- Ami Eckard-Lee: When we think of bees, we think of flowers, stingers, and... [ding] ...honey. But not all bees make honey. There are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide, but less than 15 of these produce the honey that we like to eat. Most of our honey comes from bees that are managed by human beekeepers for selling products like these: honey, pollen, honeycomb, or beeswax. Wild bees are species that survive on their own in the natural environment and are typically native to the area. And these little ladies are vital for a healthy ecosystem. But bummer news. Both domesticated and wild bee populations have been declining for decades, primarily due to climate change, habitat loss, and the widespread use of pesticides. So, what happens to the environment if we lose bees? [bright music] All bees are pollinators, but not all pollinators are bees. Pollinators are animals that help move pollen from one plant to another, allowing plants to reproduce. Many species are considered pollinators, like butterflies, regular flies, beetles, even some bat and bird species. But bees are the kings of pollination. Or maybe the queens. But why is it so important for the environment? I tried catching a bee to ask her, but she told me to buzz off. So, I met with these guys instead. And they seem to know a thing or two about bees. Why are pollinators so important for the environment? 
- James Crall: One is for biodiversity. The other one is more selfish. And that's for us, because a lot of the crops that we depend on as humans depend on that pollination. One in three bites, roughly, of food that we eat comes from a plant that depends to some extent on pollination. Basically, less pollinators means less food for us. 
- What are the main threats to pollinators in our communities right now? 
- Claudio Gratton: I think if we had to put 'em into categories, I would say that the biggest one is habitat loss. Imagine that every little habitat that they can get food is isolated from every other one. As habitats get smaller, they get further and further from other similar habitats. So, the likelihood that they can get to other food that is similar to what they're finding here is really low. So, that's fragmentation. There's also diseases and pathogens that are influencing bee populations in particular. Related to that is also the use of pesticides. And then, there's this kind of other thing that's happening in the background that we're still trying to understand is the relationship and the role that climate is actually playing. 
- How does climate impact the pollinators? 
- So, we can think of climate as both directly impacting bees and other insects, right? So, out on a hot day, it might be more stressful in the middle of summer for bees. We would call those direct impacts. But the other thing that can happen are these indirect effects through plants, right? One is through sort of shifting timing, something we call phenology. Generally, phenology is that sort of timing of biological events. So, one of these might be, oh, when do flowers and bees both emerge in spring? And one thing that can happen with climate is you start scrambling those a little bit. And that can lead to timing mismatches, right? Maybe the timing of when bees emerge is different than the timing of when plants come out. 
- Ami: These changes in phenology are what makes biodiversity so important for pollinators. Biodiversity refers to the variety of species in a given location. For example, a cornfield has very little biodiversity because there's only one species growing. Whereas a prairie might have dozens of plant species. All these species have different traits and blooming periods that make them favorable to certain pollinators. And by supporting pollinators, we're directly helping ourselves as well, because if they can't get the food they need, we might not get the food we need. I'm here at an apple orchard to talk with a farmer whose harvest relies on these pollinators, just like the pollinators rely on these flowers. Deirdre is an organic farmer who decided to designate 30 acres of her land to restore a native prairie that would help support the wild pollinators. And she has a pretty incredible story about how that decision paid off. 
- Deirdre Birmingham: In 2022, we were having a very long, cool, kind of miserable, damp spring. I knew that it was delaying bloom, and then it surged into the 90s. 
- Oh, wow. 
- Deirdre: And so, the blossoms were, like, exploding. They were just opening very quickly. And I had seen some wild pollinators. And so, I thought, "Good, "I know the wild pollinators are here, "but I haven't seen this neighbor's honey bees on the landscape yet." So, I hadn't seen them. I called him and said, "Hey, are your honey bees coming soon?" He said, "Oh, they're on a truck from Texas." - Oh, wow! 
- 'Cause he would ship 'em to work, you know, work someplace else. 
- Wow! 
