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| An insect cafe. Image source: The Hindu |
Urbanisation has no doubt wreaked havoc on Bengaluru’s ecosystem. The hum of bees, the flutter of butterflies, the chirping of insects — all drowned out by the notorious traffic of the city.
Amidst all this, there is one non-profit doing its bit to restore biodiversity and bring back the natural balance -- Vibhinna India Foundation.
"Insect cafes" is one of their initiatives. They are like a cosy little spot for insects.
These are eco-friendly structures made from upcycled materials like bamboo, mud, and wood, providing safe nesting spaces for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and wasps.
The idea is simple: give insects a place to thrive, and they’ll do what they do best — pollinate plants, support biodiversity, and keep nature ticking.
Vibhinna India Foundation, in collaboration with EY Global Delivery Services, launched several insect Cafés across Bengaluru’s major botanical gardens last year. They are in Doddasaggare Botanical Garden near Koratagere in Tumakuru, as well as at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and Cubbon Park in the city.
This is a community-driven initiative, with hundreds of volunteers pitching in. Plus, the materials used for these cafés are sourced from rural households, directly benefiting women farmers involved in wood collection.
Vibhinna India Foundation has also set up a butterfly garden at St John’s Medical College, designed to support the entire life cycle of butterflies. It features carefully selected host plants that cater to different butterfly species, ensuring they have a safe space to lay eggs and grow.
Urban expansion has drastically reduced insect populations, which in turn affects food security, plant growth, and overall biodiversity. Without pollinators, ecosystems collapse.
So, it’s nice to know that not everyone is just complaining; some are doing their best to restore what’s been lost.
(This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. The theme is environment.)
I love this! In North Carolina, USA, there's a movement to support pollinators with planted gardens and "bee hotels." I see it making a difference. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
That's a great idea. Insects are so important, yet so many things can kill them off.
ReplyDeleteI think far too many do not think about how important insects are to the environment
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