Filmed and Edited by Prakash Matada
Additional Filming by Ram Alluri, Robin Darius, Pramod Jois
Color Grade by The Edit Room
Supported by Karnataka Forest Department
Forest staff fight small and big battles every minute of every day. Sometimes wars. They might not always win, but they keep fighting with whatever meagre resources they have access to. This short film celebrates an army that we desperately need but rarely appreciate. In a resource rich but highly populated state like Karnataka, staff from the forest department fight fires, illegal poachers, loggers and miners, resolve human-wildlife conflict; all activities that help protect places that sustain and enrich our lives in many surprising ways. We all know that fresh air and clean water come from functioning ecosystems that are under severe pressure today. Through interviews with forest staff, from anti-poaching staff in the field to officers that overlook the efficient functioning of the department, this short film will deliver an important message: the people who protect nature are our allies, not foes. And that can never be up for debate.