- And so, they won't be here in time for my early blossom. It was about a three, maybe three-and-a-half day window. And the wild bees did it, 'cause I got a crop on those early season varieties thanks to wild pollinators. 
- Having this diverse native prairie habitat available gave these wild pollinators a better chance at coping with additional stressors such as a delayed blooming period. So, what are some ways we can incorporate more diverse and connected habitats into our own communities? 
- Actually, urban and suburban areas can be even better habitat for wild bees because there's more diversity. People have different plants in their yard. They have flowers, they might have vegetables. So, all this diverse stuff that people have there can be great for pollinators. 
- Think about all the areas in your community that are currently covered in a simple bed of grass. This might be the grassy area between the sidewalk and the road, or the median in the street. These areas could become habitat for pollinators if the right species were growing there. Another great way to get involved in protecting pollinators is by participating in a citizen science program. Citizen science programs are ways that members of the community can take action on environmental issues they care about by aiding real scientists in collecting local data. The Bumble Bee Brigade is an example of a citizen scientist program, coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to aid in the conservation of bumblebees in the state. When you're on a, what do you call them, bee expeditions, when you come down here to the park? 
- Aishika Samanta: Bee-search. 
- When you're doing some bee-search, I should call it, what do you-- What does it day look like? 
- Yeah, so we kind of walk along the same path each time for consistency and look at each individual flower and see what bees are on them. We keep track of what flower preferences, so what flower each bumblebee is on, the bumblebee species, the sex of the bumblebee, humidity, temperature, weather, all that stuff to kind of keep track of population, but also flower preference and kind of how populations fluctuate throughout the season. And that's one of my favorite things about citizen science is that anyone can get involved. 
- There are a lot of ways you can get involved in protecting and advocating for pollinators and their habitat. You can start by building a bee house for your backyard, or planting a pollinator garden at your school. You could even try participating in citizen science programs or start advocating for protective laws that safeguard pollinator habitat. All of these can directly or indirectly help pollinators, protect habitats, and save our food resources. So, make like a bee and get busy. [gentle music] Spoiler: it's bad. Not the sandwich. I'm getting weirder. Aaah! Our connection to food is a lot deeper than just eating to survive. Food invokes memories. It is a way to express ourselves, where we come from, and what we believe in. Food is part of cultural identity for people all over the world. For example, wild rice, known as manoomin in the Anishinaabe language, is a significant part of Anishinaabe culture. But it's becoming harder to find and harvest due to climate change and other human impacts. But how exactly does climate change impact culture and community? And what can we do to protect these traditional foods? [bright music] Northern wild rice, or manoomin, is a species native to the Great Lakes region. For hundreds of years, this species has grown in the shallow waters of lakes and slow-flowing rivers, and has been a traditional food source for First Nations people. However, climate change has impacted wild rice habitat and is making it difficult to grow and harvest. As people lose access to foods that were once abundant and a significant part of their diet, they begin to lose their food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is a person's right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. It is the power to have control over your food, where it comes from, and how it is grown. But why is food sovereignty so important? 
- Sagen Quale: Food is medicine. What we put into our bodies and the way in which we harvest and grow it is really important. Manoomin is just so central to Anishinaabe or Ojibwe identity that really with, like, a loss of manoomin, people have felt, like, a loss in that identity. I always think back to our migration story. Ojibwe people were originally on the east coast of Turtle Island. They were given a prophecy to say that in order to continue to, you know, survive and thrive and live, you need to go to where the food grows on water. People say it took a couple hundred years to move all the way from the East Coast to the Great Lakes region. And once we got here is when Ojibwe people came to find manoomin, the good berry, wild rice. So, I was taught that that rice is really special. Passing along the knowledge of manoomin is something that was done for me, and that is what I need to do for others. 
