Die Holzfäller von British Columbia

Environment/Country & People, Germany 2009

For a long time, British Columbia was considered the El Dorado of loggers. They cut aisle after aisle into the virgin forest, extracting the precious woods to supply the construction industry or the paper industry. However, the one-sided focus of the economy on the exploitation of the forests is causing enormous problems, and not just since the economic crisis. New solutions must be found to preserve forestry and the unique forests. This also has implications for the small town of Revelstoke, where entrepreneur Cal March runs his small business. It is one of the last remaining timber companies in the area. 360° - GEO Reportage visited Cal March and experienced with him the changes with which the modern timber industry wants to master the future. British Columbia in western Canada has the world's largest untouched "boreal rainforest" with trees several hundred years old and regions where no man has ever set foot. Getting through on the ground is almost impossible for man and machine. Millions of tons of mineral resources such as gold and coal are stored under the forest floor. A challenge for the protection of this unique landscape. But the focus of the economy is on silviculture - Carl March's field of activity. The day begins for him at four thirty. Loggers are early risers. They have to be, because during the harvesting season, temperatures in the Rocky Mountains quickly climb to over 30 degrees. This is a strain for the workers with their kilograms of equipment. In addition, they work on slopes with gradients of up to 40 degrees. Nevertheless, Cal March and his workers were able to make a good living from the timber industry for a long time. Even after environmentalists, together with government representatives and forestry officials, have worked out programs in recent years that impose strict conditions on the logging companies. For example, the companies must ensure reforestation in their harvesting area. This eco-management system serves as a model. However, the global economic crisis is now making Cal March's work immensely more difficult. The Canadian timber industry is losing sales markets in the USA. As a result, the companies are left sitting on their felled trees, and the machines are no longer being utilized to capacity. Now, on top of that, the region's suppliers are also coming under pressure. But Cal March remains optimistic.
53 min
HD
Starting at 8
Audio language:
German

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Composer:

Markus Wegmann

Original language:

German

Format:

16:9 HD, Color

Age rating:

Starting at 8

Audio language:

German

Further links:

IMDb