Nature's Keepers
Premieres: Southeast Asia on Feb 11 at 5:00 pm; North Asia on Feb 11 at 5:00 pm; Australasia on Feb 11 at 8:00 pm
NATURE'S KEEPERS TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH FIVE CONTINENTS TO OUR PLANET'S MOST PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS
- Meet the people who are fighting to save Earth's natural wonders, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka -
From East Africa's savannahs to Alaska's tundra, Earth is a gigantic trove of self-sustaining treasures. But these natural wonders are fast coming under siege and are now in desperate need of protection. This month, Discovery HD's NATURE'S KEEPERS takes you on an exhilarating journey across five continents to Earth's last paradises. Witness these spectacular landscapes and meet the passionate individuals who have dedicated their lives to the preservation of ecosystems that are under threat.
Did you know that Texas has the most bountiful bird fauna in North America? Or that nearly three quarters of Madagascar's forests have been wiped out? In a once-in-a-lifetime voyage across continents and oceans, NATURE'S KEEPERS reveals the astonishing characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the world's most dynamic ecosystems. The series also profiles individuals who are racing against time to protect Earth's delicate ecosystems. Meet impassioned specialists, locals and environmentalists, who have taken it upon themselves to reverse the impending threat of an ecological disaster. Understand their roles and missions, gain insight into their fieldwork carried out in various parts of the world, and learn about the traditions and customs of environmental protection that are specific to each country.
From maintaining the delicate balance of Louisiana's wetlands and managing natural resources in Sri Lanka to preserving the amazing biodiversity in the jungles of Malaysia and fighting global warming in Australia, NATURE'S KEEPERS presents a stunning showcase of phenomenal landscapes and biodiversity and highlights the pressing issues that threaten our ecosystems.
NATURE'S KEEPERS episode descriptions:
Louisiana
Louisiana stretches over a vast fertile plain. In its southern part, it breaks down into a succession of lakes, wetlands and bayous. Faced with a difficult struggle between land and water, a number of Louisiana residents are devoting all their energy to the protection of this natural balance.
Texas
Synonymous with the mythical American west, Texas is a land of varied landscapes. Bordered by the legendary Rio Grande, the 28th state to be admitted to the union is also important to ornithologists as it possesses the richest bird fauna in North America. The state, larger than all of France, still contains vast enclaves of wild preserved nature.
Mexico
Mexico is one of 12 nations of the world to be classified as "a country of megadiversity", a classification based on the number of species and the percentage of endemic species. From the immense and chalky Yucatan plateau to the volcanic landscapes of the fire belt, the varied topography of the country lends itself to a wide range of ecosystems.
Sri Lanka
Located in the Indian Ocean, 50 kilometers southwest of India, the island of Sri Lanka literally means "the resplendent island". Sri Lanka possesses myriad breeds of flora and fauna, making it a Mecca of biodiversity. However, a lack of foresight in the management of natural resources is compromising this biodiversity and a group of dedicated nature lovers have decided to protect their home ground.
Abu Dhabi
Bordered by the Persian Gulf to the north and surrounded by Saudi Arabia and Oman, Abu Dhabi is the largest of the Arab Emirates. Its natural wealth consists of its turquoise waters, beautiful coastlines, the rocky mountains of Jebel Hafit and a magnificent desert. However, as a result of the exploitation of oil reserves, the Emirate has undergone great economic and urban growth, much to the distress of its locals.
New Zealand
Isolated at the end of the world but within the confines of the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is a land of wide open spaces. Geologic forces have created natural ramparts, where Mother Nature rules, and where any human intrusion is only tolerated to make sure that she continues to reign supreme. Large uninhabited areas are refuges for ecosystems with an exceptional degree of biodiversity. The arrival of the first colonists in the early 19th century, created a major ecological upheaval, whose consequences are being measured today.
Peru
Peru stretches over 3,000 kilometers along the Pacific Ocean. To the west, there is the coastal region consisting of a narrow arid strip of land; in the centre, the Cordillera des Andes is an imposing sierra with high plateaus, glaciers and peaks culminating at more than 6,500 meters; on the flanks of the lower mountains, the dry forest suffers from reduced vegetation due to deforestation. Today, recognised for its wealth of flora and fauna, Peru has aroused a growing interest and the last fragments of the dry forest are being preciously preserved.
Vanuatu
Surrounded by a coral sea in the southwest part of the Pacific Ocean, Vanuatu was once called the "New Hebrides". This former French-British territory is an extraordinary tropical paradise, consisting of a few hundred islands with jagged coasts, lush forests, active volcanoes and turquoise colored lagoons. At the dawn of a major new climatic era, scientists from all over the world have become aware of the urgent need to study and protect the numerous and rare ecosystems that have existed in Vanuatu for several million years.
