'Natura 2040' draws its inspiration from Edward O. Wilson’s provocative Half-Earth theory, which reserving half of the planet as nature reserves to address the crises of ecological degradation and species extinction. The project envisions an alternative reality where the fictional organization Natura 2040 has compressed sprawling farmland into two 100-meter high walls that demarcate the boundaries between city and nature in the artificially constructed land of Flevopolder, Netherlands. This bold move leaves half of the polder to rewild, becoming an extension of the Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve.

The film does not aim to present a utopian or dystopian vision of the future of farming. Instead, it offers a series of visual narratives that probe the blending of these contrasting elements. What does it mean to preserve nature on artificially constructed land? Is this still nature, or merely an artificial illusion? How can we reconcile the relationship between human-made infrastructures and the natural ecosystems they are meant to support? By questioning the essence and definition of nature when placed on a man-made foundation, the film invites viewers to ponder the motivations and implications behind such ambitious ecological experiments.