Back from the Brink Catchup
COMPELLING 2 PART DOCUMENTARY 'BACK FROM THE BRINK' RETURNS SUNDAY JUNE 4th RTÉ ONE
The third series of the immensely popular and uplifting ‘Back From The Brink’ presented by Derek Mooney will reach our screens this summer, June 4th on RTÉ One. Back From The Brink shows a snapshot of how European conservationists are working to stem the tide of a biodiversity crisis and climate change one step at a time. The series is made in conjunction with the European Broadcasting Union and eleven other member broadcasters with potential to be broadcast in some 52 countries. Each broadcaster presented two films of approximately six minutes each to highlight conservation in their country. These were then put together by the RTE Cork team to make two one-hour programmes. From the return of the Wolf to Rome to turning the Swedish Moose into a TV star, nature conservationists throughout Europe are fighting back, and delivering remarkable results, in the fight to protect Europe's wildlife and biodiversity.Our planet is paying the price for generations of environmental mismanagement, but in this news series Derek Mooney goes on a journey across Europe to find out how smart human intervention can bring Europe's wildlife ‘Back from the Brink’.
The Irish Stories
In Ireland, Derek and the team worked with John Lusby of Birdwatch Ireland, to tell the remarkable story of how the farmers friend, the barn owl, is making a comeback for the first time in decades.
Portmagee in South Kerry is where Lucy Hunt of marine NGO Sea Synergy, a local fisherman, may have discovered a lost Native Oyster bed that could have a huge positive impact on biodiversity in the area.
Meeting European Conservationists
Derek and the RTE team also headed to mainland Europe to meet some of the contributors from the films made for the series by some EBU colleagues. Berghausen in Southern Bavaria on the Austrian border is where Derek met Corinna Esterer. She is the woman responsible for reintroducing a very odd-looking bird the Northern Bald Ibis. The first time in four hundred years they have been bred in Europe. But not only that she had to use a microlight to fly alongside the chicks to show them the path over the Alps to their summer migration grounds in Italy.
Derek also travelled to Granada in Spain to investigate how irrigation ditches built by the Arabs over a thousand years ago are being used by farmers to combat drought and he discovered how the Wolf has made a return to the city of Rome.
Derek Mooney commented;
‘’Very often when we hear news about wildlife that is negative, focussing on the declines In populations or the imminent extinction of a species. It's right that we know this but it’s also reassuring and uplifting to focus on the positive relationships between humans and animals. That’s what back from the brink is about. In these two episodes we will meet people who really do care about the plight of wild animals and with a bit of luck, their stories will inspire others.’’
In episode one the series looks at agriculture and the impact of industrial farming and how farmers across Europe are embracing ancient techniques to help secure a stable future and play their part in reversing the climate crisis. In episode two, we see how nature can fix itself with a little help from humans. In Germany, conservationists are teaching an almost extinct species to fly to its traditional migration grounds. We will see how Swedish television turned the Moose into a TV star while in Rome, we’ll find out why the Wild Boar is back in the suburbs of the eternal city. In Scotland scientists are building the ideal location for the re-release of the endangered Scottish Wildcat, and off the coast of Kerry, the rediscovery of an ancient oyster bed could help rebuild the biodiversity of an entire coastline.
Back From The Brink is telling a story of hope. It celebrates the people who are trying to make a difference in the climate and biodiversity crisis. This environmental disaster can be reversed. It will take all of us to make a difference. The fight isn't over yet, but the clock is ticking.
‘Back From The Brink’ episode one is on RTÉ One at 6.30pm June 4th and episode two is on RTÉ One at 6.30pm June 11th.