- Wild rice plays a significant role not just in Anishinaabe culture, but also within its own ecosystem. It helps stabilize the banks of lakes and rivers by holding sediment in place with its root system. It filters the water. It provides habitat for fish and waterfowl and food for birds, insects, and people. It's a vital part of the ecosystem. But as the ecosystem changes, this species is having a hard time growing where it used to thrive. So, what exactly is causing this decline? Let's get down in the weeds and talk to some researchers from the UW-Madison Center for Limnology, who are working up at the Trout Lake Station in northern Wisconsin. What does your research focus on? 
- Gretchen Gerrish: I think our project started on wild rice, with the more recent declines. So, for the last five years, we've been surveying populations to look at which populations are doing well, which ones have experienced decline, and which ones may be threatened. There's a lot of questions about the seed storage. So, rice that falls one year can actually fall into the mud and sit there for many years before it germinates. 
- Ami: Oh! 
- Yeah. A lot of annual plants have seed banks. 
- What does annual plant mean? 
- The difference between an annual and a perennial plant is that annual plants grow from seed each year. A perennial plant can actually have a root that stays in the dirt or in the lake, and then it'll start growing out of that existing root structure. So, based on that seed bank question, and we've also been taking sediment cores. And so, this is where you just take a tube and shove it down in the mud, cap it off. You pull it up and you sieve it. And then you look at how many seeds are in a section of sediment, how deep they are in that sediment. And that gives you an idea of how much seed goes from one year to the next, or how much goes from fall to summer. So, it's common in a sparse population like this, where your core might contain no seeds. 
- So, what changes are happening in the environment that threaten wild rice growth? 
- Climate's threatening the wild rice. Water level rise and fall is definitely one. And those are two big ones. But the other ones are herbivory. And then, of course, wave action. You know, if you have rice on a lake where there's boats creating big waves, it can uproot the plants. 
- Ray Allen: And I think there has been worries about people because you can get a state permit to harvest wild rice. You don't have to be a tribal member to do it. Is that, people just don't know the techniques. And yet, since it's, like, such a delicate plant. And it's, as Gretchen mentioned, it's annual. Like, if you lose that seed that one year, you're not gonna have it the next year. 
- Yeah. 
- And you'd have to rely on your seed bank. 
- Yeah, I think when we get into discussions about loss of wild rice too, the loss of human connection to the rice over the years, there's a lot of knowledge about harvesting. So, if you harvest rice before it's ripe, the seed that falls can't actually germinate for the next year. And so, there's a timing for harvest that's very, very important to think about. And so, having that deeper understanding of when it's ready to harvest is knowledge that needs to come forward to help protect the rice. 
- Ami: Climate change and other stressors, such as human impact, are causing wild rice beds to decline. But losing manoomin isn't an option for those dedicated to protecting this species. Let's meet up with Kathy Smith, a strong advocate for wild rice, to learn why the species is so important for its ecosystem and how we can help protect it. Can you tell me a little bit about the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission? 
- Kathy Smith: So, what we do is we help our 11 member tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan with their hunting, fishing, and gathering rights for off reservation only. 
- Manoomin, it's wild. But you are stewarding it. What does that look like, and how do you monitor it? 
- What we also do at GLIFWC, is we do aerial photos. We fly over, you know, parts of Minnesota, parts of Michigan and northern Wisconsin here within the ceded territories. So, we continue to monitor, you know, rice from the air. We have all these tools that are given to us to be able to, you know, work alongside that Ojibwe knowledge. 
- What changes have you seen? 
- I've seen some beds really decline where they were not doing too well. It's a indicator species that really tells us what's going on, you know, within this natural environment. If it's not doing so well, something could be impacting it by pollution, invasive species, or even water quality. But that's what happens, you know, when we have the shifting of the seasons or of the climate, you know, just really impacting some of these rice beds. 
- What kinds of restoration projects do you do? 
