The word "grass roots" is often used as an international term for grassroots civic activity. The film was filmed throughout 2017, which in Russia it was proclaimed the Year of Ecology, but in fact, environmental violations only intensified. Blocking illegal actions of developers, watch and tent camps, press conferences, collection of signatures, pickets, all this is effective and ineffective at the same time. The film “Grassroots” explores three vivid cases of environmental struggle, namely in Karelia (protection of the Sunsky Forest), in the Krasnodar Territory (Ecowatchta activities) and in the Voronezh Region (protection of the Khoper River), and on their example answers the main questions faced by environmental activists today in our country. In the film, we hear the voices of many environmentalists and listen to the opinion of the most experienced: Evgeny Vitishko, Andrey Rudomakha, Konstantin Rubakhin, Suren Gazaryan, Evgenia Chirikova, Tatyana Chestina, Grigory Kuksin. Some bright activists were forced to emigrate, and some received real terms. What does it cost to defend your forest, park, city? Who can do it?