The multi-billion-dollar illegal timber trade costs the world far more than money. Environmental activist Alexander von Bismarck knows that in order to slow the mass deforestation of the planet, he must follow the money. James Bond–like, von Bismarck infiltrates the global syndicates that are stealing the world’s trees. Disguising his appearance and packing an impressive array of hidden cameras, he and his team of real-life environmental spies set out to catch well-established multinationals in the act. From tracking tree poachers deep in Russian forests to tailing logging trucks on Romanian highways, cameras follow the intrepid team as they uncover these same operators “washing” wood—the practice of trafficking lumber products onto the shelves of trusted retail networks. Gaining access to secret meetings and gathering evidence of massive criminal collusion, they risk their lives to uncover the staggering scale of tree smuggling and trading in the open market. Myrocia Watamaniuk
This film includes a pre-recorded Q&A.
World Showcase program sponsored by
The Goethe Institut supports German films at Hot Docs
MEDIA COVERAGE
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