- So, the types of restoration projects that we do is we get the seed from the rice and then go and spread it in areas that, where it's sparse to help things along. So, that's what the purpose of reseeding, you know, today is to be able to, you know, put the rice where there was a little bit sparser, maybe build up the density for the rice. So, for our future, I hope our kids get really excited about good, clean food, and food sovereignty, I think, is a big thing. This is our grocery store right here. You know, we got a lot of wonderful foods and medicines. 
- You just have to know what you're looking at. Climate change is a threat to food sovereignty everywhere, not just for Indigenous food systems. But there are ways we can support and protect these resources. Be conscious of where you get your food, and make sure you're obtaining it from a sustainable source that prioritizes the health and care of the ecosystem as a whole. Participate in restoration efforts, such as reseeding events, in the places that you live or visit, and advocate for regulations that protect sensitive habitats and encourage others to learn about the species that live and grow in their communities so that they can be better stewards of these areas too. Food is part of cultural identity. By protecting our environment, we're also preserving heritage, traditions, and communities. So, know where your food comes from, how it's harvested, and ways that you can help protect it so you can continue eating it for years to come. [bright music] - Videographer: I'm rolling. 
- Okay. What's the vibe? Casual? 
- Producer: There's a snake. [water splashes] - How do you typically get around? Well, for the majority of Americans, the answer is in a gas-powered vehicle. And so what? Why is that significant? Because our reliance on gas-powered vehicles is one of the biggest contributors to climate change today. But what makes gas-powered vehicles so harmful for our environment? [bright music] Life in the fast lane has put us on the fast track to changes in climate. Gas-powered vehicles like most cars, buses, and airplanes burn fossil fuels for energy. Fossil fuels are the result of the heat and pressure of the Earth's crust transforming the ancient remains of plants and animals into an energy-rich resource. But it's a non-renewable resource. Crude oil, natural gas, and coal are all examples of fossil fuels we use today. And when they burn, they emit carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere. But too much CO2 in the atmosphere causes something known as the greenhouse effect. This effect traps heat, kind of like a greenhouse, leading to the entire planet becoming warmer. So, we burn fossil fuels for our transportation needs. Burning fossil fuels emits CO2. Too much CO2 leads to the greenhouse effect. And the whole result is a major contribution to climate change. But how does this impact us? 
- Hi, Jonathan. 
- Jonathan Patz: Hi, Ami. 
- Hey, I have a climate question for you. How much CO2 is emitted from transportation in the United States each year? 
- In the United States, transportation is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation emissions come from all over the place, be it from cars and trucks, off-road vehicles, to ferries and ships contributing to warming of the planet. 
- How does our reliance on fossil fuel impact people everywhere? 
- When you burn fossil fuels, you emit all these dangerous pollutants. Globally, burning fossil fuels causes more than 5 million premature deaths every year. When you breathe in these fine particles, it gets into your bloodstream. It affects your heart, it affects your lungs. And, you know, there are issues with asthma, lung cancer, heart disease. Those are some of the main issues, but it also affects mental health. And there studies that show an impact on learning, you know, being a compromise with air pollution. 
- What can an individual do to make a difference? 
- Well, what I can tell you is that we drive too much. In the United States, a majority of car trips are short car trips, less than five kilometers. And there would be enormous benefits if we could convert those short car trips into active travel, say by bicycle, because you're avoiding the emissions. And at the same time, you're promoting physical fitness and exercise. So, this is a strong reason to start designing cities for people rather than just for cars. You know, bike and walk as much as you can, and the world and you will be better for it. 
- So, as you can see, our reliance on fossil fuels is a pretty big contributor to climate change. But how can we move away from this? And what's stopping us? Well, for many people, it's a lack of access to a more sustainable means of transportation. Take biking, for example. It's a great alternative means of transportation that doesn't produce any CO2 emissions. But not everyone has a bike or knows how to fix it if it breaks. Or maybe they just don't have access to safe bike routes to get them to their destination. Thankfully, there are individuals and organizations dedicated to increasing accessibility to safe, sustainable means of transportation right here in our communities and schools. Let's head to Madison East High School and take a look at how one student's idea changed the way his peers show up to class. 
