Category Archives: Climate Change

Animal Intelligence, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Marine Conservation, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Ocean, Ocean Pollution, Oceans, Poaching, Power of Film, Seahorses, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

“Seahorseman” – Official Selection 2018 WCFF

September 30, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“Seahorseman”, World Premiere at the 2018 WCFF in New York, NY. | Screening is October 19, during Film Series 2 at the Cinema Village Theater. SEATING IS LIMITED! Get your tickets today before they sell out! https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3574972

The WCFF informs, engage and inspires wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, wildlife photography exhibit and more.

Get your individual tickets or an All Access Film Festival pass: http://www.wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Join the planning committee. Advertise & promote your brand on the big screen during the festival. Take a page in the full color program book.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018 | New York, NY
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Australia, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Gnaraloo Wilderness, Marine Conservation, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Oceans, Plastic Pollution, Power of Film, Sea Turtles, Turtles, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

The Mystery of the Gnaraloo Sea Turtles

August 1, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“The Mystery of the Gnaraloo Sea Turtles”, produced by Trevor Almeida, premieres at 2018 WCFF this October.

Official Trailer: https://vimeo.com/281298732

SYNOPSIS: This stunning documentary features never-before-seen underwater footage as we track the mysterious journeys of the Gnaraloo Loggerhead turtles. In remote corner of North Western Australia, scientists have attached satellite trackers for the first time on the backs of ten female turtles to plot their secret routes. The results and amazing cinematography will astound you! Dive in and learn about life after the nesting beaches. witness incredible shots and fascinating discoveries.

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee. Advertise & promote your brand on the big screen during the festival. Take a page in the full color program book

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Argentina, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Power of Film, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Conserving Ibera – Official WCFF Selection

June 26, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“Conserving Ibera” produced by Justin and Andreea Lotak, with Conservation Atlas is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF and a World Premiere.

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee. Sponsor the film festival, advertise on the big screen during the outdoor summer series and the October festival. Take a page in the full color program book to be distributed in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, India, North and South America.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Biodiversity, Birds, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, Endangered Species Act, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, habitat destruction, Invasive Species, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Pesticides, Power of Film, Seabirds, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

One in Eight Bird Species Is Facing Extinction

May 8, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Thirteen percent of birds, or more than 1,000 species are currently listed as threatened species, and another 9 percent are near threatened. Just under 200 species are critically endangered, meaning they are at an extremely high risk of soon going extinct. Overall 40% of the world’s 11,000 bird species are now in decline.

This biodiversity crisis is due much to deforestation, invasive species, and the use of pesticides for agriculture. The good news it is within our reach to stop this decline.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Fish, French Polynesian, Mangroves, Marine Protected Area, Moorea, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Ocean Pollution, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Power of Film, Rising Sea Levels, Sharks, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Baby Sharks and Climate Change – Offical WCFF Selection

May 5, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“Introducing Physioshark|Baby Sharks and Climate Change” produced by Tom Vierus is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF.

SYNOPSIS: Second only to fishing pressure, climate change threatens shark populations worldwide. Increasing ocean temperatures and decreasing pH and oxygen will impact all marine life, but sharks may be particularly vulnerable. They grow slowly, take a long time to mature, do not produce as many young as other fish species, and therefore may be unable to adapt fast enough to keep pace with climate change.

The physioshark project – primarily based on Moorea, French Polynesia – has been investigating how climate change stressors affect newborn sharks since 2014. Because all 4.7 million km2 of French Polynesian waters comprise a shark sanctuary — the largest in the world – shark fishing/exploitation is banned. This provides a rare opportunity to study resident shark populations without their number one stressor. But, even the best-managed marine sanctuaries are not immune to climate change.

The physioshark team has characterized and been closely monitoring environmental conditions at 11 potential shark nursery areas around the island and have been executing field and laboratory-based experiments on newborn blacktip reef and lemon sharks to understand how they respond to environmental conditions they currently face. This has allowed the team to also model sharks’ responses to conditions predicted with climate change to understand how habitat availability may change over time and the sharks’ capacity to adapt. Beyond the experiments, the team has been committed to communicating about shark biology and conservation with local communities, schools, and via social media.

