Biodiversity - Tumblr Posts
I love the pearlescent detail on this omnivorous looper moth (Sabulodes aegrotata in the family Geometridae) I found while camping in the Santa Cruz Mountains (California).
Deck Rooftop
Country rooftop deck photo
okay. i know i say this a lot but i think this might actually be my favorite piece
it started with a robot sketch, then a two page poem, then I started getting the full vision for what the illustration would look like. As I did that and figured out how i'd add text, the full idea unraveled.
This takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is extinct and the natural world is finally starting to thrive, although there are issues and crises due to what humanity left behind. if this is well received I might turn it into a series, a way of approaching climate change in an imaginative and whimsical light, also i'm really excited I drew a fox for the first time.
it's a little different to what i usually draw but I'm on a higher dose of meds and a little happier, so while that lasts here's some illustrated whimsy :)
And Indigenous peoples continue to fight to protect these environments, including their ancestral homes and those in Removal areas! If you’re interested, there are several Indigenous activists near you! Let’s decolonize our homes!
By the way, the southeastern USA is considered a humid subtropical climate. Alabama and Tennessee and Georgia and the Carolinas and Tennessee and all that stuff, that's considered to be subtropical instead of regular "temperate"
For some reason I did not know this. Maybe it just seemed too "exotic."
Un-Actions, or Restriction of Activities
This is my first post in a series I’ll be making on how to increase biodiversity on a budget! I’m not an expert--just an enthusiast--but I hope something you find here helps!
There’s a good handful of ways you can help increase biodiversity in your yard that don’t require buying things--in fact, these may actually help you save money in the long run! They may seem small and simple, but every bit counts! Whether you can do these in totality, or just limit how often you do these actions, it’ll make a difference.
Not Mowing, or Mowing Less Often
Turf grass lawns are considered a monoculture, meaning they don’t provide much opportunity for insects to find habitat--so few other creatures find them enjoyable either. An expanse of turf grass is, in many ways, a barren wasteland in the eyes of wildlife--too exposed to cross, with few to no opportunities for food or shelter, leaving them exposed to blazing hot sun, freezing cold, or any predators that may be lurking nearby. A place to be avoided. The simple act of letting your grass grow unbothered gives a chance for wildflowers to grow, and for your grass to grow taller--providing more habitat for insects, which then provides more habitat to birds and other creatures that feed on said insects. Wildlife want nothing more than to skirt by unnoticed, so even leaving the grass tall along the edges of a fence or yard can help a little. Even restricting mowing to every other week, or at a higher blade setting, can be a huge help. If HOAs or city ordinances are fussy about lawn length in the front yard, you can likely still keep grass higher in the backyard. Or, you can create a ‘feature’ where grass is allowed to grow long in a specific area. If it looks purposeful, people are more likely to accept it. Not mowing under trees or close to shrubs not only leaves space for wildflowers to grow, but also means you don’t have to deal with mowing over bumpy roots and other difficulties. Cutting different areas at different times can be an option for letting grass grow long in some areas while still having available places for play and entertainment. I’ve seen some people plant flower bulbs when pulling up weeds, so in the future they'll bloom in early spring before mowing is usually necessary. This could be another fun way of adding biodiversity to a lawn without--or before you--begin mowing in spring.
Not worrying about mowing, or doing it less often, saves you in time, money, and energy. You won’t have to buy as much gasoline for your mower, and Saturday afternoons can be free to be enjoyed in other ways aside from being sticky and sweaty and covered in grass stains. In addition, you’ll likely be lowering your own carbon emissions!
If you do have to mow your lawn, I’ve got ways you can use your grass clippings to boost biodiversity later in the post series!
Not using pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.
One of the next-biggest non-actions you can do asides from not mowing is using fewer fewer to no herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides in your yard. This’ll easily allow for more biodiversity. Allowing more insects and a wide array of plants to thrive will feed back into the entire food chain in your area. In addition, these types of chemicals have been tied to algae blooms, death of beneficial insects, harm to birds, fish, and even humans. Soil is supposed to be full of fungi, especially fungal mycelium that essentially acts as a network for plants to communicate, share nutrients, and support each other--fungicide kills that, and typically makes all other lawn problems even worse in a negative feedback loop. It may take awhile to see the benefits of avoiding these chemicals, but once you see it, it really is astounding.
