California has a long tradition of designating substantial areas of the state as national parks, ensuring conservation of its natural heritage. This programme looks at Death Valley, one of the hottest, driest, lowest places on earth but where some of the most advanced geological and climate change research is currently being conducted.
On the other side of California, in San Diego, scientists are pioneering a different kind of conservation. They’re working to save endangered species and return some of them to the wild.

FROM THIS EPISODE

San Diego Zoo
The Zoo has pioneered the idea of keeping animals in open spaces, mimicking their natural habitats. But San Diego Zoo is not simply a tourist attraction. It plays an important part in sustaining species, and has saved two species from the brink of extinction: the California Condor and China’s Giant Panda.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Death Valley
Situated along California's eastern border and surrounded by desert, Death Valley is one of the hottest, lowest and driest places on the planet. This episode explores the research carried out there on climate change through geological, water, botanical, and fauna monitoring.
http://www.nps.gov/deva/

SHOWING TIMES

Showing 1430 GMT on Saturday 16th May.
Repeated: 0230, 0930 and 1730 GMT on Sunday 17th May.

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