Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Scotland

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Scotland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

BBC Scotland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Gavin Searle

Simon Sykes

Charlie Hamilton James

I Bought a Rainforest: Episode 2

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

i-bought-a-rainforest_ep2_080614_e_pp.jpg

Episode 2

I Bought a Rainforest

BBC Two - I Bought a Rainforest, Episode 2

Four months on, Charlie Hamilton James's grand scheme has hit the buffers.

Series following wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton James, who has bought 100 acres of Peruvian rainforest. Four months on, Charlie's grand scheme has hit the buffers.

Wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton James has bought 100 acres of Peruvian rainforest situated on the borders of the world famous Manu National Park. Charlie's original aim was to ring-fence the whole area to prevent illegal loggers from entering the park. But four months on, his grand scheme has hit the buffers. His rainforest turned out to be little more than scrub and a squatter called Elias is still occupying the land. Charlie wants to evict the squatter, but Elias keeps delaying his departure - something Charlie suspects is little more than a cover for illegal logging. 

With morale at rock bottom, Charlie's wife Philippa flies out from England to raise his spirits and to see how he has spent their money. Keen to remind him of the original aims of protecting the park, Philippa persuades Charlie to take her in search of one of his favourite animals, the giant otter. 

When Philippa returns to the UK, Charlie decides that he needs to take a leap of faith and get involved with the locals and their way of life. Invited into the rainforest with Beto and Modesto, they head off on a four-day mission to illegally fell a giant hardwood tree that Beto was saving to pay for his daughter's education. Torn between his love of the forest and a growing awareness of how hard life can be, Charlie's loyalties are dramatically split.

But logging is not the only threat to the Peruvian Amazon. Its rivers are being poisoned by illegal gold miners who use mercury to help them extract the gold. Charlie decides to go to the source of the problem and meets Erazmo, a mine owner who has spent 30 years trying to strike it lucky. The harsh working conditions and 16-hour shifts are brutal reminders to Charlie that both the rainforest and its inhabitants pay a high price for the bullion propping up the world banking system.
  
On his return to the land, Charlie vows to force Elias out. But when he meets Elias's wife Ennis and their daughter Heidi for the first time, he has a profound encounter.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Series following Charlie Hamilton James, who has bought 100 acres of Peruvian rainforest.

Series following wildlife photographer Charlie Hamilton James, who has bought 100 acres of the Peruvian rainforest in the hope that it will stop loggers illegally cutting down trees.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

I Bought a Rainforest

Episode 2

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two