However! I can’t lie and say that there haven’t been points where I needed to use pesticides at some points in my gardening journey. In these cases, try to use products that are organic--like diatomaceous earth, neem oil, etc--and use them accurately, correctly, and sparingly. Follow instructions on how to apply them safely and responsibly--for example, on non-windy days and during times when bees and other pollinators aren’t likely to be out and about. With some pests (read: oleander aphids, in my experience), a simple jetstream of water is enough to force them off the plant where they’ll be too weak to get back. Eventually, you should have a balanced enough ecosystem that no one insect pest causes a major issue with the work you’re doing to boost biodiversity.
If you can bear to, try handling pests manually. Squishing pest bugs in your hand is a pretty foolproof way to get rid of some problems, or spraying them with a mix of soap and water can do the trick on some insects. Alternatively, picking them off your plants and into a bucket of soapy water is also a valid option. You’ve heard of baptism by fire, now get ready for… baptism by soap?
But also! Try reconsidering what you consider a pest! Tomato hornworms are hated by gardeners, for devouring the foliage of beloved tomato, pepper, and potato plants. But killing the tomato and tobacco hornworm means getting rid of sphinx moths, also known as hummingbird or hawk moths! Hawk moths are vital to the survival of many native plants, and are sometimes even the only species that pollinates them. If you can bear to, consider sacrificing a few tomato plants, or growing a few extras, so we can continue having these beautiful moths for years to come. After all, they may not even do significant damage to the plants!
With that in mind, be friendly to your natural pest managers! Lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantises, wasps, birds, bats, and more will help manage pest populations in your environment! Encourage them by planting things they like, providing habitat, and leaving them be to do their work! Avoiding pesticides helps make your garden a livable environment for them, too!
Letting Weeds Grow
Many of the plants we know as 'weeds' are actually secondary succession species and native wildflowers. Milkweed was regarded as a noxious, annoying weed for a long time, and now people are actively trying to plant them after learning about the important role they play in our environments! Weeds are adapted to take over areas that have been cleared out of other plants after a disaster, so they're doing much of the initial work in making a habitat for other creatures. In fact, many of them will simply die back as the environment repairs itself.
An important thing to note is to please make sure that your ‘weeds’ are not invasive species. Work on learning how to identify native and invasive species in your area, and pull out what’s harmful to leave room for what’s good!
Don’t Rake (Or At Least Don’t Bag Your Leaves)
Many insects overwinter in piles of leaves that we often rake away and bag up in the fall and winter. By doing this, we are actively throwing away the biodiversity of our neighborhoods! If you can, leave the leaves where they fall!
If you do need to rake, put the leaves in places wildlife can still access it instead of bagging it up. Move your leaves into garden beds to serve as mulch, or along the edge of fences to rest while keeping egg cases and hiding bugs intact and free to release come spring.
Leave Snags Where They Are
Snags are dead trees/dead branches on living trees. They provide an important wildlife habitat--many birds nest in them, or use them to seek cover from rain, and many insects will also live in snags (making them an additional food source for birds and other creatures). Tree cavities are used as nests by hundreds of bird species in the US, and many mammals use them as well, such as bats, squirrels, raccoons, and sometimes even bears. Some trees form cavities while they’re still alive, but in conifers they’re more likely to form after death. Crevices between the trunk of a dead tree and its peeling bark provide sun protection for bats and amphibians, and leafless branches make great perching areas for birds of prey to hunt from above. The decaying wood is home to insects and fungi, who then feed birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Do check on the snags regularly to ensure they don’t serve a threat to any nearby structures, but whenever possible, leave them be!
Keep Your Cat Inside
If you have an outdoor cat, consider making the adjustments to have it be an indoor cat. If you have an indoor cat, keep it as an indoor cat. Free ranging cats impact biodiversity through predation, fear effects, competition for resources, disease, and more. Keeping little Mittens inside does a lot more to help than it may seem from the outside.
That’s the end of this post! My next one’s gonna be on things you can add to your space that aren’t directly related to growing plants. For now, I hope this advice helps! Feel free to reply with any questions, success stories, or anything you think I may have forgotten to add in!
