The Wilderness Act at 60, Bringing Back the Birds, Forever Green -
this american land

THE WILDERNESS ACT AT 60 "This American Land" kicks off Season 12 with a celebration of one of the world's most important conservation measures. Since its passage in 1964, the Wilderness Act assures the strongest protections for clean air, clean water, wildlife, and the scientific understanding of our natural world. Our host, wildlife biologist Ed Arnett, takes us to Colorado, to see how important this protection is to tourists, merchants, scientists, and of course the plants and animals it protects. BRINGING BACK THE BIRDS Habitat destruction has contributed to the loss of 3 billion birds in the last 50 years. Climate change is adding to their survival threats. You may be surprised to see the dramatic action scientists are taking along one of the most important bird migration routes in America. Correspondent Brad Hicks shows us how the Bureau of Reclamation has devised a multi-species conservation program to create forests and wetlands along the lower Colorado River. FOREVER GREEN Successful farming in the 21st century is about much more than how much corn you can grow on an acre. Researchers in Minnesota are developing food crops that could revolutionize agriculture. With global uncertainties about food security, farmers are anxious to find ways to grow crops year-round. The "Forever Green" program has been around more than a quarter century, experimenting with perennials that have massive roots. Extended growing

Duration: 26 minutes and 48 seconds

Episode Number: 1201

About This American Land:

A unique series of magazine-style episodes hosted by Bruce Burkhardt, a former environmental reporter for CNN, and a fresh new talent, Caroline Raville.

Each episode will link 5 or 6 stories, sometimes in a theme, showing how conservationists, fishermen, hunters and outdoor recreationists are sharing responsibilities for protecting America's natural heritage for future generations.

The focus will be on will be on wild and beautiful places you've never heard about, and on passionate people protecting vital American landscapes, waters, and wildlife.

There's nothing quite like this on national television; THIS AMERICAN LAND will be a distinctive approach to covering serious national conservation issues.

We realize that many stations produce quality programming like this for their local markets, and we think there's a national audience for it in a series like ours.

We will showcase stories from participating affiliates, drawing attention to the special natural resources their localities and what people are doing to protect them.

Current participants are Oregon Public Broadcasting and Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Segments will also be featured from local public broadcasting programs such as Outdoor Oklahoma and Exploring North Carolina.

Each episode will also include a segment from the Science Nation series funded by the National Science Foundation.

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