Karen and Ralf Meyer founded Green Fire Productions in 1989 to produce communication tools that advance conservation and social justice issues. Since then they have produced dozens of award-winning films that are used worldwide by NGOs, agencies, businesses, educators, industry associations, First Nations and Native American tribes and have aired on PBS. The results: people deciding to restore and protect the lands, rivers, wildlife and seas around them.
Green Fire uses the power of film to move audiences to action and influence decision makers on important conservation issues. What have they learned over the past three decades? Solution-oriented stories, told by people implementing on-the-ground-changes are the most effective way to help audiences learn what has worked for others and could work for them as well. By witnessing unlikely allies working together to find solutions that benefit ecosystems, economies and communities, audiences are inspired to work toward lasting change.
Over the past 30 years, the Green Fire team has captured inspiring stories about many contentious issues, and the films have played a significant role in conservation. These stories show a path toward sustainability and how people across the country are using cutting-edge, yet practical methods to balance conservation and stewardship with making a living off the land and sea. Films include:
- Coastal communities working to protect areas of the ocean as marine reserves
- Ranchers, farmers and agencies restoring salmon habitat
- Government, tribes, scientists, industry, and conservationists creating comprehensive ocean plans
- The ecological impacts of recovering wolves and livestock producers learning to co-exist with wolves and other predators
- People building resilient communities through dam removal and many more.
“The Common Ground event was the catalyst for the fishermen to move forward with identifying a marine reserve.”
— Leesa Cobb, Port Orford Ocean Resource Team
“In the end it’s going to be the video that protects the Copper Salmon Roadless area. Having the video to back me up really does the trick: the video is my main ammunition. I am at ease approaching adversaries and conservatives for their support of the campaign to protect the Copper Salmon roadless area — and they always either give their support or agree to remain neutral after seeing the video.” [The Copper Salmon Wilderness was designated in 2009]
— Jim Rogers, Friends of the Elk River
“There was a clear change of mind after viewing Taking a Second Look. Our town council was divided on the very contentious decision of whether to repair or remove the Collegeville dam. Only after watching the video did everyone wholeheartedly support removing the publicly owned dam, and we voted 5-0 in favor of dam removal.”
— Terrie Stagliano, Town Councilwoman of Collegeville Borough, Pennsylvania
