Eco-Explorers: The Secret Forest

Ian Johnstone hosts this program in which he explores the forest, detective style, for clues to the interconnectivity of all living things. Students will learn interesting eco-facts, such as the fact that the woodpeckers eat the bugs that would otherwise kill the trees, or that deer eat shrubs allowing the sun to reach the ground and generate new growth. Viewers will also discover how to read tree rings and learnsee how trees breathe. Focused mainly on the Pacific Northwest, the issues addressed are nonetheless universal, and while there are many similar programs in the crowded forest of "nature" and "conservation" videos, this nice, classroom length program, stands a little above average. Recommended. Aud: K, E. (R. Ray)