Our Planet | Forests | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

Summary

This script narrates the resilience and importance of the world's forests, from the boreal's vastness to Madagascar's unique baobabs. It highlights the Siberian tiger's struggle, the salmon's nutrient transfer in Alaska, and the redwood's post-fire rejuvenation. The script emphasizes the interdependence between trees and animals, the threats from human activities, and the remarkable recovery of life in Chernobyl, urging action for forest restoration.

Takeaways

• 🌕 The moon landing 50 years ago marked a significant moment in human history, prompting a new perspective on our planet and highlighting the need to preserve its natural wonders.
• 🌳 Forests are crucial for our climate and host a multitude of unique species, yet they have been historically destroyed without much consideration for their importance.
• 🐯 The Siberian tiger, one of the rarest animals on Earth, exemplifies the resilience of nature but also the critical need for vast forest areas to ensure its survival.
• 🌲 The boreal forest, spanning across Russia, Europe, and North America, plays a pivotal role in combating climate change by storing over 40 percent of the world's carbon.
• 🍂 The forest ecosystem in Alaska demonstrates a remarkable nutrient transfer from the ocean to the land through the salmon's journey, supporting various predators.
• 🌿 The redwood forests, though severely reduced in number, showcase the ability of forests to regenerate after natural disasters like wildfires, thanks to the resilience of older trees.
• 🐸 The interdependence between trees and animals in forests, such as the rough-skinned newt in the redwoods, is vital for seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
• 🐘 The Miombo forest in Africa illustrates the complex relationship between wildlife and vegetation, where elephants and mopane worms influence the forest's growth and recovery.
• 🦇 Madagascar's unique baobab forests and lemurs underscore the importance of preserving biodiversity, as the loss of forests can lead to the extinction of species.
• 🐺 The Chernobyl disaster area has become a testament to the resilience of forests, showing how wildlife can reclaim areas once thought uninhabitable due to human activity.
• 🌱 The potential for forest recovery is immense if given the chance, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts for the resilience of our planet.

Q & A

What significant event happened 50 years ago that led to a new perspective on our planet?

Humans ventured to the moon for the first time, which allowed us to look back at our own planet and gain a new appreciation for its natural wonders.

How has the human population changed since the moon landing 50 years ago?

The human population has more than doubled since the moon landing.

Why are forests considered key to our climate and biodiversity?

Forests are home to countless unique species and play a crucial role in our climate by storing carbon and providing habitats for a diverse range of wildlife.

What is the significance of the boreal forest in terms of climate change?

The boreal forest contains 750 billion trees and stores over 40 percent of the world's carbon, making it a vital element in the fight against climate change.

How does the Siberian tiger's survival depend on the boreal forest?

The Siberian tiger's survival depends on having vast areas of forest to hunt in, as they patrol territories of almost 2,000 square kilometers to find enough prey during the long winter.

What role do salmon play in the boreal forest ecosystem?

Salmon play a crucial role by transferring nutrients from the ocean to the forest when they swim up rivers to spawn, providing a seasonal food source for predators in the forest.

Why are the redwood forests of the Pacific Northwest important and what has happened to them?

The redwood forests are important because they once grew throughout the Pacific Northwest, but now only five percent of them remain due to destruction and climate change.

How do animals help in the recovery of forests?

Animals help in the recovery of forests by dispersing seeds and contributing to the interdependence between trees and their inhabitants, as seen in India's Western Ghats.

What is unique about the Miombo forest in Africa and its relationship with elephants?

The Miombo forest is unique because it attracts animals from all across southern Africa during the dry season. Elephants, in particular, help shape the forest by browsing on leaves and branches, which in turn benefits other species like hunting dogs.

What is the significance of lemurs in Madagascar's forest ecosystem?

Lemurs are crucial to the forest ecosystem in Madagascar as they help some tree species survive by dispersing seeds. They are also an indicator of the health of the forest, being unique and endangered species.

How has the Chernobyl disaster site demonstrated the resilience of forests?

Despite the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster, the site has shown remarkable recovery with vegetation and wildlife returning within a few decades, proving the extraordinary resilience of forests if given the chance to recover.

What message does the script convey about the future of our planet and forests?

The script conveys that a future with more forests is key to the resilience of our planet, and by restoring and protecting them, we can ensure the survival of diverse animal and plant communities.

