Our Vanishing Wilderness was a landmark program for National Educational Television and public broadcasting (pre-PBS). Broadcast in 1970 but filmed in 1969, the material in it pre-dates the first Earth Day, but definitely reflects the nation’s growing interest at the time in pollution and environmental issues, as they had more and more of an effect on the health of our country.

The series, 8 half-hours, is very first TV series dealing with environmental issues. Each episode analyzes an ecosystem that was (and sometimes still is) being threatened as the result of man’s decisions; frequently, big business decisions.

The films were shot by renowned nature photographer Shelly Grossman, and written by environmental writer Mary Louise Grossman. The footage of animals in the wild is spectacular; the tone of the program unflinching. The series was based on their 1969 book of the same name.

Topics covered:

* How the growing water demands of South Florida’s population explosion meant drastic changes for Everglades wildlife
* A look at the effects of a large oil spill and pesticide runoff on Santa Barbara’s local oceanic wildlife
* What the proposed effects of the Alaska Pipeline would have on the animals that lived amongst the construction (the project was completed 7 years after broadcast)
* An examination of development around Pyramid Lake, Nevada
* How the animals on the American Prairies were fairing, population-wise: coyotes, bison, prairie dogs, and even black-footed ferrets–before they were declared extinct in the wild; then brought back from the brink in the last decade
* more