Birds and the Bees
Small solutions to our big problems?
Thesis: This major project proposal is to look at the importance of pollinators, their value to our agricultural industry and how their decline impacts us. Furthermore, it will look into the positive ways we can reduce and slow pollinators decline.
Pollinators are characterised as a diverse collection of different animal species which transfer pollen both directly and indirectly between flora. Pollinators are predominately made up of insect species such as butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, wasps, flies and, the most prominent of all pollinators, bees. Amongst insects other taxa such as birds, bats, rodents, reptiles as well as small marsupial and primates also contributed to pollination.
Pollinators are important for an unprecedented number of reasons including their impact on human health, agriculture and economics. Also, their underrated significant part in the ecosystem and environmental value. Animal pollinators are responsible for more than 70 of the hundred crops that provide 90% of the worlds food as well as one in every three bites of food from almonds to berries to alfalfa that feeds dairy cows (Steve Ellis, MN and CA Beekeepers). This makes them directly responsible for between 5 and 8% of the global agricultural production by volume and includes foods that provides major micronutrients, such as vitamin A, iron and and folate global diets (Ipbes). In the United Kingdom alone pollinators provide a free essential service, pollinating £690 million worth of crops annually, a job which would cost estimated £1.8 billion to replicate every year. Many of the worlds cash crops that prosper from pollinators, such as coffee and cocoa from developing countries and almonds from developed countries, provide employment and income for millions of people (ipbes). Animal pollinators play a vital role in the United Kingdom, as globally nearly 90% of wild flowering plant species depends on the transfer pollen by animals. The plants are critical as they provide food, form habitats and other resources for a wide range of species (IPBES). Even though there is evidence to show how important pollinators are and how they are vastly beneficial to our agriculture, they are declining for many different reasons including farming itself.
Pollinators have been and still are declining the at a fast rate for many different reasons. These reasons include increase overall pathogen load (viruses, bacteria and fungi), poor nutrition, habitat loss and urbanisation, pesticides exposure, intensification of agriculture global warming/climate change. The United Kingdom Wildlife Trusts states “We can directly link these declines to changes in the way we farm. The intensification got agricultural has to to the destruction oh habitats and what is left is fragmented”(wildlifetrust.org). These changes to the way we farm are also the reason for our use of pesticides, “Pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, acaricides ect.) ate primary used in crop and plant protection against a range of pests and diseases” (IPBES) which have undeniable harming affects on pollinators have been the biggest blame for the decline. One of the biggest pesticides named as a culprit of pollinator decline is Neonicotinoid. This certain pesticide-alone and in conjunction with other pesticides- have been named as one of the key catalyst because of the direct and indirect toxicity causing cascading effects. They can caused Bees to be poison acutely by flying through the clouds of pesticide dust and also chronically at sublethal levels by eating and drinking contaminated pollen. The impacts over time of Neonicotinoid on bees alone includes compromised immune system, shortened adult life cycles, impaired memory and learning, reduced social communication, delayed larval development and disrupted brood cycles and finally “gut” microbe distribution.(Steve Ellis, MN and CA Beekeepers). Why is pollinator decline an issue and what does it mean for us?
As this proposal has explained pollinators are vital for our diet, economic, agricultural and ecosystems. Their decline has already began to have a huge roll on effect on our environment and agricultural industry, “it (pollination decline) would undoubtably be a disaster for some crops and would put even more pressure on global food supplies which is steadily being stretched even further by the growing humanitarian population“ (Dave Gouldon, A Sting in the tale). A report by the Natural Resources Defence Council also notes that “the global economic cost of bee decline including lower crop yields and increased production coats, is as high as $5.7 billion per year.” This leaves agriculture and agriculture based economic at risk as well as the jobs and incomes that they provide. There is also evidence that “natural pollination improves the quality of crops from its nutrition to its self life” (friendsoftheearth.uk) so with these important pollinators we are looking at lower yields of low quality crops which will inter effect how nutritious not just human but a wide range of species diets are. There is a lot the pollinators do for us but what can we do for them?