Outlines

00:00

🌕 Moon Reflections and Forest Conservation

This paragraph reflects on the moon landing 50 years ago and how it prompted humanity to appreciate Earth's natural wonders. It emphasizes the importance of preserving forests, which are crucial for climate regulation and biodiversity. The boreal forest, in particular, is highlighted for its vastness and the Siberian tiger's struggle for survival, illustrating the resilience of nature and the need for conservation efforts.

05:04

🌲 Boreal Forests and the Cycle of Life

The second paragraph delves into the boreal forest's ecosystem, focusing on the interdependence between wildlife and the forest's resources. It discusses the critical role of pine cones and wild boar in the food chain, leading up to the Siberian tiger. The paragraph also touches on the forest's ability to combat climate change by storing carbon and the unique nutrient transfer facilitated by salmon in Alaskan rivers.

10:06

🌳 Adaptation and Survival in the Boreal Forest

This section examines the harsh conditions of the boreal forest and the strategies animals employ to survive. It describes the challenges faced by a young bald eagle in securing a place on the river and the intense competition for resources as rivers freeze over. The narrative underscores the adaptability of species and the importance of maintaining large forest areas for their survival.

15:12

🌿 The Resilience of Redwood Forests

The fourth paragraph shifts focus to the redwood forests, discussing their unique environment and the complex life cycles within. It details the life of a rough-skinned newt and the challenges it faces in reaching its breeding pool amidst competition. The summary also touches on the forest's ability to regenerate after wildfires, highlighting the interconnectedness of life and the forest's inherent resilience.

20:16

🔥 Fire and Regeneration in Redwood Forests

This section continues the theme of forest resilience, specifically focusing on how redwood forests recover post-wildfire. It describes the rapid regrowth of flowers and tree seedlings after a fire, facilitated by the light penetrating the canopy. The role of older redwoods with fire-resistant bark in the ecosystem's recovery is also emphasized, showcasing the forest's natural defenses and ability to bounce back.

25:22

🐒 Mutualism in India's Western Ghats

The sixth paragraph explores the symbiotic relationships within India's Western Ghats, where animals play a vital role in seed dispersal. It highlights the feeding habits of lion-tailed macaques and great hornbills, which inadvertently aid in plant propagation. The competitive behaviors of hornbills for food and mates are also discussed, illustrating the intricate balance of the forest's ecosystem.

30:26

🐘 The Miombo Forest's Ecosystem Dynamics

This section examines the Miombo forest's ecosystem, focusing on the impact of elephants and mopane worms on the forest's vegetation. It describes how these creatures shape the forest, inadvertently benefiting other species like hunting dogs. The narrative underscores the cyclical nature of the ecosystem and the forest's remarkable ability to recover from heavy browsing.

35:30

🦊 The Unique Ecosystem of Madagascar

The eighth paragraph introduces Madagascar's unique forest ecosystem, dominated by baobabs and inhabited by diverse and endangered species like lemurs. It discusses the crucial role of lemurs in seed dispersal and the specialized lemur hunter, the fossa. The paragraph also touches on the fossa's mating habits and the threats faced by Madagascar's forests due to human activities.

40:32

🌳 Global Forest Destruction and Resilience

This section provides a global perspective on forest destruction and its impact on climate and biodiversity. It emphasizes the urgency of preserving and restoring forests, citing the dramatic loss of Madagascar's dry forest as an example. The paragraph concludes with a hopeful note on the potential for forest recovery, given the chance.

45:37

🐺 Chernobyl's Wildlife Recovery

The final paragraph tells the story of the Chernobyl disaster and its unexpected outcome for wildlife. It describes how the area, once deemed uninhabitable, has become a thriving ecosystem teeming with wildlife, including wolves and Przewalski's horses. The summary highlights the extraordinary resilience of nature and the potential for forest restoration with proper conservation efforts.

Keywords

💡Natural wonders

Natural wonders refer to the awe-inspiring features of the Earth's natural environment that are of great beauty, grandeur, or rarity. In the context of the video, natural wonders are the forests and their ecosystems that remain despite human impact, and which are celebrated for their inherent value and the biodiversity they support.

💡Boreal forest

The boreal forest, also known as the taiga, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces, and larches. It is the largest terrestrial biome and is vital for climate regulation, as it stores over 40 percent of the world's carbon. In the script, the boreal forest is highlighted for its vastness and its importance in the fight against climate change.