South Africa
For a long time, South Africa has been a cherished living space for the largest range of wild animals in the world. However, this exceptional biodiversity has been threatened for years by abusive use of the land and now, locals are trying to recover a new natural balance. A number of impassioned nature lovers, who have fallen in love with this land, struggle to protect the endangered species.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a paradise for explorers and scientists as many secrets of its biodiversity have yet to be discovered. Located north of Borneo, eastern Malaysia represents 60 percent of its territory. Covering the states of Sabah and Sarawak, this part of the island is home to some of the archipelago's most beautiful sites. Many of these jewels of nature, which are threatened by urbanisation and agriculture, now live in protected zones, thus assuring the survival of their species.
Iceland
Welcome to the land of the extremes, a magnificent landscape forged by fire and shaped by ice: Iceland. Almost touching the Polar circle, Iceland is subjected to constant climate variation that is heightened by a still active volcanic sub-soil. The preservation of this natural environment will depend on the delicate balance the people maintain between ecology and economics. Throughout the entire island, dedicated scientists are picking up this environmental challenge.
New Brunswick
Caressed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, New Brunswick is a unique Canadian maritime province. At the border between Quebec and the state of Maine in the United States, New Brunswick's forests take up 85 percent of the land. The hundred-year-old trees, swamps, prairies and large rivers are home to an exceptional array of fauna. Scientists and nature lovers determined to preserve these ecological wonders have decided to take action to protect this fragile environment.
Jordan
For more than 30 years, Jordan has felt the need to revitalise its ecosystems and resuscitate its landscapes and species that were once endemic to the country. Jordan's thousand-year-old geology has created massifs of granite and sandstone in rock filled deserts; in a land where it is 80 percent arid, rare oases provide precious water resources. Yet despite being one of the ten poorest countries in terms of water, it is rich in living species - thanks to successful programmes that are aimed at reintroducing lost species.
Germany
From the wild coasts of the Baltic to the dense forests of Bavaria, Germany possesses vast regions of protected nature. Preserving the environment is now a daily activity for the Germans. Often considered a forerunner in the area of ecology, Germany has made environmental protection one of its major priorities. The country is at the forefront of numerous protection programmes often linked to research. Its current challenge is to reconcile urbanisation with the protection of its natural heritage.
Chile
Chile possesses a wide variety of landscapes as rare as they are beautiful, and numerous ecosystems exist at each level of altitude. With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the east, Chile is totally closed in by natural elements, thus isolating its flora and fauna from the rest of the world. Even in its vast stretches of desert, living things survive under extreme conditions. From the world's driest desert on the Tropic of Capricorn to the wide open spaces of Patagonia, Chile is filled with natural treasures protected by the country's impassioned nature lovers.
Australia
Australia is the same size as the United States. Separated from the continent of Asia 45 million years ago, Australia has developed flora and fauna unique to its region. In the northeast, Queensland, otherwise known as "Sunshine State", owes its reputation to the Great Barrier, the world's largest coral reef. Threatened by global warming, it is under strict surveillance, as are the species on the mainland.
Madagascar
After breaking off from the African continent, Madagascar developed in total isolation for millions of years, giving birth to distinctive species. When the first colonists arrived two thousand years ago, they exterminated most of the big animals over a very short period of time. Nevertheless, the island is still one of the largest natural sanctuaries in the world with thousands of species. However, Madagascar is in danger as its forests are vanishing at a frightening rate - three quarters of it have already disappeared.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is more than just a financial and commercial centre - this former jewel of the British Crown is also a world of incredible biodiversity. The archipelago, with its turquoise waters, mountains and wetlands, is home to extraordinary fauna. However, the ocean depths around Hong Kong are victims of pollution and lack environmental legislation. Now, scientists and nature lovers have decided to take action in order to protect this fragile environment, and to preserve these ecological treasures for future generations.
Croatia
With its thousand islands, a coast whitened by the salt of the Adriatic Sea, mountain peaks separated by canyons and vast stretches of forests, Croatia's beauty is barely rivaled by that of other countries. Ecologically, it is one of the best preserved countries in Europe; ten percent of Croatia's surface or 450 sites are protected by law. In 2004, the environment became part of the national programme. Although local conflicts still exist, the government has doubled its efforts to meet European Union demands, which Croatia wishes to join as soon as possible.
Kenya
Kenya is considered the birthplace of the world. It is a country that has managed to keep its wild nature intact. The immense savannahs possess an exceptional biodiversity, and the huge national parks are home to the largest concentration of different animal species in the world. Crossed in the centre by the Equator and bordered by the Indian Ocean, Kenya's landscapes brim with unique ecosystems and all of this natural wealth is protected by passionate nature lovers.
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