Pollinators decline can be reduced and slowed by giving them a helping hand and trying to scale down the effects caused by intensive agricultural. Things that people can do at him or in their local communities are buy locally produced honey, avoid using pesticides by using natural replants instead like other insects or certain plants. Make green spaces in urbanised area, gardens and parks by planting pollinator friendly flora like wildflower as well as leaving grass to grow longer and adding bee hives as well as nesting boxes for bees and bats. Furthermore reducing distribution to nesting and hibernation spots as many animals will return to the same places to reproduce, nest and hibernate. Pushing for policy makers and farmer to do more by increasing sustainable farming and bringing back living hedgerows and having more wild areas. By making small changes we can help to boost pollinator number instead of increasing their decline which will intern help to boost agriculture stability and crop nutrition.
Rational: This major project will briefly outline pollinators and there role before looking into the issue of how they are important and beneficial to humans through their effect on our agricultural industry. Then the project will summarise the reasons for pollinator decline and the follow on effects this has on agricultural industry and the impacts that can/are caused because of their decline. Lastly this project will look at how we can reduce pollinator decline with a variety of solution.
The reason why I think this is an important critical issue is because it is a current issue that effects everyone no matter their, age, race, culture or where they live. This issue talked about and campaigned but is mostly done in small fragmented way without showing the bigger picture and bigger issues at stake. Many campaigns fragment the issue into smaller focal point such as just “save the bees” for pollinator decline or “go organic” for sustainable farming, in order to try and raise awareness but the problem with this is that it doesn’t show people the full picture or how detrimental the issues are, as well as secluding species.
Although this issue is universal, in addition to being campaigned in a fragmented way it is an issue that is not always well communicated to people who do not see it or understand it as a priority. Being environmentally friendly has had a long standing stereotype of being a “tree hugger” or more recently “a millennial vegan” and in someways this is positive for environmental campaigns as they target people who are aware and interested in this type of issue. This does in a negative light accidentally exclude those in urban areas or those who do not have a lot of environment/ agricultural knowledge. Throughout my project this is something i would like to touch on when I research and develop my critical analysis. Keeping these inclusions and exclusions in mind is also an important consideration for the creative out come as I would like my creative solution to give the whole picture and be accessible and appropriate for people with different subject knowledge and different environments.
For my creative solution i would like to look at a fully immersive campaign that is a continual campaign over at least a one year time frame. The reason I would like to have a campaign over one year is to target all season and allow an audience to track and keep in touch with nature and natural environmental cycles. In a “Springwatch-sque” way by keeping an audience invest for a year will allow people to gain more knowledge in when pollinator are active or in hibernation, when plants bloom, pollinate and when they need to be plant ect. This in the long term will help people have to knowledge and tools in order to help even in the smallest of way like planing flower or leaving out nest and food. To keep my campaign immersive i want to include workshops, posters information packs that are sent to an audience over the year time frame to keep them up today and informed with how to help, development that effect the issue. Postal pack could included illustrated info-graph of different species, infographic postal cards with different seasonal seeds with information of when to use them through at the year. The campaign would also include a website and app that work together to give information, updates, have a photo sharing aspect, having family activities and projects that people can do at home like making bee homes, watering stations and bird feeders. I would like to have a large section devoted to allowing people to be able to recognise and track how many species they see and wear to give a always current up to database of species in order to help track of populations and habitats. To follow along the year I would in addition like to produce a calendar to show flora and fauna activities and when they need help the most. The reason I want to have a mix of both paper and digital formats for my campaign is so I can reach as many people as possible. Many people have different needs and preferences such as if they have WiFi in their homes or not, whether they need technology for hearing or seeing difficulties so by crossing over both mediums more people can feel included.
My target audience for my creative solution is aimed at a broad range of ages but looks more specific at families and those with gardens big or small. I want to have an interface that works for a more adult and young person audience between 15-65 for example but as well as subsection aimed to be more friendly for young kids. Companies like Netflix’s do a similar set up with a “kids” account with in the app and The Wildlife trust also so this by having a kids “nature detective” subscriptions that comes with information and activities.