Hiking on my week off with my friends has been the most therapeudic thing for me since weighted blankets
Setting up Ark Nova (board game) for the first time and couldn’t help but notice
They’ve lumped North and South America together!??
Europe and Asia get separate tokens (as they should)
So why did they lump the Americas??
Hello??? South America is one of the most biodiverse places in the world??
S. America has more KINDS OF BIRDS (3000) than Europe has: Mammals (270) birds (800) amphibians (75) and fish (344) COMBINED
I’d just like to know why Ark Nova did this please and thank you 🙏
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JilYBVrFiLA)
I see a lot of content here in the solarpunk community about the importance of re-wilding, of re-introducing biodiversity and turning our garden's into little sanctuaries, but this has always felt super inaccessible to me. I have always lived in rental properties that have little to no outdoor space, need to be regularly mowed for inspections, and where I am not allowed to make any major changes to the garden.
Recently I moved into a tiny granny flat. The yard is about a metre and a half of grass in a circle around the house, and a metre of grass either side of my concrete driveway. When I first got the inspection report for it, the real estate described the yard as "mostly weeds." This time I thought, fuck it. I only have inspections once every three months, which gives me plenty of time to let it grow without anyone noticing. Plus I had the insurance that with the lawn being "mostly weeds" the real estate wouldn't notice the difference. Let see if letting it grow actually makes a difference to the eco-system around me.
I invested in a push mower, to cut down the grass without doing much to the "weeds", and then after my first inspection I just let it grow. My hopes were not high. My space is absolutely tiny, and most of the wild flowers growing in my yard mostly invasive species for Australia. I had no idea if it would make any difference at all.
Its been an uncharacteristically rainy spring here, so the flowers all sprung up far far more quickly than I thought they would. Only two weeks after the mow there were dandelions as high as my knee. With the wildflowers came the bees, and the butterflies, and then after that came the ladybugs, the dragonflies, the lizards, spiders and birds. The photos above are only a tiny fraction of what the garden has on offer, and those are only the photos from this week.
When I first moved in, I didn't used to see anything in the well mowed lawn but ants. Its only been about a month and a half since I mowed it, but with all the rain we've had recently its sprung to life far far more quickly than I'd hoped. With such a teeny tiny lawn in the middle of the suburbs I really didn't expect to see a difference in biodiversity. How much difference can such a tiny little patch of flowers actually make? It turns out a lot.
I'll be devastated when I next have to mow it all down in another 6 weeks, but with the risk of snakes here, its probably for the best. It honestly been so lovely to walk down my driveway in the morning and be circled by all the butterflies. Its made my day every morning.
I hope I've convinced anyone else who also has a tiny space and has been considering letting it grow out to give it a go. You don't need to have a huge garden or be able to plant all native species in order to make a difference. Although these things are great, making due with what you have is the best first step.
Indigenous communities across the world invest nearly $5 billion in conservation annually, making up a quarter of all conservation spending by governments, donors, foundations and NGOs worldwide, according to the report. Their customary territories are estimated to contain 36% of the world’s remaining intact forest landscapes and 80% of remaining biodiversity.
“Because of the deep connection of our people to our land and territories, we conserve an outsized proportion of the world’s biodiversity and ecosystems through our governance system and cultural practices,” Peter Kallang, an Indigenous leader from Sarawak, Malaysia, said at the launch. “Caring for and sustaining our territories is part of our identity, part of our customary laws and values, and part of our way of life.”
At times, this has come at the cost of their lives. Since 2012, more than 1,540 land and environmental rights defenders have been killed, more than a quarter of them in Asia, according to human rights NGO Global Witness.
Here in Venezuela, the goverment is mining on ecosystems that were once protected, slowly destroying whole mountains and devastating the local fauna and flora. And nobody cares.
Now the Kusari Tepuy has been destroyed so some rich assholes could celebrate a fucking birthday party, and they are just walking scot-free.
I hate it here.
EDIT:
Adding this to the post proper because some of you are stupid and it makes my blood boil.
Not everything bad you hear about my country’s situation is “made up CIA propaganda”. Sure, a lot has been exaggerated about Nicolás Maduro’s goverment and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavéz. That’s true. That being said, there have been a lot of bad things too, the Arco Minero being one of them. That’s also true.
