The People Saving The Oldest Trees In America (and how to join them)

Don't forget to turn on cc/subtitles.
Thank you to everyone who's writing in. You don't have to be from the U.S. to participate and can send your letter at: http://protectourforests.org

You can use this research and footage toolkit to make your own videos: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NNqp...

And find or organize a screening near you here: https://www.alexharaus.com/screenings

Thank you to everyone who helped make this film a reality over the last year and to everyone who sent in public comments in 2023 to get our country to this moment. This is your film to organize and educate others with.

We're beyond excited to share this film with you and hope to do more projects like this in the future.

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CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro: What Should We Do With Our Oldest Trees?

WEST VIRGINIA
0:56 - West Virginia: What Is A Clear Cut?
1:38 - Meeting At The Lead Mine Church
2:58 - The Upper Cheat River Project: Public and Private Cuts
4:54 - Property Value, Helicopter Logging and the Economics of Steep Slopes
6:28 - Do Clear Cuts Lead To Flooding?
10:22 - Exploring A Forest Service Clear Cut
11:36 - What Are Mature and Old Growth Forests?
12:23 - How Forests Heal: Mental Health Impacts
15:00 - The Red Oak: Finding One Of The Oldest Trees On The East Coast

WISCONSIN
17:19 - Wisconsin: Climate Benefits of Mature & Old Growth Trees
19:04 - Outdoor Recreation: Family Time In The Forest
22:38 - The Sunfish Stand: Exploring A Selective Cut Targeting Mature & Old Growth
24:24 - How To Tell How Old A Tree Is
26:25 - Forest Policy: Afforestation, Reforestation, and Proforestation

MENOMINEE NATION
26:46 - Truly Sustainable Forestry: The Menominee Tribe
27:57 - Unmanaged vs Managed Old Growth: Different Types of Old-Growth/GIS Management
30:58 - Chainsaw Timber Team: The Joy of Logging & Logging Equipment
32:46 - Forest Therapy: Veteran Logger Alex Peters, Stolen Indigenous Land
33:25 - The Lumber Mill: Sustainable Timber Management and Family Connection
34:37 - Indigenous Land Stewardship vs. American Timber Management | Can Other Companies Learn From The Menominee?

OREGON
37:57 - The North American Temperate Rainforest
38:34 - Wildfire, Indigenous Fire Use and Old Growth Fire Ecology
42:59 - Tish & Eric: Couple Whose House Burned Down In A Wildfire
44:31 - How Forests Clean Water: The McKenzie River and Flat Country Project
46:50 - Activism and Personal Connection to Land
48:35 - How Much Lumber Would Be Affected By This?
49:01 - Does Activism Matter?
50:33 - How We Could Save The Trees: The National Old Growth Amendment (NOGA)
51:16 - Climbing An Old Growth Tree
54:02 - Why Your Voice Matters: Why Save The Trees?
55:25 - Thank You
55:53 - Outro: How You Can Help, Sending Letters Through Protect Our Forests

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CREDITS

CROWN JEWELS was Created In Partnership with REI Co-op, With Additional Support from Patagonia.

Directed and Produced by Alex Haraus
Cinematographers: Aidan Kranz, Elena Jean, Alex Haraus, Michael Clark
Editors: Elena Jean, Alex Haraus, Thomas Dajer
Assistant Editor: Hunter Velasquez
Motion Graphics: Revelation Pictures
Colorist: Aidan Kranz
Sound Design: Daniel McNamara
Music from Epidemic Sound & ALIBI Music

Special Thanks To:
Menominee Tribal Enterprises and Firefighters United For Safety, Ethics & Ecology for sharing their stories and experience with us
Tree Climbing at Silver Falls for bringing us up the 400-600 year-old Douglas fir
Ralph Bloemers for sharing his magnificent wildlife trail cam footage with us