💡Siberian tiger

The Siberian tiger, scientifically known as Panthera tigris altaica, is a rare and endangered subspecies of tiger found mainly in Russia. The script emphasizes the rarity of this species, with less than 600 individuals remaining in the wild, and their dependence on large forest territories for survival.

💡Poaching

Poaching is the illegal hunting, capturing, or killing of wildlife, often for the purpose of selling the animal or its parts for profit. In the video, poaching is mentioned as a significant factor that has pushed the Siberian tiger to the brink of extinction, highlighting the threats faced by wildlife due to human activities.

💡Salmon

Salmon are anadromous fish known for their extensive migrations from the ocean to freshwater rivers for spawning. In the script, the salmon's journey is described as the greatest transfer of nutrients from one habitat to another, illustrating the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of salmon to the forest's food chain.

💡Redwood forests

Redwood forests are home to some of the tallest and oldest trees on Earth, primarily found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The script notes that only five percent of these forests remain, emphasizing the impact of human activity on these unique ecosystems and the importance of conservation efforts.

💡Wildlife recovery

Wildlife recovery refers to the process by which animal populations and ecosystems regain their health and numbers after a period of decline or disturbance. The video script uses the example of the Chernobyl disaster, where, despite radiation, wildlife has thrived, demonstrating the resilience of nature if given the chance to recover.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees that usually involves the conversion of forested land into non-forested areas, primarily for agricultural, logging, or development purposes. The script mentions that over half of the world's forests have been destroyed, illustrating the scale of this environmental issue and its impact on biodiversity and climate.

💡Ecosystem interdependence

Ecosystem interdependence refers to the mutual reliance between different species and their environment within an ecosystem. The script illustrates this with examples from the Western Ghats, where animals like the lion-tailed macaque and the great hornbill play crucial roles in seed dispersal and maintaining forest health.

💡Climate change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily as a result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The video script highlights the role of forests in storing carbon and fighting climate change, as well as the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.

💡Resilience

Resilience in an ecological context refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand or recover from disturbances. The script emphasizes the resilience of forests, showcasing how they can bounce back from disasters like Chernobyl and continue to support diverse wildlife.

Highlights

50 years ago, humans first ventured to the moon, marking a significant moment in history and triggering a new perspective on our planet.

Human population has more than doubled since the moon landing, highlighting the rapid growth and its potential impact on natural resources.

Forests, both evergreen and deciduous, are crucial to our climate and host countless unique species, emphasizing their importance in the ecosystem.

Despite past destruction, forests possess an astonishing ability to recover, offering hope for restoration and conservation efforts.

The boreal forest, stretching across Russia, plays a significant role in carbon storage, fighting climate change with over 40% of the world's carbon.

Siberian tigers, one of the rarest animals in the world, are captured in intimate pictures, illustrating the importance of vast forest areas for their survival.

Salmon in western Alaska represent the greatest transfer of nutrients between habitats, underlining the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

Bald eagles and their struggle for food in the boreal forest demonstrate the intense competition among predators.

The redwood forests, once widespread, now only have 5% remaining, showcasing the impact of deforestation and the need for preservation.

The resilience of redwood forests is highlighted by their ability to recover post-wildfires, thanks to their thick, fire-resistant bark.

India's Western Ghats showcases the interdependence between trees and animals, with species like the lion-tailed macaque and great hornbills playing vital roles in seed dispersal.

The Miombo forest in Africa demonstrates the cyclical nature of ecosystems, where destruction by elephants and mopane worms leads to regrowth and new opportunities for life.

Madagascar's unique baobab forests and their inhabitants, like lemurs and fossas, are highlighted as a precious but endangered ecosystem.

The dramatic recolonization of Chernobyl by wildlife, despite radiation, is a testament to the extraordinary resilience of forests and the potential for recovery.

The narrator calls for global action to restore our forests, emphasizing the key to the resilience of our planet and the urgent need for change.

The closing song emphasizes unity and the collective responsibility to address environmental issues, suggesting that it's not too late to make a difference.

Transcripts

[narrator] Just 50 years ago,

we finally ventured to the moon.

For the very first time, we looked back at our own planet.

Since then, the human population has more than doubled.

This series will celebrate the natural wonders that remain

and reveal what we must preserve

to ensure people and nature thrive.

Forests.

Over half of all the world's trees, evergreen and deciduous,

stand in these great assemblies.

