Rain Forests: Proving Their Worth

Actress Jane Alexander narrates this documentary which demonstrates that the rainforests are capable of producing more monies from "sustainable extraction" (i.e. natural products) than from wholesale cutting for timber and agriculture. Cultural Survival Inc. is but one of the many groups actively involved in stimulating new economic growth in the world's tropical rainforests. Several interesting projects are profiled over the course of the half-hour program, including: the popularity of the gourmet dessert item "Rainforest Crunch," the cottage industry of glamour cosmetics made from natural ingredients indigenous to the rainforests, the cultivation of the peach palm tree in Costa Rica, etc. But the documentary also includes a cautionary note: citing the historical cycle of outside economic intervention (rubber boom, Brazilian nut industry, timber, and agriculture), the film asks whether--once again--the current supporters of alternative ways to make money in the rainforests will opt for the quick buck, as opposed to developing long-term markets. A thought-provoking program on a different--and hopeful--aspect of the rainforest situation. Recommended. (See THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES for availability.)