This uneven documentary begins with cataclysmic pronouncements about the possible mass extinction of plant and animal species in Haiti, a once lush country where less than 2 percent of the original forest cover remains intact today. Voiceover narration accompanying the footage tells of denuded hillsides eroding into rivers, and inhabitants harvesting scarce wood for charcoal, the main cooking fuel. After this broad and informative introduction, filmmaker Jürgen Hoppe narrows the focus to a small team of researchers led by Dr. Blair Hedges, an evolutionary biology professor and herpetologist at Temple University. The group travels on foot and by car, boat, and helicopter to explore some of the remaining habitat in remote areas on the island of La Gonave and in the La Hotte mountain range, looking especially for reptiles and amphibians—often discovering species that have not been seen for decades or are entirely unknown. The story bogs down at times in the minutiae of the three-year expedition, such as fixing a flat tire or refueling a copter; and misspellings mar the subtitles (“revene” for ravine and “habit stance” for “happenstance”). Although flawed, this should still be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Gardner)
Extinction in Progress
(2014) 56 min. DVD: $39: public libraries; $79: high schools; $169: colleges & universities. DRA. Green Planet Films. PPR. Volume 30, Issue 5
Extinction in Progress
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