The Problem
I created this project to address the dwindling populations of pollinators. Many pollinators in the United States are specialized for the specific native plants around them. When these plants disappear because of agricultural expansion and deforestation, the bees, butterflies, bats and birds that relied on them are negatively impacted. For example, the population of butterflies has decreased nearly 25% over the past twenty years. Similarly, North American birds are lacking nearly 3 billion breeding adults! These statistics are jarring and depict how many pollinating species of birds, bats and bugs are facing the looming threat of extinction. Some species, such as the Franklin’s Bumblebee, are already considered extinct with no recent sightings. Personally, I witnessed the number of butterflies in my garden lessen every year. If this downward trend continues, pollinators will not be the only affected organisms. Firstly, the plants that they pollinated will lose their main (if not only) form of reproduction. Thus, these plant species will also experience dwindling populations and risk becoming extinct. Since 75% of all stable food crops require the assistance of pollinators, many animals and communities are expected to experience severe hunger and malnutrition. This domino effect, which is becoming more and more likely each year, is anticipated to disrupt the food chain in a catastrophic manner. In short, the animal kingdom could go topsy-turvy (or, as the Germans would say, “Alles steht kopf”).