[birds chirping]

[narrator] For many of us, they are places of mystery and darkness.

They are key to our climate, and home to countless unique species.

In the past, we have destroyed them without hesitation.

Yet, forests do have an astonishing ability to recover.

This is the southern edge of the boreal forest,

the forest that dominates the far north.

It stretches eastwards across Russia for thousands of kilometers,

and now, in the middle of winter, it's largely silent,

seemingly empty of animals of any kind.

But this is the home of an animal so rare it's almost mythical.

A Siberian tiger.

There are less than 600 of them.

[caws]

[tiger growls]

[narrator] These are the most intimate  pictures of them in the wild yet taken.

A male Siberian tiger patrols a territory of almost 2,000 square kilometers,

and it has to do so if it is to find enough prey

to keep itself alive during the long winter.

This is an impoverished land where food of any kind is scarce.

A pine cone.

Pine nuts provide vital energy during the winter months.

Wild boar depend on these nuts.

For them, it has to be grab and go,

for they themselves are food for a tiger.

[squeals]

[narrator] This game of hide-and-seek is played out over vast areas of forest,

as all the animals search for the life-giving stands of pine.

Poaching has taken the Siberian tiger to the brink of extinction,

but, since the 1980s, their numbers have slowly increased.

These rare glimpses reveal

that their future still depends on having vast areas of forest in which to hunt.

The boreal forest extends from Russia in the east,

across Europe, to North America.

It contains 750 billion trees,

and it stores over 40 percent of the world's carbon,

making it a vital element in the fight against climate change.

During the winter, the days are so short and the temperature so low,

that growth is at a standstill.

This far north, the forest can support very few animals

compared to the rain forests  of the tropics.

Many are dependent on the supplement to be found in its rivers.

[birds caw]

[narrator] In western Alaska, both in spring and, as now, in autumn,

salmon, having left the ocean,

swim up rivers to reach their ancestral spawning grounds.

Their journey from the sea into the forest represents

the greatest transfer of nutrients from one habitat to another

anywhere on Earth.

The fish are crucial seasonal food

for all the predators that live in this forest.

Bald eagles live here the year round and nest close to the river.

[piercing chirp]

[narrator] Young eagles,  still without white heads,

spend their first years searching for food in the forest.

But, like this four-year-old female,

they're now big enough to try and claim a place on the river.

At first, all she can get are the scraps left by others.

And she can't get even these without a fight.

[eagles chittering]

[narrator] She will have to  look elsewhere.

The boreal forest may be vast,

but the places where the salmon spawn are known to all the predators.

As the rivers begin to freeze over, competition becomes even more intense.

This youngster is lucky, but her success is noticed immediately.

[chittering]

[narrator] She does have one advantage.

Females, even when young, are larger than the males.

And here, size matters.

[cawing]

[narrator] As winter advances,

young and old have to meet the challenge of the intense cold.

If she can survive, she will have gained a place

in one of the greatest and harshest forests on Earth.

A little further south

stand the last  of the great redwood forests.

Not so long ago, these great trees grew throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Now, only five percent of them remain.

Here, conditions are less harsh.

Winds bring in warm, humid air from the Pacific Ocean,

so the trees are able to grow the year round.

Hidden in the vegetation of the moist forest floor

is a richly populated underworld.

A male rough-skinned newt.

Every spring, he is driven by a mysterious urge

to return to the pool where he hatched as a tadpole.

And he needs to get there quickly.

Because there are lots of others like him...

with exactly the same idea.

They're all searching for a female,

but trekking across hundreds of meters of old-growth forest is not easy.

There is strong competition.

And the female is anxious to get going.

Once paired, he hangs on,

for she may take several hours to discharge all her eggs.

Other males are only too eager to displace him if they can.

Competition is so vigorous

that the females in the center of these writhing balls

have been known to drown for lack of air.

But her first partner maintains his grip.

Within weeks, their tadpoles will hatch.

And none too soon, for the forest is about to change dramatically.

By the end of the summer, the sun has baked the forest so intensely

that they are as dry as tinder.

Strong winds drive the flames,

and temperatures rise to 700 degrees Celsius.

Its aftermath is seemingly total destruction.

The wind, scouring the newly exposed forest floor,

kicks up dust devils of ash.

The ground appears to be devoid of life.

But the forest is far from dead.

Within only a few months,

flowers and tree seedlings will rise from the soil.