- Student: This about right? 
- Andy Nguyen: Maybe a little bit more, actually. There you go. I started the club last year, which is halfway through my junior year. So, I saw a ton of bikes in the front bike rack. Not well maintained, broken, low tire pressure, no brakes. And with a background in cycling and bike repair, I decided to put my talent to use and educate my peers on how to repair bikes. I see climate change as a big issue because we only have one planet, so biking opens up another form of transportation that people can consciously choose and reduces the reliance on cars. And just riding my bike, it helps you get a better perspective on the world. 
- Oh! 
- Yeah. You guys wanna give it a try? 
- Silas Hunter: I got taught by Andy and my uncle, and it's super cool 'cause now I'm able to teach even more people through what they have taught me. And it's kind of this very cool trickle-down effect 'cause, like, they've taught multiple people and now I've taught multiple people, and it just keeps growing. 
- Andy: People can stand up for what they believe in. Many people see climate change as such a big issue and that their impact is too little. I wish more people would start somewhere, starting with just cycling to work or cycling places is a good start. And every little bit counts. 
- Ami: Big changes have to start somewhere, and it's often one person who causes a chain reaction for those around them. Andy saw an issue at his school and realized he had the knowledge and the power to fix it, so he did. Thanks to him, there are now even more students biking to school and lowering their school community's carbon footprint. A carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by a specific person or entity. A carbon footprint can be calculated for individuals, businesses, schools, communities, states, or even entire countries. Some of the biggest contributors to a carbon footprint include electricity, heating and cooling our homes, and food waste. But by far, the biggest factor is our transportation habits. So, one of the most effective ways to lower a carbon footprint is to choose more sustainable transportation methods that release little or no CO2 into the atmosphere, like riding your bike. Let's take a look at how a similar club at Omro Middle School grew into a community-wide program, all thanks to one person who saw a need and filled it. 
- Joe Horvath: It's amazing the number of bikes here that came out of a dump and people just get rid of 'em, and that's to our benefit. I never turn down bikes 'cause you never know what you're gonna find. They know in the community now, rather than throw 'em out, they'll just come and drop 'em off. So, people know that bikes aren't gonna go to waste. 
- It's very interesting to me that such a small and rural community would be so excited about bikes, when often I think of, like, bike transportation and stuff as being something really urban. 
- Right. We became more involved in biking through the Safe Routes to School initiative. We developed safe routes from all corners of the community to bike and walk to school. 
- Why do you think biking is important? 
- Elizabeth Schubert: 'Cause it helps to stop air pollution and so then we don't use up all our natural resources like gas and oil in the Earth. 'Cause once we run out, we're out. 
- Maddie Fisher: Bikes, they're not like cars. They don't pollute the environment. If, say, one person rode a bike instead of taking a car, every day, that's one less car emitting fumes. 
- So, one bike at a time. 
- One bike at a time. 
- I want the kids to know there's things that they can do, like ride your bike to school. We're trying to build a culture. We need people that care. And you may not realize you have a skill you can pass on that's valuable, and especially if it has anything to do with the changes that our environment is going through. And you just pass it on to one kid at a time. And that will just blow up. 
- One thing, one kid, one community. 
- Right. 
- Ami: These clubs or community groups are an effective form of advocacy that empowers others and encourages communities to build infrastructure to support sustainable habits. Another great option is to utilize public transportation and carpooling. If some of these options don't exist in your community, become an advocate for them. It's easy to feel like our actions have little impact on the big picture, but it's individuals who get the wheels of change turning. So, what sustainable means of transportation are you already using in your life? And which ones are you going to add? Together, we can shift gears towards a more sustainable future. [cheers] I'm gonna get there so fast! This is as fast as I can go! [group cheers] Wait, you guys, it has no brakes! [group laughs]