One Man’s Mission to Revive the Last Redwood Forests | Short Film Showcase

while people have asked me you know

while people have asked me you know what’s it like for you David when you

what’s it like for you David when you

what’s it like for you David when you you know what’s it like when you walk

you know what’s it like when you walk

you know what’s it like when you walk through one of these groves of

through one of these groves of

through one of these groves of old-growth redwoods by far hands down

old-growth redwoods by far hands down

old-growth redwoods by far hands down the most spiritual profound conscious

the most spiritual profound conscious

the most spiritual profound conscious altering in a positive way experience

altering in a positive way experience

altering in a positive way experience for me is every single time I walk

for me is every single time I walk

for me is every single time I walk through a redwood forest

I can’t say that I understand all of it

I can’t say that I understand all of it I’ve been given some insights that help

I’ve been given some insights that help

I’ve been given some insights that help the average person understand wines are

the average person understand wines are

the average person understand wines are critically important it’s the most

critically important it’s the most

critically important it’s the most marvelous experience I can get it

marvelous experience I can get it

marvelous experience I can get it nowhere else on this planet that I found

nowhere else on this planet that I found

nowhere else on this planet that I found I also feel tremendous sorrow tremendous

I also feel tremendous sorrow tremendous

I also feel tremendous sorrow tremendous sorrow that 95% of them were killed and

sorrow that 95% of them were killed and

sorrow that 95% of them were killed and we didn’t even know what they do to

we didn’t even know what they do to

we didn’t even know what they do to anchor our ability as human beings to be

anchor our ability as human beings to be

anchor our ability as human beings to be able to live on this plan we killed him

that’s the badness it’s my job when I

that’s the badness it’s my job when I walk through there to yell out to those

walk through there to yell out to those

walk through there to yell out to those trees to hold those trees and say I’m

trees to hold those trees and say I’m

trees to hold those trees and say I’m here to do everything in my power on

here to do everything in my power on

here to do everything in my power on earth to bring all the human beings and

earth to bring all the human beings and

earth to bring all the human beings and all the help that I can to put this back

all the help that I can to put this back

all the help that I can to put this back to put back every single tree that was

to put back every single tree that was

to put back every single tree that was cut down and killed that’s what it’s

cut down and killed that’s what it’s

cut down and killed that’s what it’s like for me and you know what I’m going

like for me and you know what I’m going

like for me and you know what I’m going to do it

the redwood trees of California are

the redwood trees of California are probably the oldest of living things the

probably the oldest of living things the

probably the oldest of living things the redwoods that grow along the coast lived

