yego.me
💡 Stop wasting time. Read Youtube instead of watch. Download Chrome Extension

How can a dandelion hold back a flood? | Initiating the butterfly effect for good


2m read
·Nov 10, 2024

I'm setting off on a journey around the world to follow the butterfly effect. I want to see how even a single action on one side of the globe can have a profound environmental impact on the other. My journey begins in Germany, with a family rewilding their garden as a fun hobby, showing us that there are easy and surprising ways we can all make a difference.

The common dandelions they plant can actually kickstart a series of positive ecological events. As the dandelions spread, they lead to a boost in a diverse range of insects including the Marmalade Hoverfly. These Marmalade Hoverflies migrate thousands of miles every year to warmer climates, including Switzerland, where Will Hawkes studies insect migrations around the world. As they move from flower to flower, they boost plant growth and attract even more insects, creating a rich feeding ground for an unlikely planetary hero, the Pipistrelle bat, known for consuming large quantities of insects.

Many Pipistrelle bats’ migratory paths take them through Europe, towards Spain. Here in the Ebro Delta Bat Reserve, bat houses were erected to attract and support Pipistrelle bats, who each consume thousands of insects every night, creating an agricultural alternative to harmful pesticides. This fascinating approach has been adopted far beyond the Ebro Delta, informing preservation efforts on the other side of the planet.

Juliana Senawi is at the centre of a significant preservation project in Malaysia's mangroves. Here, cave nectar and fruit bats, or flying foxes, are the primary pollinators of many mangrove species. Mangroves’ dense growth and complex root systems form a first line of defence against erosion, flooding and tsunamis. This natural barricade also benefits local fishermen and their communities.

It just goes to show that it only takes the smallest of seeds to help towards growing a more beautiful and more resilient natural world. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Forest in South America, another rewilding story is taking shape. In 2020, Zurich Insurance began a collaboration with nonprofit Instituto Terra to help restore an almost destroyed part of this ancient rainforest.

The Zurich Forest Project supports the planting of one million carefully selected seedlings over eight years, leading to more flowers, insects, birds and even wild cats, whilst also improving the lives of local communities, including 200 new local conservationists who are being trained as the next generation of forest protectors.

So whether you are planting a dandelion in your garden, or part of regenerating a forest in Brazil, we all have a part to play in supporting nature today to encourage a more resilient, natural world tomorrow.

More Articles

View All
Why Do the WORST PEOPLE Seem to Succeed? – Nietzsche and the Truth About Power
Imagine this: you’re in a room full of people all striving for Success. Some play fair, work hard and stay true to their values; others lie, manipulate and trample over anyone in their way, and yet it’s often the ruthless ones who climb the highest. Why i…
Hummingbird Aerodynamics- High Speed Video - Smarter Every Day 27
Hey, it’s me, Destin. So to fly slow is one of the more difficult things to do because you don’t have as much airflow over your control surfaces. To fly at zero air velocity is the hardest thing to do of all. Over the past weekend, I’ve been making observ…
How Money Works
Money. How does that word make you feel? Is it a rush of adrenaline? Dollar signs running through your head like a slot machine? Perhaps you feel motivated, ready to send those work emails you’ve been putting off or spend an extra hour writing that movie …
Inside Colorado's Weed Research Lab
[Music] By my money for security reasons, baggage unattended will be removed and destroyed. [Music] United Airlines flight 2120 one, Denver. [Music] Hi, I think you’re looking for me. Hello, Internet’s past gray here at a hotel in Denver, Colorado. Why? W…
The importance of regular tracking | Banking | Financial Literacy | Khan Academy
So your bank account, and you might have more than one, is really where a lot of your financial life is happening. So it’s important to keep track of it, and we’re going to talk more about that in this video. I’d recommend looking at the transactions in,…
Mr. Freeman, part 04
Hi, how many people are there! What are you chewing? Mmm… I thought trophy canned food. Common, enough! Draw your attention away from your meal and let’s imagine… You are a rich manufacturer. Yes-yes, you are. On the excellent tall ship, you carry brocad…