Many, in fact, would not have germinated had they not received a baptism of fire.

[birds chirping]

[narrator] Light streaming down through the newly opened canopy

provides the energy for a surge of new growth.

The older, well-established redwoods have survived,

protected by their thick, fire-resistant bark.

This natural resilience is essential to the continued health of these forests.

Most forests, however, cannot recover on their own.

Many are helped to recover by animals.

The trees and their inhabitants are interdependent.

And nowhere is this dependence more apparent

than in India's Western Ghats.

This globally important habitat

contains a third of all animal species found in India.

[animals whoop and chirp]

[narrator] Lion-tailed macaques.

They feed on the fruits of many kinds of tree,

and, in doing so, they distribute the seeds,

which will emerge unscathed with their droppings.

But few monkeys travel very far.

If plants are to distribute their seeds across great distances,

they need another kind of transport.

Wings.

Great hornbills have wings that are almost two meters across,

and they enable the birds to travel long distances in search of food.

Hornbills feed on the fruit of 40 or so different kinds of trees,

and transport the indigestible seeds they contain

all over the Western Ghats.

So, it's to the trees' advantage to attract the hornbill's attention.

The figs themselves, although they taste nice,

are not, in fact, very nutritious,

so the hornbills have to eat great quantities of them.

It can be tiring work.

But it's not a free-for-all.

A single fig tree in fruit attracts great numbers of hornbills.

Competition between them is intense.

This aerial jousting between males has never been filmed before

and its purpose is not really understood.

It may be that the birds are simply squabbling over food,

but it seems rather more than that.

[squawking]

[narrator] The winner  is able to  demonstrate his strength and skill

to visiting females.

The males certainly seem keen to ingratiate themselves.

It's particularly important for hornbills to get the best pairing

because, once established, the bond between male and female

will last a lifetime.

The forest also benefits from these squabbles,

because even a defeated hornbill

will spread seeds over wide areas as he searches for his next meal.

The relationship between trees and animals in a forest

is not always so harmonious.

This is Africa's largest forest, the Miombo,

named after one of its common trees.

It stretches for over a thousand miles,

from Angola in the west to Mozambique in the east.

At the height of the dry season,

the Miombo attracts animals from all across southern Africa.

[trumpeting]

[narrator] Elephants prefer grass  if they can get it. It's very nutritious.

In its absence,

they browse on the abundant leaves and branches of the Miombo.

[elephants huffing]

[narrator] But they're not the only  hungry ones here.

These mopane worms

are not worms, of course, but caterpillars.

They hatch simultaneously in huge numbers.

And just as the forest is putting out new leaves,

they begin their attack.

They feed so voraciously

that in just six weeks they increase their size 40 times.

By the time they're fully developed, this million-strong army

will have stripped the entire forest of its foliage.

But the Miombo bounces back.

With the caterpillars gone,

the trees produce a second growth of leaves.

This fresh feast then attracts elephants.

They are less fussy than the caterpillars.

They will eat every part of the tree.

And a hungry elephant can munch through 200 kilos of vegetation in a day.

Yet, even this destruction has its benefits.

It shapes the forest in a way that helps one of Africa's most endangered animals.

Hunting dogs.

They're seen most frequently, and most easily, on grasslands.

But, in fact, these open forests are their preferred habitat.

[grunts]

[narrator] Browsing elephants  open up a forest,

and that attracts the animals on which the dogs prey.

[barks]

[dogs yipping]

[narrator] For the dogs, the Miombo forest is perfect hunting country.

And it's also an excellent place in which to bring up pups.

The pups greet the adults returning from a hunt

with great excitement.

[squealing]

[narrator] Food.

The first three months of the pups' lives are spent sheltering underground.

[soft growling]

[narrator] Now, they are confident enough

to stay out in the open for much of the time.

And then, like all puppies, they have fun.

Playing is important for the youngsters,

for as they do so, they establish the social bonds

that they will need when they start to hunt together as a team.

-[bird squawks] -[squealing]

[narrator] The Miombo has always been  important for hunting dogs,

both as a place to find prey and as a refuge.

Never has it been more crucial

for the survival of this endangered species than now.

But they will only survive if other creatures are here

to create the kind of habitat they need.

[elephant lows]

[narrator] Madagascar has a forest

dominated uniquely by one of the oddest of trees.

Baobabs.

The island has been isolated for over 80 million years.

