Last Stand: Saving the Elwha River’s Legacy Forests

The film “Last Stand: Saving the Elwha River’s Legacy Forests” will publicly premiere at EarthX in Dallas on April 24 at 11:00am CT in the Emerald Room. Directed by Dan Herz of NIAD Productions, the 20-minute film is now also available on YouTube.

Against the backdrop of stunning landscapes and stirring testimonials, the film captures the urgency of the loss of older, structurally complex and biodiverse legacy forests in Washington state and the power of grassroots activism to effect change.

When a large ecologically sensitive legacy forest in the heart of the Elwha River Watershed was identified for harvest, the Earth Law Center, Keystone Species Alliance, and Center for Whale Research began using all legal means possible against the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to halt the impending clear-cut. The film’s breathtaking cinematography and intimate interviews showcase the profound beauty and ecological significance of the watershed, as well as the dire consequences of unchecked deforestation.

The film transports viewers to the stunning waters of the Elwha River, where the once-blocked river now welcomes the return of salmon, a keystone species in the region's ecosystem. A $327 million dam removal and restoration project sparked hope and rejuvenation as salmon populations rebounded, offering a lifeline to the critically endangered Southern Resident Orca population (74 individuals remaining) that depends on them for sustenance. The tranquility of this newfound equilibrium is shattered, however, when state-sanctioned logging threatens the legacy forests lining the river’s banks. These towering trees serve as guardians of the river, sequester massive amounts of carbon, and prevent erosion and sedimentation that could imperil the salmon's habitat.

The Elwha Legacy Forest Coalition formed to face the imminent threat of deforestation. Led by local conservationists, legal advocates, Indigenous leaders, and concerned citizens, the group embarks on a courageous quest to halt the logging operations, preserve the balance of nature, and educate the public about interdependence. As tensions escalate, the coalition employs a variety of tactics including community outreach, peaceful protests, and legal maneuvers. Through their unwavering commitment and collective spirit, they ignite a groundswell of support, uniting people in a shared mission to safeguard the future of threatened forests in the Elwha Watershed and throughout Western Washington.

Direct press inquiries to:  Elizabeth Dunne, Director of Legal Advocacy, Earth Law Center; edunne@earthlaw.org, Cell: 808-554-1409                                                  

Direct screening inquiries to: Missy Lahren, Chair, Earth Law Center; mlahren@earthlaw.org, Cell: 415-225-1048