An intimate portrait of place, purpose, and generational connection in San Diego County's extraordinary ecosystems.
Directed by John Fiske • Nature Documentary
A film by
Official Selections & Recognition
Celebrating San Diego's biodiversity on the festival circuit
Meet our Expert Guides from the Film
Dr. Clarissa Rodriguez
Plant Biologist
Research focuses on how global change impacts ecosystems, studying the resilience of California's unique habitats.
Dr. Brooke Rose
Geographer
Maps how plants respond to global change, connecting landscapes, climate, and biology in powerful new ways.
Rick Halsey
Educator & Chaparral Expert
Founder of California Chaparral Institute, dedicated to protecting chaparral landscapes and wildfire education.
Captain Joe Cacciola
Sea Captain
Navigating California's waters for decades, bringing deep knowledge of ocean and marine ecosystems.
Dr. Marshal Hedin
Animal Biologist
Specializing in arachnids and California biodiversity, connecting science with the public through the SDSU Biodiversity Museum.
Arnie Mroz
Desert Guide
Seasoned desert guide bringing Southwest landscapes to life with deep knowledge of terrain and ecosystems.
Richard Herrmann
Photographer
World-renowned photographer whose marine life images have appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, and IMAX films.
About This Film
Set in the sun-soaked canyons and coastlines of San Diego County, The Most Biodiverse Place in America is an intimate portrait of place, purpose, and generational connection. Told through the lens of John Fiske — a passionate naturalist and educator — and his sons Johnny and Charlie, the film explores the richest ecological county in the United States.
As father and sons move through chaparral, oak woodlands, snowy mountains, desert expanse, and coastal bluffs, they share a bond rooted in curiosity and care for the land. John's decades of work protecting habitats and species comes alive in his mentorship of Johnny and Charlie, who see the future of conservation through their father's eyes. Together, they reflect on what it means to grow up grounded — in a landscape teeming with life and in a legacy built on stewardship.
A story of biodiversity, family, and the fragile beauty of what surrounds us — if we choose to see it.
Meet the Director
John Fiske
Director & Naturalist
John Fiske entered law school at age 20 on a full ride scholarship and has since been named California Lawyer's Attorney of the Year for Environmental Litigation. Twenty years later, he has turned his passion and experience to his original love affair: film.
A father of four sons, John is personally invested in telling tales of "out there," resisting the invasion of isolation and anti-social normalization. Community, nature, stories, exploration, and adventure lay at the heart of John's passion for his unscripted documentaries.
Director Statement
The Most Biodiverse Place in America is, at its core, a story about connection — to land, to family, and to the rhythms of a place often overlooked. As a father, a naturalist, and someone who has spent decades navigating the front lines of environmental law, I felt a deep urgency to tell this story not through data or policy, but through intimacy and presence.
San Diego County's ecological richness isn't just a backdrop — it's a living character in this film. Filming alongside my sons Johnny and Charlie, we set out to explore not only the chaparral and coastal bluffs we call home, but also what it means to raise the next generation in relationship with the natural world, including elevated mountains, expansive desert, and the pacific ocean.
This film is both a personal reflection and a call to attention. In a world that often turns inward, The Most Biodiverse Place in America is about looking outward — choosing to see, listen, and care for what's still wild.