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The Age of Nature:

This PBS documentary circled the globe reporting on the intersection of humans, nature and environmental recovery. Here’s Great Lakes Now’s coverage of similar issues in our region of the U.S. and Canada.

Are you watching the series  “The Age of Nature” on PBS? Airing information HERE.

It’s a three-part documentary exploring environmental restoration projects around the world. Narrated by Uma Thurman, the program shares stories of efforts, research and successes aimed at improving natural settings for the benefit of flora, fauna and humans.

Click on the stories and videos below to learn more about  similar work going on in the Great Lakes region.

What Grows: “Shipwrecks and Ecosystems” watch party for Great Lakes Now and “The Age of Nature”
- by Sandra Svoboda

Whether they’re in oceans or the Great Lakes, shipwrecks create unique ecosystems for a variety of aquatic life.

Damming Decisions: Watch party for Great Lakes Now and The Age of Nature
- by Sandra Svoboda

Learn more about what happens when these dams are built and what happens when they come down in this Great Lakes Now watch party.

When a Dam Comes Down: Removal of dams allows fish passage and habitat restoration
- by GLN Editor

Razing dams and returning rivers to their more natural courses is happening throughout the world – including on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

Dams Across the Great Lakes: End of the line for aging infrastructure?
- by Lorraine Boissoneault

Instead of spending money to repair old dams, more communities are putting resources towards decommissioning dams and letting rivers run free.

Global Good News: “The Age of Nature” series aims to show success stories in environmental restoration
- by GLN Editor

“There’s a huge amount of positive stories out there to choose from,” said Verity White, “The Age of Nature” series producer.

What Grows: Shipwrecks become ecosystems, even at nuclear testing sites
- by GLN Editor

“The Age of Nature” producer Pete Lown spoke with Great Lakes Now about the powerful symbolism of marine life returning to the wrecks in advance of the documentary airing.

Mapping “The Age of Nature”: Visit locations in the new PBS series and their Great Lakes connections
- by GLN Editor

Visit this map to learn about global habitat restoration efforts and similar work around the Great Lakes.

Watch Party: River Influence
- by GLN Editor

Great Lakes Now Program Director Sandra Svoboda chats with journalist Lorraine Boissoneault and Drew YoungeDyke from the National Wildlife Federation about mining, Asian carp, water quality and the Great Lakes.

Shipwreck Life: How fish and other aquatic species utilize Great Lakes shipwrecks
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

From bass and burbot to freshwater sponge, the kind of ecosystem that forms around Great Lakes shipwrecks are as varied as the thousands of wrecks.

Damming Decisions
- by GLN Editor

Four dams were built along the Boardman River in Northwest Michigan to generate hydroelectric power for Traverse City.  But by 2004 they were no longer economically viable. A decision was made to remove three of the dams and renovate the last one in downtown Traverse City. 

Detroit Public TV’s broadcast and engagement with “The Age of Nature” is supported by the Michigan Wildlife Council and PBS.