 Well, as a matter of fact, we don't have a clue what most insects do. There are an estimated 5 million insect species on the planet, and we've only named one fifth of them - about one million. However, if you look at what those we actually do know provide for us and the rest of the living world, it becomes clear that losing insect species is potentially catastrophic, even if their ecosystem function hasn't been discovered yet.
Let's take a look at some of the vital contributions insects make to our world:
With insect numbers in decline everywhere, all of these vital services are threatened. Luckily, every single one of us can take action to help boost insect populations, not only where we live but also in the rest of the world. If you don't know where to start, I suggest you watch this space - there will be a whole series of Precious Insects posts, starting with 5 simple things you can do for insects in winter. Fun insect fact: A favorite dish of Hirohito, the former Emperor of Japan, was boiled wasps with rice. Source: Dave Goulson, Silent Earth - Averting the Insect Apocalypse
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 Did you know that the great whales have a vital role to play in storing carbon in the oceans? "When it comes to saving the planet, one whale is worth thousands of trees" according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). One way they do it is by accumulating carbon in their bodies during their lifetime and taking it down to the bottom of the sea with them when they die, removing it from circulation for a very long time. However, their most important contribution to carbon storage is what is known as the "whale pump". By fertilizing the upper reaches of the oceans with nutrients from the depths, they promote the growth of phytoplankton. These tiny creatures capture an astounding 40 percent of all the CO2 produced in the world, turning it into at least half of the oxygen that is made available worldwide (IMF estimates).
Rewilding the oceans and protecting the great whales so that their numbers can increase again is therefore a natural, non-technological way of dealing with the carbon problem. It is estimated that if whale populations were to reach their pre-whaling sizes once more, they could capture 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, which is about the amount that Russia emits every year (Charles Clover). Sources and inspiration: Charles Clover: Rewilding the Sea - How to Save Our Oceans IMF: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2019/12/natures-solution-to-climate-change-chami  We still have some time to go till spring, and insects are not much in evidence right now. But there is a lot we can do even during winter to make the world a more insect-friendly place. Here are a few simple but powerful things you can apply as of today.
Fun fact (even though you might also find this a bit scary): The weight of ants on our planet is similar to the total weight of all humans. Source: Dave Goulson, Silent Earth - Averting the Insect Apocalypse |
Illustrated Thoughts
Hi, I'm Birte and I make (live) illustrations. This is where I express myself in words and images about topics that have made me think. Archives
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