This story was identified byPatricia Zurita, CEO of BirdLife International, guest editor of Call to Earth's "Nature's Highways" theme.
(CNN)Imagine traveling long distances in a barren wilderness without access to food or water. This is a difficult reality faced by many flying insects in the United Kingdom.
"Our countryside is green, beautiful and vibrant, but when there aren't many flowers, it's easy for insects to move. It's a very hostile environment, "says Kate Jones, Head of Protection for Buglife. ..
"Stepping stones"
Buglife identifies that it wants to restore 150,000 hectares (580 square miles) of land to wildflowers across the UK Did. Pasture. It is hoped that these meadows can be connected to form a national insect "commuter" network called the B-line, which provides nectar-rich pit stops for pollen maters.
The "stepping stones" of these flowers "must be within 300 meters, based on the average commuting distance of lonely bees, to be able to move between sites." Robins explains.
The B-lines project, partially funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, began in 2011. Using software developed by the University of Washington, Buglife planned the best connections between existing wildflowers at sites across the UK to create the first national B-line map launched in March 2021. Did.
So far, Line B has restored over 2,500 hectares of wildflower-rich meadows in the network. However, it is only a small percentage of the target of 150,000 hectares and wildflower restoration can be difficult. Claire Carbell, senior ecologist at the British Institute of Hydrology, said that native wildflowers tend to struggle to settle in areas of rich and fertile farmlands, and pollen maters are diverse regardless of season. He says he often needs flowers.
Another important challenge is for networks to pass through both public and private land in both urban and rural areas. That's why this project works with wildlife trusts, local governments, farmers and real estate owners.
Buglife provides farmers and landowners with guidance on growing wildflower-rich grasslands, along with a 10-year maintenance plan. "They are the ones who can really make a difference. They can give up a small area of their land to wildflowers and restore their habitat," says Robins.
Carvell believes that the B-lines initiative is an important addition to government-led incentives, providing effective support and training to farmers and councils for the restoration process.
She adds that planting wildflower-rich hedges and grasslands is useful not only for insects but also for farmers. "We benefit from farmers managing their land in a positive way against bees, flies, and insects that provide near-natural pest control services for all predatory insects and crops. I have a lot of evidence, "she says.
"We all have a role to play," she adds. "It's great to be able to contribute to something."