New Documentary Making Connections with Dr. David Jones
Explores Interdependency of Environmental and Economic Health

With Dr. David Jones, director of the North Carolina Zoo, as our guide, the new one-hour documentary Making Connections with Dr. David Jones will take viewers on a stunning visual tour of North Carolina to show us what is at stake if we fail to protect the environment as we develop theeconomy. The program will be broadcast statewide on UNC-TV on Wednesday, November 15 at 9 PM.

Surveys have revealed that nearly one-fourth of all permanent jobs in North Carolina, including agriculture, forestry, energy generation, commercial fishing and tourism - more than 800,000 jobs - have a direct
connection with the environment. Many of these jobs will be at risk if North Carolina’s environment is not protected.

North Carolina faces some daunting environmental challenges. Today’s state population of 8.5 million is expected to swell to 13 million during the next 50 years. Even today, North Carolina ranks 37th among the 50
states in clean air and 38th in water quality. Without effective environmental policies, the situation will only get worse. In Making Connections, Dr. Jones explores the critical need to develop wise land use policies, including community-based planning. Development in high demand area, especially on the coast and in the mountains, can compromise key biological habitats and impact plant and animal diversity in North Carolina. Making Connections also focuses on the economic importance of managing water resources and looks at the need to develop alternative fuel resources.

Making Connections with Dr. David Jones is a wake-up call for all North Carolinians, asking viewers to make the connection between environmental quality and their own personal lives. Making Connections with Dr. David Jones is a powerful call to action with an important message for anyonewho cares about North Carolina. UNC-TV is North Carolina’s statewide public television network, providing enriching, life-changing television to more than 4 million viewers each week.

The North Carolina Zoo, located about 75 miles west of Raleigh in Asheboro, is the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo, and seeks to make visitors aware of the connections between humans and the world’s animals, plants and natural resources. Its African and North American exhibit regions span more than 500 acres with more than five miles of walkways.

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