Over the past century, farming and the needs of a growing population have replaced nearly all of Ethiopia’s old-growth forests with agricultural fields. The Church Forests of Ethiopia tells the story of the country’s church forests — pockets of lush biodiversity that are protected by hundreds of churches “scattered like emerald pearls across the brown sea of farm fields.” The film documents the work of forest ecologist Dr. Alemayehu Wassie, who is working with local priests and communities to protect these “arks of biodiversity” that mark the confluence of forest and faith as a “mystical geography.”

Listen to an accompanying podcast about the church forests and the film