Natural Connections

An Emmy award winning documentary that makes a compelling case for sustaining biodiversity and increases our awareness of earth's complex ecosystems, Natural Connections, fueled by upbeat world music and narrated enthusiastically by Peter Coyote, consists of pithy segments focusing on pioneering scientists and environmentalists discussing their work and addressing some of today's major environmental issues. Biologist Edward O. Wilson, "father of biodiversity," discusses the role of insects in sustaining earth's biodiversity by pointing out, among other eye-opening facts, that pound for pound the million billion ants alive at any given moment weigh as much as all the humans on the planet put together. Other segments examine the relationship between pollution and the critically depressed salmon population in rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the incalculable loss of rainforest habitats, and the effect of human intervention on "keystone species" critical to a given ecosystem. Aimed at a general audience, this lively and informative video is particularly well suited for junior high and high school students both because of its straightforward, convincing discussion of mankind's ethical responsibilities about environmental issues and for its use of positive role models to encourage active participation in creating solutions. Recommended for larger science and environmental collections in school, academic and public libraries. Aud: J, H, C, P. (A. Cantu)