In an era of wildfires, drought, and species decline, Vermejo is proof that restoration is possible. And it’s a blueprint for where it can happen next.
This land, a 560,000-acre reserve in northern New Mexico that has been home to Indigenous communities, roaming bison, elk, and antelope since time immemorial, has seen civilizations rise and fall. In the 19th century, mining came, leaving behind landscapes stripped by time and scarred by industry. But now, something remarkable is happening.
In 1996, media mogul Ted Turner bought this land. Working with science and nature, Vermejo’s passionate stewards helped restore the land to a place of thriving biodiversity and teeming life—from bison and wildcats to urban dwellers escaping to the outdoors.
Shot over 130+ days in this breathtaking landscape, PRESERVED unveils the hidden sanctuary and its unseen wildlife behaviors—bears stealing mountain lion kills, microscopic worlds thriving in water-filled potholes, and animals adapting to a changing planet. Scientists, ranchers, and leading conservationists have come together to help achieve the seemingly impossible—from North America’s largest trout restoration to the return of beaver, elk, and bison. Vermejo, deep with discovery and abundant human history, is a bellwether for what’s possible everywhere.
Year: 2024 | Filmmaker: Ben Clark | Runtime: 94 minutes
Presented by the Boulder Environmental Nature Outdoors Film Festival AND DAIRY ARTS CENTER.
Q&A with director Ben Clark
Director Ben Clark is an adventure filmmaker and former Himalayan ski mountaineer. He directed The Snowman Trek, a documentary on Bhutanese and ultrarunners’ high-altitude collaboration, which screened in 400 theaters. The youngest person to lead a successful Everest expedition, Ben has filmed stories around the world highlighting endurance, climate, and exploration. He is a member of the Protect Our Winters Creative Alliance.
If You Love The Land, It Loves You Back