redwoods that grow along the coast lived

redwoods that grow along the coast lived to be 2000 years old so down they come

to be 2000 years old so down they come

to be 2000 years old so down they come some of the world’s oldest biggest and

some of the world’s oldest biggest and

some of the world’s oldest biggest and tallest trees trees that grow over 350

tallest trees trees that grow over 350

tallest trees trees that grow over 350 feet high their history goes back

feet high their history goes back

feet high their history goes back millions of years to the time of the

millions of years to the time of the

millions of years to the time of the dinosaurs but when we look at stacks of

dinosaurs but when we look at stacks of

dinosaurs but when we look at stacks of redwood lumber we may well be reminded

redwood lumber we may well be reminded

redwood lumber we may well be reminded of its ancient history for this is

of its ancient history for this is

of its ancient history for this is lumber from a species of tree that has

lumber from a species of tree that has

lumber from a species of tree that has survived for millions of years

survived for millions of years

survived for millions of years trees that live to be two and four

trees that live to be two and four

trees that live to be two and four thousand years old the tallest biggest

thousand years old the tallest biggest

thousand years old the tallest biggest oldest trees in the world

we can rebuild old-growth forests

we can rebuild old-growth forests utilizing the genetics the largest

utilizing the genetics the largest

utilizing the genetics the largest oldest strongest proven through the test

oldest strongest proven through the test

oldest strongest proven through the test of time

of time

of time giants that will help us turn this

giants that will help us turn this

giants that will help us turn this scourge that we face this threat climate

scourge that we face this threat climate

scourge that we face this threat climate change around the red ones aren’t

change around the red ones aren’t

change around the red ones aren’t nothing more than a model here we have

nothing more than a model here we have

nothing more than a model here we have one of the very top fastest-growing

one of the very top fastest-growing

one of the very top fastest-growing species of trees ten foot a year and

species of trees ten foot a year and

species of trees ten foot a year and something that’s growing very very

something that’s growing very very

something that’s growing very very quickly

quickly

quickly phytoremediation sir means pull out of

phytoremediation sir means pull out of

phytoremediation sir means pull out of the air tremendous amounts of excess co2

the air tremendous amounts of excess co2

the air tremendous amounts of excess co2 just an average coast redwood is a

just an average coast redwood is a

just an average coast redwood is a thousand tons a thousand tons that’s a

thousand tons a thousand tons that’s a

thousand tons a thousand tons that’s a lot of carbon as we’re losing the vast

lot of carbon as we’re losing the vast

lot of carbon as we’re losing the vast majority of our old-growth trees on this

majority of our old-growth trees on this

majority of our old-growth trees on this planet the genes of those old-growth

planet the genes of those old-growth

planet the genes of those old-growth trees need to be preserved like Noah’s

trees need to be preserved like Noah’s

trees need to be preserved like Noah’s Ark and utilizing them to reforest the

Ark and utilizing them to reforest the

Ark and utilizing them to reforest the planet when we really need it so we set

planet when we really need it so we set

planet when we really need it so we set off on that quest and we did it we did

off on that quest and we did it we did

off on that quest and we did it we did find the 20 largest living coast

find the 20 largest living coast

find the 20 largest living coast redwoods in this 100 mile corridor from

redwoods in this 100 mile corridor from

redwoods in this 100 mile corridor from just over Oregon down here we kept

just over Oregon down here we kept

just over Oregon down here we kept running into these stumps over and over

running into these stumps over and over

running into these stumps over and over and over again these trees are dead and

and over again these trees are dead and

and over again these trees are dead and gone there’s nothing you can do it’s a

gone there’s nothing you can do it’s a

gone there’s nothing you can do it’s a tragedy but gosh we just have to learn

tragedy but gosh we just have to learn

tragedy but gosh we just have to learn to live with it until we learn about

to live with it until we learn about

to live with it until we learn about these right here beetle sprouts

these right here beetle sprouts

these right here beetle sprouts okay this tree is not dead it’s a long

okay this tree is not dead it’s a long

okay this tree is not dead it’s a long ways from dead

ways from dead

ways from dead in fact it’s almost impossible a killer

in fact it’s almost impossible a killer

in fact it’s almost impossible a killer redwood you can burn them like they have

redwood you can burn them like they have

redwood you can burn them like they have here if they burnt this out trying to

here if they burnt this out trying to

here if they burnt this out trying to get rid of it you cut them down burn

get rid of it you cut them down burn

get rid of it you cut them down burn them 140 years ago throw everything in

them 140 years ago throw everything in

them 140 years ago throw everything in the world and you can’t kill it but

the world and you can’t kill it but

the world and you can’t kill it but nobody recognized that the tree lives on

nobody recognized that the tree lives on

nobody recognized that the tree lives on because when you threaten its life from

because when you threaten its life from

because when you threaten its life from its roots it throws off things folk

its roots it throws off things folk

