Human activities are destroying the natural world, leading to the extinction of animal and plant species at a terrifying rate.
Our actions threaten over one million species. And in New Zealand we have the highest proportion of threatened native species in the world, with more than 4000 at risk.
Some experts believe we are in the throes of the sixth mass extinction. In This Is How It Ends, a seven-part Stuff documentary series, Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor investigate the biodiversity crisis.
They are our lungs but New Zealand’s treasured native forests are dying.
ANDREA VANCE
Senior journalist
IAIN McGREGOR
Visual journalist
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WATCH EPISODE SIX:
THE ENDANGERED FOREST
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Loretta Lenauze is t'chieki marae, guardian of Kopinga marae.
Loretta Lenauze is t'chieki marae, guardian of Kopinga marae.
Mandy Brooke of Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, next to the sanctuary's giant rimu.
Mandy Brooke of Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, next to the sanctuary's giant rimu.
Rākau momori in the Rotorua kōpi grove.
Rākau momori in the Rotorua kōpi grove.
The carvings are mysterious, but may be up to 800 years old.
The carvings are mysterious, but may be up to 800 years old.
Loretta Lenauze is t'chieki marae, guardian of Kopinga marae.
Loretta Lenauze is t'chieki marae, guardian of Kopinga marae.
Rākau momori in the Rotorua kōpi grove.
Rākau momori in the Rotorua kōpi grove.
The carvings are mysterious, but may be up to 800 years old.
The carvings are mysterious, but may be up to 800 years old.
Mandy Brooke of Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, next to the sanctuary's giant rimu.
Mandy Brooke of Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, next to the sanctuary's giant rimu.
If your biggest, strongest, tallest member of the forest family is sick, that sends a very strong message that something's not right.
Forests are a source of climate change resilience – absorbing harmful CO2 emissions.
Forests are a source of climate change resilience – absorbing harmful CO2 emissions.
“The kauri will still stand when you're long gone,” Edward Ashby tells critics of his iwi’s rahui.
“The kauri will still stand when you're long gone,” Edward Ashby tells critics of his iwi’s rahui.
Kauri dieback is fatal to trees that are infected.
Kauri dieback is fatal to trees that are infected.
Kauri, which can live for thousands of years, die slowly from kauri dieback.
Kauri, which can live for thousands of years, die slowly from kauri dieback.
Aunt Agatha has fallen victim to kauri dieback .
Aunt Agatha has fallen victim to kauri dieback .
Forests are a source of climate change resilience – absorbing harmful CO2 emissions.
Forests are a source of climate change resilience – absorbing harmful CO2 emissions.
Kauri dieback is fatal to trees that are infected.
Kauri dieback is fatal to trees that are infected.
Kauri, which can live for thousands of years, die slowly from kauri dieback.
Kauri, which can live for thousands of years, die slowly from kauri dieback.
“The kauri will still stand when you're long gone,” Edward Ashby tells critics of his iwi’s rahui.
“The kauri will still stand when you're long gone,” Edward Ashby tells critics of his iwi’s rahui.
Aunt Agatha has fallen victim to kauri dieback .
Aunt Agatha has fallen victim to kauri dieback .
OTHER EPISODES
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