Wonders of the Monsoon

Original version

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Four

BBC Scotland

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

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

BBC Four HD

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

Colin Salmon

Jonathan Clay

Paul Bradshaw

James Honeyborne

Chris Cole

Wonders of the Monsoon: Episode 5: People of the Monsoon

Documentaries

People of the Monsoon

Episode 5

Episode 5: People of the Monsoon

BBC Two - Wonders of the Monsoon, People of the Monsoon

This episode examines the relationship between nature and the people of the monsoon.

Series exploring a world where life is shaped by monsoons. This episode examines the relationship between nature and the people of the monsoon.

Our story begins as the relationship began - humans entered the region as hunter-gatherers. On the Philippine island of Palawan, near Borneo, for part of the year people still hunt in the forest and live in caves. As with their ancient forebears, their lives are underpinned by a closeness to and a spiritual respect for nature.

Around 10,000 years ago, rice - the perfect monsoon crop - changed everything. In the paddies of Assam, India, farmers battle a herd of hungry elephants over the rice crop. Conflicts like this have played out for thousands of years. But this tension in the relationship with nature has been softened by another phenomenon - organised religion. Both Hinduism and Buddhism have deeply influenced the relationship, teaching a deep respect for nature.

We meet a group of the Bishnoi sect, who believe that all life is sacred and have been known to lay down their lives for nature, even to protect trees. As a consequence of this philosophy, their marginal farmland supports a higher density of people than any other desert in the world. Across India, thousands of sacred groves are reserved for the worship of nature. For thousands of years, wildlife that lives in these areas has been protected, helping to keep the subcontinent the bio-diverse place that it still is.

But the relationship now faces a challenge from worldwide demand for the monsoon's bounty, especially the clearance of forests for cash crops. The most visible casualties are iconic species such as siamese crocodiles, bengal tigers and orangutans, whose habitat is stripped away, but there is hope. Local people are figuring out how to harvest both the natural timber and crops that the world wants, in a more sustainable way.

Whatever the future holds for the lands of the monsoon, all of us are now connected and surely have a part to play.

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.

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Step into a world where life is shaped by the greatest weather system on Earth.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Wonders of the Monsoon

Episode 5: People of the Monsoon

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Two HD

About BBC Two