And the #TepuyParty? That was not Maduro. That was not something caused by our so-called “dictatorial regimen”. The ones who did that are just very, very wealthy people, most of which (if not all of them) are actually from the opposite political party. They have nothing to do with the Chavista political party, believe it or not.
So unless you are Venezuelan yourself and living in Venezuelan soil right here right now, you better shut up before you write something this stupid.
In other words: Cállate gringo.
"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕-𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆; 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔; 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔! 𝑰𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚".
-Lafcadio Hearn
𓆣ִ ࣪⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹
Spilostethus furcula
𓋼𓍊𓆱𖢥𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
19/03/2024 (13:11 p.m.)
⋆⭒˚.⋆
In the future, children will think our ways are strange. "Why do old people always grow so much milkweed in their gardens?" they'll say. "Why do old people always write down when the first bees and butterflies show up? Why do old people hate lawn grass so much? Why do old people like to sit outside and watch bees?"
We will try to explain to them that when we were young, most people's yards were almost entirely short grass with barely any flowers at all, and it was so commonplace to spray poisons to kill insects and weeds that it was feared monarch butterflies and American bumblebees would soon go extinct. We will show them pictures of sidewalks, shops, and houses surrounded by empty grass without any flowers or vegetables and they will stare at them like we stared at pictures of grimy children working in coal mines
Join the Green Movement: Plant Trees with One Tree Planted
Shaina Tranquilino
May 13, 2024
In an era where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discourse, taking action to preserve our planet has never been more crucial. Amidst the myriad of environmental initiatives, one simple yet impactful way to make a difference is by planting trees. Trees not only beautify our surroundings but also play a vital role in mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and sustaining ecosystems.
Enter One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization committed to global reforestation. With a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment, they facilitate tree planting projects across the globe. Their approach is straightforward yet effective: for every dollar donated, one tree is planted.
But why trees? The benefits of trees extend far beyond their aesthetic appeal. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus mitigating the effects of climate change. Additionally, trees help to combat soil erosion, filter air and water pollutants, provide habitat for countless species, and contribute to local economies through products like timber and fruits.
One Tree Planted collaborates with local communities, NGOs, and forestry organizations to ensure that trees are planted where they are needed most. From reforesting wildfire-ravaged areas to restoring degraded landscapes, their projects span the globe, addressing diverse environmental challenges.
Participating in tree planting initiatives with One Tree Planted offers several compelling benefits:
1. **Environmental Impact**: By contributing to reforestation efforts, individuals can directly counteract deforestation, habitat loss, and the effects of climate change. Planting trees is a tangible way to restore ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
2. **Community Engagement**: One Tree Planted's projects often involve local communities, fostering a sense of stewardship and empowerment. By involving locals in tree planting activities, the organization ensures that projects are sustainable and culturally sensitive.
3. **Education and Awareness**: Planting trees is not just about digging holes and placing saplings; it's an opportunity to educate people about the importance of trees and ecosystems. One Tree Planted emphasizes the educational aspect of their projects, raising awareness about environmental issues and inspiring individuals to take action.
4. **Corporate Social Responsibility**: Many companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Partnering with One Tree Planted allows businesses to offset their carbon footprint, engage employees in meaningful volunteer activities, and demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship.
5. **Personal Fulfillment**: Planting trees offers a sense of fulfillment and purpose, knowing that you are contributing to a greener, more sustainable world. Whether you participate in tree planting events, donate to reforestation projects, or simply spread the word, every action counts.
In a world facing escalating environmental challenges, the simple act of planting trees has the power to effect positive change. Through organizations like One Tree Planted, individuals, businesses, and communities can come together to make a meaningful impact on the planet. So why not join the green movement today? Together, let's plant trees and cultivate a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.
I didn’t know about this!
"Protecting Our Food Supply: The Importance of World Bee Day"
"Happy World Bee Day! Let's protect these vital pollinators and ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our food supply and environment. #WorldBeeDay #Pollinators #Biodiversity"
This past Saturday, May 20, 2023, was the observance of World Bee Day. We should take the time to acknowledge the benefits and the importance of these tiny workers and recognize their vital role to the survival all life on this planet! Everyday is World Bee Day! Rod W World Bee Day is celebrated annually on May 20th to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators for our…
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