“Preserved,” a feature‑length documentary exploring the conservation projects at the Vermejo property in northern New Mexico, is set to be shown at the Sunflower Theatre at the end of March. Film director Ben Clark and producer Mary Ann Potts will attend the first showing and take part in a panel discussing the project.
The first screening will be held on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., and the second on Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m.
The documentary transports viewers to Vermejo, a roughly 558,000‑acre property once shaped by mining, railroads and ranching. In 1996, media entrepreneur Ted Turner purchased the property, launching a conservation effort aimed at restoring the property’s ecosystems and wildlife.
“I was inspired to make the film because I felt very curious about how our natural world works. Vermejo is a living laboratory that was transformed from a traditional working ranch with former coal mines, railroads and even wars fought across it into the pinnacle of conservation in the U.S.,” Clark told The Journal.
“Preserved” was filmed over more than 130 days, documenting the work of scientists, ranchers and conservation specialists involved in managing and rebuilding the property. The film also highlights the return of species such as beaver, elk and bison, as well as native trout recovery.
Clark is an adventure filmmaker, former professional athlete and former Himalayan ski mountaineer, becoming the youngest person to lead a successful Mount Everest expedition. During COVID‑19, however, his focus shifted toward conservation and land restoration efforts, which eventually led to the creation of “Preserved.”
He also directed a documentary on the “high‑altitude collaboration” of Bhutanese runners and ultrarunners, called “The Snowman Trek,” and is a member of the Protect Our Winters Creative Alliance.
The documentary also includes perspectives from conservation leaders and experts involved in the project, including Kris Tompkins, wildlife ecologist Sophie Gilbert and author Craig Childs, along with several Vermejo staff members who work directly on the property.
“I hope audiences walk out feeling good, hopeful. We can get nature ahead again, even with all that’s going on in the world today, if we choose,” Clark said. “It’s the American dream, having a healthy West we value and work on and enjoy together.”
Since its release, “Preserved” has been screened in nearly 30 cities across the United States.
Tickets for the screenings can be purchased at www.sunflowertheatre.org/product/preserved-documentary for $12 to $15 per ticket.