its roots it throws off things folk basil sprouts so the exact genetic

basil sprouts so the exact genetic

basil sprouts so the exact genetic fingerprint of this stump and any other

fingerprint of this stump and any other

fingerprint of this stump and any other stump in this whole region is in the

stump in this whole region is in the

stump in this whole region is in the basil sprouts

basil sprouts

basil sprouts I have a real affinity for these stumps

I have a real affinity for these stumps

I have a real affinity for these stumps because I went for the hospital and died

because I went for the hospital and died

because I went for the hospital and died of renal failure legally died of renal

of renal failure legally died of renal

of renal failure legally died of renal failure but a number of minutes later

failure but a number of minutes later

failure but a number of minutes later like these stumps that were giving up

like these stumps that were giving up

like these stumps that were giving up for dead like I was given up for dead

for dead like I was given up for dead

for dead like I was given up for dead surprise surprise they came back to life

surprise surprise they came back to life

surprise surprise they came back to life so we went and found the biggest stump

so we went and found the biggest stump

so we went and found the biggest stump right here we found groves of redwoods

right here we found groves of redwoods

right here we found groves of redwoods that are 30 foot plus in diameter it’s

that are 30 foot plus in diameter it’s

that are 30 foot plus in diameter it’s incredible 30 foot across that’s the

incredible 30 foot across that’s the

incredible 30 foot across that’s the width of most people’s ranch type house

width of most people’s ranch type house

width of most people’s ranch type house so Jake goes hey Dad

so Jake goes hey Dad

so Jake goes hey Dad would it be cool if we can bring this

would it be cool if we can bring this

would it be cool if we can bring this back to life so we took some cuttings

back to life so we took some cuttings

back to life so we took some cuttings off of this we snip some cuts Jake did

off of this we snip some cuts Jake did

off of this we snip some cuts Jake did and we flew them back overnight back to

and we flew them back overnight back to

and we flew them back overnight back to kovash Michigan and tried to micro

kovash Michigan and tried to micro

kovash Michigan and tried to micro propagate these things ensures the world

propagate these things ensures the world

propagate these things ensures the world ouvert our micro propagation in tissue

ouvert our micro propagation in tissue

ouvert our micro propagation in tissue culture lab the main goals for that was

culture lab the main goals for that was

culture lab the main goals for that was basically research and development on

basically research and development on

basically research and development on how to make a million trees to send

how to make a million trees to send

how to make a million trees to send everywhere what this is is taking very

everywhere what this is is taking very

everywhere what this is is taking very small pieces off of very small cuttings

small pieces off of very small cuttings

small pieces off of very small cuttings and then exponentially multiplying them

and then exponentially multiplying them

and then exponentially multiplying them through jars and reproduction hormones

through jars and reproduction hormones

through jars and reproduction hormones so you could imagine if we use the

so you could imagine if we use the

so you could imagine if we use the multiplication hormones you’re going to

multiplication hormones you’re going to

multiplication hormones you’re going to grow many types out of one top then you

grow many types out of one top then you

grow many types out of one top then you take those pieces then divide those so

take those pieces then divide those so

take those pieces then divide those so then it becomes exponential so imagine

then it becomes exponential so imagine

then it becomes exponential so imagine large warehouses with this tissue

large warehouses with this tissue

large warehouses with this tissue culture going on I mean we could grow

culture going on I mean we could grow

culture going on I mean we could grow millions and millions and millions of

millions and millions and millions of

millions and millions and millions of trees

trees

trees the Mellark family’s been in the tree

the Mellark family’s been in the tree

the Mellark family’s been in the tree business for over four generations so

business for over four generations so

business for over four generations so we’ve been in this for a long time we’re

we’ve been in this for a long time we’re

we’ve been in this for a long time we’re not going anywhere this is just kind of

not going anywhere this is just kind of

not going anywhere this is just kind of taken it into the next millennia almost

taken it into the next millennia almost

taken it into the next millennia almost making a hip again and starting from the

making a hip again and starting from the

making a hip again and starting from the very beginning we used to purchase some

very beginning we used to purchase some

very beginning we used to purchase some trees and we used to go collect some

trees and we used to go collect some

trees and we used to go collect some native trees but now we’re literally

native trees but now we’re literally

native trees but now we’re literally making trees in the United States 98% of

making trees in the United States 98% of

making trees in the United States 98% of our old-growth forests have been cut

our old-growth forests have been cut

our old-growth forests have been cut down in California where these growth

down in California where these growth

down in California where these growth the only range in the world of these 96%

the only range in the world of these 96%

the only range in the world of these 96% of all coast redwoods have been cut down

