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About ‘On the Land’
At it’s heart, ‘On the Land’ is a show that deals with our relationship with the Earth, for better or worse. Can we make a living from a place without destroying it? Is there hope for sustainable land use, or is money all that matters, no matter the environmental consequences? Does our society value wilderness beyond the resources we can extract from it? These are all questions that the show examines in detail, using four different areas in various stages of development. On the Land features photographs by National Geographic Magazine contributing photographer Joel Sartore, as well as a commentary by Lincoln author Dan Semrad, available as a .pdf by clicking here. |
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| The North Slope: On the Brink of Development
Alaska’s North Slope is America’s largest wilderness, and the one that’s currently most at risk. While Congress has endlessly debated whether or not to drill in the Arctic Refuge, much of the rest of the Slope has been quietly leased to oil and gas interests. Will it all be dissected by roads, then drilled and destroyed? Or will our country see that wild places are not worth sacrificing in exchange for lower prices at the pump? Only time will tell. |
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| Drilling in the American West: The Aftermath
For decades, vast sections of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico have been the focal points for natural gas drilling. These drilling operations are often very poorly regulated. The result is an unsightly and ruined landscape that benefits few beyond energy interests. Besides the obvious surface disturbances caused by miles of roads and well pads, the drilling industry also has an impact on ground water. Much of the gas is held in place by water, trapped inside shallow coal seams. To free the gas, drilling companies remove the water from the coal beds and pump it into area rivers or simply spray it into the air. Because the water is often laden with salts and heavy metals, it can kill fish in nearby streams and pollute well fields. |
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| The Pantanal: A Region in Balance
The Pantanal of southwest Brazil has been preserved by generations of cattle ranchers who have respected the land. They’ve managed it thoughtfully and carefully for future generations. Unspoiled grasslands equate to abundant wildlife and great viewing opportunities, leading many ranchers to discover the money that can be made from both cattle and ecotourism. Visitors come from all over the world to see flocks of macaws, giant anteaters, and maned wolves. These tourists boost the bottom lines of these ranches, employing many and helping to maintain and improve the quality of life there. It’s a perfect fit. |
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| The Rocky Mountain Front & Great Plains: The Road to Recovery
The Rocky Mountain Front in Montana is an ecological treasure. The ecosystem here, where the prairie meets the mountains, is largely intact and unspoiled. Folks like it just as it is. But natural gas reserves underneath threaten to spoil it. Energy extraction is a messy business, but with more than ninety-seven percent of area residents opposed to drilling, the future looks bright—for now. It’s a different story in the Great Plains. Most of the tallgrass prairie was lost to the plow more than a hundred years ago. Industrial agriculture has forced producers to get big or get out. Government subsidies have pushed and pulled land uses, sometimes with little regard for the environmental consequences. But a rebirth is taking place in many areas. People are discovering new ways to make a living to supplement their farm and ranch operations. A well-cared-for landscape, or even one that’s been restored, can provide hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and other recreational opportunities. Wide-open spaces are at a premium these days, and people are willing to pay for it. |
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