During that immensity of time, its animals and plants

have evolved into forms quite different from any elsewhere.

This makes them one of the most precious forests on our planet.

This is not a monkey, but a distant relative, a lemur,

and there are at least 40 different kinds of lemurs,

all unique to Madagascar and all endangered.

[lemur hoots]

[narrator] Lemurs are crucial  to the forest.

Without them, some species of tree cannot survive.

The forest even has its own specialized lemur hunter.

It's Madagascar's top predator,

and its presence is cause for alarm.

It can grow to a length of one and a half meters,

and it's very seldom seen in the wild.

It's a fossa.

For most of the year, fossas are solitary,

but in the breeding season, they assemble in a way that is all their own.

Each mature female takes up residence in a special mating tree.

Half a dozen or so male fossas have gathered in the forest below it,

but she is clearly occupied.

So, one of the males leaves his scent.

A visiting card, just to show that he called.

He will just have to wait around and see whether she takes any notice.

Her present engagement can last all night.

With its top predators distracted, the rest of the forest animals

can go about their normal nightly business undisturbed.

These are immature leaf bugs, a species found only here in Madagascar.

Why they have this extraordinary shape, no one knows.

They feed on tree sap,

absorbing the part they need and excreting the rest as a sweet liquid

sometimes known, perhaps flatteringly, as honeydew.

And honeydew, in turn, provides food for a particular species of small lemur.

The gray mouse lemur is only 15 centimeters long,

one of the smallest primates in the world.

It's very active and needs an energy-packed food.

And while the sugar drops are clearly delicious,

they're not very sustaining.

So, she's not going to let a single drop go to waste.

The male fossas below are still awaiting their turn.

[animal screeches]

[narrator] So, having eaten  as much as she can,

she retreats to the safety of her nest hole

to sleep during the daylight hours.

Things are not looking so satisfactory on the ground

around the fossas' mating tree.

[sniffs]

[narrator] The pair above  are clearly still engaged.

He will either have to find another mating tree or be very patient.

But he may well fail altogether.

A third of Madagascar's fossas have disappeared in the last 20 years,

a result of the continued destruction of their forests by people.

Since these pictures were recorded,

this forest, and the unique life it once contained,

have disappeared altogether.

Only three percent of Madagascar's dry forest remains.

Worldwide, we have now destroyed

over half of the forests that once flourished on our planet.

Not only are we losing the animals that once lived in them,

we are also changing the climate of the entire globe.

But our planet's forests, if given the chance,

are almost unbelievably resilient.

Perhaps the best proof we have of their ability to recover

can be seen on the site of one of our greatest disasters.

Chernobyl.

In 1986, one of the four reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded.

It turned this utopian vision of the future into a ghost town.

Over 100,000 people were immediately evacuated,

never to return.

The fallout zone was declared uninhabitable for the next 20,000 years.

Yet despite the radiation, there has been a remarkable recovery.

Within only a decade,

vegetation began to germinate in the ruined city.

And as the forest reestablished itself, animals began to appear.

At first it was thought that these were rare visitors,

but it soon became clear that the former city

was occupied by an established and thriving wild community.

[chirping]

[narrator] Within only 20 years,

science has recorded  populations of animals

similar to that in the wilder parts of Europe.

Roe deer are now a common sight, wandering through the suburbs.

Herds of the endangered Przewalski's horse

now roam freely through the once busy city.

Most surprising of all perhaps,

the top predator of these forests has reappeared.

Wolves.

Hunters like these would only return

if their prey and the surrounding forest is also thriving.

Now, studies have shown

that there are seven times more wolves inside the exclusion zone than outside it.

No unprotected human being

can stay here for long without lethal risk.

But in driving us out,

the radiation has created space for wildlife to return.

The dramatic recolonization of Chernobyl in the space of only 30 years

is proof of forests' extraordinary resilience.

If we choose to give forests time and space,

they could reclothe the earth

with much of the rich and varied communities of animals and plants

of which we have, so recently, robbed it.

A future with more forests is key to the resilience of our planet.

Please visit ourplanet.com

to discover what we need to do now to restore our forests.

♪ I can hear the whole world Singing together ♪

♪ I can hear the whole world Say it's now or never ♪

♪ 'Cause it's not too late If we change our ways ♪

♪ And connect the dots to our problems ♪

♪ I can hear the whole world Say we're in this together ♪

♪ We're in this together ♪