, a world that Pacific hunters and fishers might recognize. Today that landscape is largely lost to memory, despite many Shakespeare scenes set in forest. 

Temperate rainforests can store more carbon per acre than the Amazon, making them crucial in the fight against climate change. They support biodiversity, rich cultural traditions, and healthy habitats for wildlife.

Will a cycle of extreme deforestation be repeated from one side of the globe to the other? This film is an invitation to reconsider our relationship with forest landscapes that sustain us all.