I Bought a Rainforest

In episode one, we join Charlie as he first visits his land and discovers he hasn’t bought the pristine rainforest of his dreams, but 100 acres of secondary forest complete with a squatter, coca crops, and some reputedly dangerous neighbours. Undaunted, Charlie sets off to find out what animals and insects still live on his land, but it’s only when he visits a local NGO that has successfully replanted a large area of forest that Charlie begins to believe his mission is not entirely hopeless.

Charlie's original aim was to ring-fence the whole area to prevent illegal loggers from entering the park. But four months on and 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.

Wildlife cameraman, Charlie Hamilton James bought himself 100 acres of Peruvian Rainforest for 10,000 dollars. The plan was to create a buffer zone along the border of the world famous Manu National Park as a way of keeping illegal loggers out. Nine months on and the project has hit rock-bottom. Unable to secure his land because of a squatter called Elias, Charlie had planned to evict him. But having now met his family and his disabled daughter, Heidi, Charlie is fast learning that if you want to protect the rainforest you need to include the local people. He goes to spend time with one of his neighbours, a Wacheperi shaman called Don Alberto, who treats sick people with traditional plants and hallucinogenic medicines. Initially sceptical, Charlie agrees to take ayahuasca in an attempt to try and understand the forest better from their perspective. As the power of the plants work their magic on him, he sees first hand how much knowledge and potential is being lost as the forest continues to be cut down.