of all coast redwoods have been cut down

of all coast redwoods have been cut down there’s only 4% left maybe the genetics

there’s only 4% left maybe the genetics

there’s only 4% left maybe the genetics of this ancient giant tree might be

of this ancient giant tree might be

of this ancient giant tree might be valuable maybe we should keep a few she

valuable maybe we should keep a few she

valuable maybe we should keep a few she has most people know California is going

has most people know California is going

has most people know California is going through a thousand-year drought to

through a thousand-year drought to

through a thousand-year drought to protect and safeguard these genetics

protect and safeguard these genetics

protect and safeguard these genetics we’ve picked the most ideal place with

we’ve picked the most ideal place with

we’ve picked the most ideal place with fog cool temperatures an abundance of

fog cool temperatures an abundance of

fog cool temperatures an abundance of rain in Southern Oregon to make sure

rain in Southern Oregon to make sure

rain in Southern Oregon to make sure these trees and their genetics don’t get

these trees and their genetics don’t get

these trees and their genetics don’t get lost here in Southern Oregon through a

lost here in Southern Oregon through a

lost here in Southern Oregon through a program called assisted migration we’re

program called assisted migration we’re

program called assisted migration we’re moving these trees north where it is

moving these trees north where it is

moving these trees north where it is slightly cooler the fog still remains in

slightly cooler the fog still remains in

slightly cooler the fog still remains in effect every day which these trees have

effect every day which these trees have

effect every day which these trees have gotten used to for millions of years and

gotten used to for millions of years and

gotten used to for millions of years and through assisted migration we’re moving

through assisted migration we’re moving

through assisted migration we’re moving them to a climate that’s more conducive

them to a climate that’s more conducive

them to a climate that’s more conducive to the one that they’ve that they’ve

to the one that they’ve that they’ve

to the one that they’ve that they’ve thrived in for for millennia

here’s one of our tags you know what

here’s one of our tags you know what this tree is the Barrett stump that we

this tree is the Barrett stump that we

this tree is the Barrett stump that we filmed yesterday with the playground

filmed yesterday with the playground

filmed yesterday with the playground built on it this tree right here is the

built on it this tree right here is the

built on it this tree right here is the world’s first column with 3,000 year old

world’s first column with 3,000 year old

world’s first column with 3,000 year old redwood

redwood

redwood and it is that tree now this will join

and it is that tree now this will join

and it is that tree now this will join several hundred others as a model to the

several hundred others as a model to the

several hundred others as a model to the world that yes we can fix the

world that yes we can fix the

world that yes we can fix the destruction we can go back and we can

destruction we can go back and we can

destruction we can go back and we can re-establish and rebuild the old-growth

re-establish and rebuild the old-growth

re-establish and rebuild the old-growth force that we’ve lost kids just love

force that we’ve lost kids just love

force that we’ve lost kids just love this project when they’re playing the

this project when they’re playing the

this project when they’re playing the little clone redwoods and big trees they

little clone redwoods and big trees they

little clone redwoods and big trees they just have so much fun they know they can

just have so much fun they know they can

just have so much fun they know they can be a part of something bigger

be a part of something bigger

be a part of something bigger planting nurturing things instead of

planting nurturing things instead of

planting nurturing things instead of destruction and it’s the reason that I

destruction and it’s the reason that I

destruction and it’s the reason that I pretty much started this thing I thought

pretty much started this thing I thought

pretty much started this thing I thought you know the kids could really show

you know the kids could really show

you know the kids could really show people that this is fun this is easy if

people that this is fun this is easy if

people that this is fun this is easy if we build a model and show the world

we build a model and show the world

we build a model and show the world what’s possible and if we change our

what’s possible and if we change our

what’s possible and if we change our thinking to help Mother Nature to work

thinking to help Mother Nature to work

thinking to help Mother Nature to work with Mother Nature not completely

with Mother Nature not completely

with Mother Nature not completely destroy Mother Nature I think our

destroy Mother Nature I think our

destroy Mother Nature I think our great-grandchildren and Beyond will be

great-grandchildren and Beyond will be

great-grandchildren and Beyond will be grateful that we did

let’s plan some more

let’s plan some more you

be on mom

be on mom catch on for the song bear