This short film introduces the physioshark project and documents the team’s efforts toward shark conservation.

This blacktip shark is being released at the spot it was caught at about a month ago. It underwent a series of trials in a wet lab at a research station, where physiological responses to warming waters were investigated. The results will help understand the impacts of climate change induced changing environmental conditions and if – as the scientists suspect – the baby sharks will become less resilient in future.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Animal Intelligence, Biodiversity, Borneo, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, habitat destruction, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Orangutans, Poaching, Rainforest, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Person of the Forest – WCFF Official Selection

April 12, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Person of the Forest produced and directed by Roxana Rogan and Emily O”Connell of Wild Education screens in New York this October.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Biodiversity, British Columbia, Bycatch, Canada, Canada First Nations, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Fish, habitat destruction, Native Americans, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, North America, Ocean, Ocean Pollution, Oceans, Plastic Pollution, Plastic Trash, Power of Film, Screening, Tseshaht First Nation, Uncategorized, Water, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, Wild Pacific Salmon, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

“I Am Salmon”

March 8, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“I Am Salmon” produced and directed by Peter Mieres will premiere at the 2018 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF) in New York, NY. The WCFF mission is to inform, engage and inspire wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary is October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, virtual reality and more. All Access Film Festival passes are available now for purchase: wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Synopsis: “I Am Salmon” tells the story of the life cycle of the five species of wild pacific salmon and their age old relationship with the Tseshaht First Nation in British Columbia. Wild Pacific Salmon are at risk by a number of threats such as deforestation, pollution, over-fishing and the dams, ect. This short documentary hopes to create awareness of the issue.

Watch trailer: https://vimeo.com/259220503

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Cambodia, China, Christopher J. Gervais, Climate Change, conservation, Dali International Film Festival, Dali University, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Indonesia, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Malaysia, Nat Geo WILD, National Geographic, Ocean University of China, Uncategorized, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, Wild China Films, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Yunnan Arts University, Yunnan Tourism Group

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in China

December 13, 2017 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The WCFF recently returned from a two week trip to China where this unique film festival participated in the first Dali International Film Festival. The WCFF was invited by the Yunnan Tourism Group, Wild China and National Geographic. WCFF provided exceptional award winning content and both participated and hosted panel discussions. Discussions ranged from specific species, ecosystems, filming techniques and wildlife crime.

Long term partnerships have been established between the WCFF, Dali international Film Festival, Wild China Films and National Geographic. In discussion are future feature film projects in China, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, a potential series and the establishment of the WCFF education outreach program in China.

WCFF hosted film screenings over the course of ten days to over a thousand students representing Dali University, Yunnan Arts University, Kunming University of Science and Technology and Ocean University of China. Students and faculty from these institutions of higher learning were Informed, Engaged and Inspired via the power of film through the WCFF screenings and panel discussions.

WCFF will return to China in 2018 for more programs in Dali and Beijing. We are ever so grateful to our generous hosts that include: Yunnan Tourism Group, National Geographic, Wild China Films, CCTV, Dali Art House, NatGeoWild and the many volunteers, participants and friends made during our stay.

Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018 | New York, NY
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Antarctica, Climate Change, Ocean, Oceans, Penguins, Population, Uncategorized, Wildlife Conservation

60% of Adélie Penguins Could Disappear This Century

July 25, 2016 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

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New research shows that climate change may vastly devastate Adélie penguin colonies by 2099. Nearly two-thirds of the penguins, which live only in Antarctica, could be gone within this century due to warming sea surfaces not conducive for penguin chicks. In a Scientific Reports study, researchers warned that the excessive warmth linked with climate change is extremely harmful to the species. “It is only in recent decades that we know Adélie penguins population declines are associated with warming, which suggests that many regions of Antarctica have warmed too much and that further warming is no longer positive for the species,” lead author Dr. Megan Cimino said.

