Environment & Sustainability

"Nested in a remote corner of #Nepal, the village of Halzi thrives in virtue of the 11-century Waltse Rinchenling Buddhist Monastery. The monastery is a cultural treasure and the heart of a 500-people community. But lying just 6.5 kms below a dangerous glacier, this sanctuary faces the ever-looming threat of being wiped away by violent glacial lake floods. Residents cannot imagine abandoning the cultural treasure to its fate. The people of Halzi are running out of time.​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Tashi Lhazom​"

"In the heart of Nepal’s majestic Himalayas lives the iconic Bearded Vulture - a threatened species in the country. But with #Nepal’s rapidly changing climate, the future of the Vulture and the livelihood of the mountain communities is in danger. ​ Watch ‘Wings of the Himalayas’ to follow the footsteps of two biologists who delve into the captivating world of the Bearded Vulture and how it contributes to the culture of the Himalayan communities.​​​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Kiran Ghadge​ and Munir Virani​​​"

"Teresken – the main shrubby plant in Tajikistan’s Pamir mountains, holds down mountain soil and prevents the spread of high-mountain deserts. Every truck load of teresken carried away to be used as fuel seriously degrades the soil and speeds up the spreading of high-mountain deserts. Wild animals like Marco Polo sheep, Siberian ibex and wild yaks have nothing left to feed on. Watch ‘Teresken in Trouble’ to see all that is at stake if local fuel alternatives are not available soon.​​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Sayohat Khalilova"

"When the Floods come is a 30-minute adventure film exploring the human impact of Pakistan’s historic 2022 floods, by way of an unforgettable 3000km road trip, starting from the famous glaciers of the northern areas, following the flow of the Indus River, to the hottest and worst impacted areas of northern Sindh. It is also a personal odyssey by the filmmaker exploring the village where he grew up and the people who still remember him 20 years later. ​​​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Nyal Mueen​uddin"

"Water levels have declined drastically in Upper Mustang Nepal, forcing the villagers in Himalayan mountains to abandon homes of many generations. Watch Dhye Dreams to experience the stories of three resilient women fighting against their fate and surviving through climate change. ​​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Shanta Nepali"

"In 2022, Pakistan's monsoon floods destroyed millions of acres of farmland and killed millions of livestock, triggering an extreme food crisis. With nearly 10 million children suffering from stunting and extreme weather changes restricting crop production, how do we recover from the destruction and feed the children of Pakistan? ​​ Series Producer: Andrew Tkach​​ Episode Director: Cyrus ​Viccaji"

Last May, record temperatures provoked a GLOF or glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan, sweeping away bridges and villages in the valley below the Shisper glacier. Higher up the mountains, a semi-nomadic people called the Wakhi were leading their yaks to summer pastures. Their traditional lifestyle has also been heavily impacted by climate change. We profile both the scientists and the villagers on this global warming frontline. Episode director: Karim Shallwanee Series director: Andrew Tkach Locations: Gilgit-Baltistan region, #Pakistan VRW-019

Season 2, Episode 8: Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn River, born near the Petrov Glacier, begins its journey next to a massive gold mine, long, troubling environmentalists. Although the river is very important for agriculture and power production, the environmental awareness of those who depend on its health is low. Raw sewage is routinely dumped into Naryn River. A drought and melting glaciers would deplete the Toktogul reservoir, jeopardize the viability of the power station. We talk to those trying to save a river in serious condition. Episode Director: Iskender Aliev Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Naryn, #Kyrygyzstan VRW-018

Season 2, Episode 7: The people of the Sary-Jaz River valley have always believed that the Enilchek glacier would be there forever. After all, the Sary-Jaz valley is fringed by the highest peaks in the Tien Shan range, Peak Pobeda (7439 m) and Khan-Teniri (6995 m). But Alexander Vereshchagin, the chief scientist in the Khan Teniri Nationa Park, knows better. Alexander has seen with his own eyes how much the biggest collection of glaciers in #Kyrgyzstan has dramatically retreated. We join him on a horseback survey of Khan Teniri Nature Park, as he meets the valley’s shepherds and surveys the profound changes in their landscape. Episode Director: Aibek Baiymbetov Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Khan Teniri Nature Park, Kyrgyzstan VRW-017

Season 2: Episode 5: Shepherds of Naar - With unpredictably severe storms and rising temperatures, Pasang and Rgitar’s yaks must be herded higher and higher every summer, making the journey ever more perilous. Follow the shepherds leading the vast yak herds of one Nepalese village to higher pastures, and the troubles they face. Episode Director: Asmita Shrish Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Nar Phu Valley, #Nepal #VRW #ClimateChange #ClimateAction VRW-015

Season 2, Episode 4: Snow Shadows, Snow Leopards – The world’s most elusive big cats are suffering greatly on account of habitat destruction. With less natural prey to eat, #snowleopards are attacking more domesticated livestock. We follow one angry herder who has lost more than a hundred animals to snow leopards. And a former hunter, now a tourist guide, who wholeheartedly works to protect the #bigcats. Episode Director: Abdullah Khan Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Karakoram Mountains, #Pakistan #VRW #Resilience #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ThirdPole VRW-014

Season 2, Episode 3: Fishing and farming communities in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan face a looming threat to their culture and survival as water resources in Central Asia dry up dangerously fast. Episode Director; Janyl Jusupjan Series Producer: Andrew Tkach Locations: Ala-Too Range, Kyrgyzstan, Khorog & Darsem, Tajikistan and Aral Sea, Uzbekistan #VRW #Resilience #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ThirdPole #AKDN VRW-013