I want to use natural colours, predominantly shades of primary colours as well as bright bold colours like greens and pink to reflect wildflowers. I think colours like this are a good representation of nature. For my typography I want to use something fun and natural feeling like handwritten fonts.
Aims and Objectives: The first aim of this project is identify what are pollinators to then be able to explore and establish the relationship between them and their impact our agricultural. I will do this looking at scientific research material, wildlife trust and organisations as well as conducting an interview with someone who managed bees or pollinators either a wildlife worker or beekeeper.
The second aim of this project is to look at pollinator decline and the impacts this has on us and particularly the implications on us and our food. To this I will look at both digital and printed research reports and books, scientific reports as well as conduct a survey aimed at people in the agricultural industry such as farmer and also people who have gardens and grow their own fruit and veg to see if they see/feel the impacts of pollinators decline or if they are even aware.
Finally, I will look at campaigns, adverts and promotional materials of which promote pollinators, discussion there decline or that looking into their effect on our agricultural in order to a establish what people have previously considered import factors and approach’s to the issue. I will also look at promotional material and campaigns run my wildlife trust and organisation so see how they design their campaigns to cover different issues in addition to how they target a wide audience and target market. I will also look at wildlife charity’s as I want to situate my creative artefact in a wildlife charity as part of a campaign in unison with their work.
Development of theoretical ideas/ practitioners and theorists/ primary sources: There are several people who share same idea that pollinators and most of all bees are reaching a critical crisis which furthermore impacts us most through out agricultural and environment. Albert Einstein is quoted to have said “If honey bees become extinct, human society will follow in four years.” (Dave Gouldon, A Sting in the tale) although Dave Gouldon disagrees the probability that Einstein said this quote as there is no evidence he does agree that “it would undoubtedly be a disaster for some crops, and would put even more pressure on the global food supply.” (Dave Gouldon, A Sting in the tale). In a globally recognised assessment report by Ipbes on ‘Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production” Josè Graziano da Silva the Director General for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the Untied National (FAO) stated “ Pollination services are an ‘agricultural input’ that ensure the production of crops. All farmers,
especially family farmers and smallholders around the world, benefit from these services. Improving pollinator density and diversity has a direct positive impact on crop yields, consequently promoting food and nutrition security. Hence, enhancing pollinator services is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as for helping family farmers’ adaptation to climate change.“ this is an issue that is recognise and known but not campaign and brought to the attention of enough people who do not closely follow the issue at a political level.
Reading List:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bees-needs-food-and-a-home
https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-and-wild-places/saving-species/save-bees-and-pollinators
https://www.apicultural.co.uk/types-of-pollinators
https://www.well.org/environmental/how-do-we-save-the-bees/
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/why-do-we-need-bees
https://www.thatsfarming.com/news/pippa-world-bee-day
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/bees-and-other-pollinators-are-in-dire-need- of-help-unprecedented-scientific-report-says-20160301-gn6v2d.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2649299/
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(08)01240- 2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982208012402 %3Fshowall%3Dtrue
https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/downloads/pdf/2017_pollination_full_report_book_v12_pages. pdf
https://www.bee-life.eu/post/2018/02/22/environmental-degradation-and-pollinisation-crisis https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-pollinator-crisis/
Timetable
| Number of weeks | Goal to accomplish |
| Week 1: WC. 24th Feb 2020 | Develop creative outcome and plan survey/ interview questions |
| Week 2: WC. 2nd March 2020 | Develop creative outcome , publish survey/interview questions |
| Week 3: WC. 9th March 2020 | 1500 & illustrate |
| Week 4: WC. 16th March 2020 | Write 1500-2000 & illustrate |
| Week 5: WC. 23rd March 2020 | Write 1500 & illustrate |
| Week 6: WC 30th March 2020 | Put creative together- write 1500 |
| Week 7: WC 6th April 2020 | Easter holiday -finalise |
| Week 8: WC 13 April 2020 | Easter Holiday -proof read |
| Week 9: WC 2o April 2020 | Deadline week |
Natalie Rose 