Adélie penguin colonies are centralized across the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), among the fastest-warming places on Earth, and populations have already shown declines in response. More than any other region, WAP has faced warmer than normal sea surface temperature in recent years, a condition known as “novel climate”. According to Cimino, penguin numbers have decreased by around 80% since significantly higher temperatures were noted. “These two things seem to be happening in the WAP at a higher rate than in other areas during the same time period,” Cimino noted.

Climate projections reveal that this region will continue to experience increasingly frequent years of novel climate this century, presenting a threat that could ravage already-fragile penguin populations. Researchers examined a wide range of global climate models and satellite data, as penguin colonies can now be seen and studied from space. Based on their findings, 30% of current Adélie penguins could disappear by 2060, and 60% could be gone by 2099.

Intriguingly, researchers found that in areas where climate change is slow, Adélie numbers are “steady or increasing”, further strengthening the link between climate change and Adélie decline. Scientists hope that these slow-to-warm spots will become refugia, or places for once widespread but now isolated animal populations to survive, even if that survival remains tenuous. East Antarctic peninsula Cape Adare, is one such spot where climate changes have been less extreme. Said Cimino, “The Cape Adare region of the Ross Sea is home to the earliest known penguin occupation and has the largest known Adélie penguin rookery in the world. Though the climate there is expected to warm a bit, it looks like it could be a refugium in the future, and if you look back over geologic time it was likely one in the past.”

Extrapolating on current climate change patterns, these scientists predicted surviving Antarctic penguins will concentrate in southern Antarctica over the next century.

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Source: Worley, Will. “Climate change ‘to devastate penguin populations in Antarctica by up to 60 per cent by the end of the century’.” Independent. 29 June 2016

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
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Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
Founder & CEO
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Climate Change, environment, Uncategorized

GOOD NEWS, OUR OZONE LAYER IS ON THE MEND!

July 1, 2016 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The hole in our ozone layer over Antarctica caused major concern for the future of our planet when it was first discovered in 1984. This discovery lead to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, a treaty signed by almost every nation that focused on eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) chemicals in an attempt to save the planet’s protective layer.

Today, over three decades after the discovery of the shrinking ozone layer, we are seeing improvements to the ozone layer proving the success of the treaty. Although these improvements are minimal considering the 1.5 million square miles of ozone that shrunk between 2000 and 2015, the hopes of saving our planet are looking more like possibilities.

Environment Typical_Crowded_Beach alists and scientists from around the world were majorly concerned with the effects that the shrinking ozone could have on our planet. The ozone layer, high in the stratosphere, protects Earth’s life from absorbing the Sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. With the depletion of ozone, mostly caused by the release of CFCs and other chemicals from refrigerants and propellants, the UV radiation was predicted to cause major health issues to humans. Skin cancer, cataracts, and eye damage were just some of the health concerns.

NASA analyzed the situation in 2009 and simulated the result of a continuously shrinking ozone layer had the Montreal Protocol not been signed. Their simulation showed that by mid-century, the ozone layer would be completely depleted from Earth, and at noon on a summer day the UV index would be so damaging that visible sunburn could be seen on skin within just 10 minutes.

Thankfully, this is no longer a concern. Improvements to the ozone layer are just one example of the success from society’s joint efforts and mutual concerns to directly target an issue. The Montreal Protocol’s accomplishments should engage society to take a harder look at how the issue of Global Warming can best be solved. While the shrinking ozone layer triggered a ban to the use of CFCs, the focus for Global Warming needs to be on the release of carbon into the atmosphere from coal, gas, and oil burning. This shows the success of collective efforts and treaties like the Montreal Protocol to generate change and give us all hope of living in a cleaner and healthier planet.

Source: “Ozone Hole Shows Signs of Shrinking, Scientists Say.” Henry Fountain. NY Times. June 30, 2016.

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Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
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From the Founder: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival