Can you imagine New Hampshire without the White Mountain National Forest? How did the White Mountains, an ecological disaster of fire and flood just over 100 years ago, become a beloved area of natural beauty and recreation, and an important contributor to the NH tourist industry?
Join the Chocorua Lake Conservancy for a screening of The People’s Forest: The Story of the White Mountain National Forest. We are delighted to be joined by filmmaker David Huntley, who will speak about making the documentary, and answer audience questions. The People’s Forest is one of the greatest environmental comeback stories in American history. In the early 20th century, New Hampshire's White Mountains were ground zero for a vast disaster caused by ruthless logging and the massive forest fires, erosion and flooding that followed. The destruction launched a national battle over the fate of America's forestlands and sparked one of the first grassroots conservation movements. Leading the way was a unique partnership of citizens, Congressmen, and business and civic groups that believed conservation could benefit both the environment and economy. This is the dramatic story of how those unlikely allies saved the White Mountains and helped create more than 50 national forests and grasslands in 41 states, totaling 20 million acres of public land. Watch the trailer here.
The People’s Forest is produced, directed and written by filmmaker David Huntley. David’s connection to the White Mountains of New Hampshire runs deep. His great-grandparents emigrated from Norway to Berlin in 1903. His great grandfather Richard Christiansen was a charter member of the Nansen Ski Club and worked for the Brown Paper Company for more than forty years. David spent six summers in the White Mountains working for the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Huts System. An avid outdoorsman and glutton for punishment, David specializes in filming in extreme and isolated environments, from the Arctic tundra to the jungles of Central America. He has produced and written programs for History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, Travel Channel, HGTV, as well as PBS series such as NOVA, and Saving the Ocean, and Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda.
Image courtesy of the White Mountain National Forest.