WEBVTT 00:00:03.417 --> 00:00:05.417 - Ami Eckard-Lee: When we think of bees, 00:00:05.417 --> 00:00:08.875 we think of flowers, stingers, and... 00:00:08.875 --> 00:00:10.000 [ding] ...honey. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.375 But not all bees make honey. 00:00:12.375 --> 00:00:16.083 There are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide, 00:00:16.083 --> 00:00:19.709 but less than 15 of these produce the honey 00:00:19.709 --> 00:00:20.999 that we like to eat. 00:00:20.999 --> 00:00:23.041 Most of our honey comes from bees 00:00:23.041 --> 00:00:26.458 that are managed by human beekeepers 00:00:26.458 --> 00:00:28.834 for selling products like these: 00:00:28.834 --> 00:00:31.667 honey, pollen, honeycomb, or beeswax. 00:00:31.667 --> 00:00:35.250 Wild bees are species that survive on their own 00:00:35.250 --> 00:00:36.458 in the natural environment 00:00:36.458 --> 00:00:38.500 and are typically native to the area. 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:43.250 And these little ladies are vital for a healthy ecosystem. 00:00:43.250 --> 00:00:43.999 But bummer news. 00:00:43.999 --> 00:00:46.542 Both domesticated and wild bee populations 00:00:46.542 --> 00:00:48.333 have been declining for decades, 00:00:48.333 --> 00:00:51.709 primarily due to climate change, habitat loss, 00:00:51.709 --> 00:00:54.041 and the widespread use of pesticides. 00:00:54.041 --> 00:00:59.542 So, what happens to the environment if we lose bees? 00:01:01.417 --> 00:01:04.000 [bright music] 00:01:05.875 --> 00:01:07.875 All bees are pollinators, 00:01:07.875 --> 00:01:09.875 but not all pollinators are bees. 00:01:09.875 --> 00:01:12.542 Pollinators are animals that help move pollen 00:01:12.542 --> 00:01:16.250 from one plant to another, allowing plants to reproduce. 00:01:16.250 --> 00:01:18.250 Many species are considered pollinators, 00:01:18.250 --> 00:01:20.041 like butterflies, regular flies, 00:01:20.041 --> 00:01:23.375 beetles, even some bat and bird species. 00:01:23.375 --> 00:01:26.583 But bees are the kings of pollination. 00:01:26.583 --> 00:01:28.500 Or maybe the queens. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:31.333 But why is it so important for the environment? 00:01:31.333 --> 00:01:33.999 I tried catching a bee to ask her, 00:01:33.999 --> 00:01:36.375 but she told me to buzz off. 00:01:36.375 --> 00:01:38.667 So, I met with these guys instead. 00:01:38.667 --> 00:01:42.291 And they seem to know a thing or two about bees. 00:01:42.291 --> 00:01:44.291 Why are pollinators so important 00:01:44.291 --> 00:01:45.041 for the environment? 00:01:45.041 --> 00:01:47.417 - James Crall: One is for biodiversity. 00:01:47.417 --> 00:01:49.125 The other one is more selfish. 00:01:49.125 --> 00:01:49.917 And that's for us, 00:01:49.917 --> 00:01:52.999 because a lot of the crops that we depend on as humans 00:01:52.999 --> 00:01:54.625 depend on that pollination. 00:01:54.625 --> 00:01:57.709 One in three bites, roughly, of food that we eat 00:01:57.709 --> 00:02:02.709 comes from a plant that depends to some extent on pollination. 00:02:02.709 --> 00:02:07.000 Basically, less pollinators means less food for us. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:09.583 - What are the main threats to pollinators 00:02:09.583 --> 00:02:10.834 in our communities right now? 00:02:10.834 --> 00:02:13.709 - Claudio Gratton: I think if we had to put 'em into categories, 00:02:13.709 --> 00:02:17.417 I would say that the biggest one is habitat loss. 00:02:17.417 --> 00:02:20.375 Imagine that every little habitat that they can get food 00:02:20.375 --> 00:02:23.583 is isolated from every other one. 00:02:23.583 --> 00:02:25.208 As habitats get smaller, 00:02:25.208 --> 00:02:28.417 they get further and further from other similar habitats. 00:02:28.417 --> 00:02:30.542 So, the likelihood that they can get to other food 00:02:30.542 --> 00:02:34.375 that is similar to what they're finding here is really low. 00:02:34.375 --> 00:02:35.792 So, that's fragmentation. 00:02:35.792 --> 00:02:38.208 There's also diseases and pathogens 00:02:38.208 --> 00:02:41.709 that are influencing bee populations in particular. 00:02:41.709 --> 00:02:45.250 Related to that is also the use of pesticides. 00:02:45.250 --> 00:02:48.583 And then, there's this kind of other thing that's happening 00:02:48.583 --> 00:02:49.250 in the background 00:02:49.250 --> 00:02:50.417 that we're still trying to understand 00:02:50.417 --> 00:02:53.125 is the relationship and the role that climate 00:02:53.125 --> 00:02:53.999 is actually playing. 00:02:53.999 --> 00:02:55.667 - How does climate impact the pollinators? 00:02:55.667 --> 00:03:01.458 - So, we can think of climate as both directly impacting bees 00:03:01.458 --> 00:03:02.250 and other insects, right? 00:03:02.250 --> 00:03:04.999 So, out on a hot day, it might be more stressful 00:03:04.999 --> 00:03:06.917 in the middle of summer for bees. 00:03:06.917 --> 00:03:08.834 We would call those direct impacts. 00:03:08.834 --> 00:03:09.999 But the other thing that can happen 00:03:09.999 --> 00:03:12.834 are these indirect effects through plants, right? 00:03:12.834 --> 00:03:16.000 One is through sort of shifting timing, 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.500 something we call phenology. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:20.500 Generally, phenology is that sort of timing 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:21.999 of biological events. 00:03:21.999 --> 00:03:22.999 So, one of these might be, oh, 00:03:22.999 --> 00:03:26.750 when do flowers and bees both emerge in spring? 00:03:26.750 --> 00:03:28.667 And one thing that can happen with climate 00:03:28.667 --> 00:03:30.999 is you start scrambling those a little bit. 00:03:30.999 --> 00:03:34.166 And that can lead to timing mismatches, right? 00:03:34.166 --> 00:03:36.709 Maybe the timing of when bees emerge 00:03:36.709 --> 00:03:40.083 is different than the timing of when plants come out. 00:03:40.083 --> 00:03:41.625 - Ami: These changes in phenology 00:03:41.625 --> 00:03:45.999 are what makes biodiversity so important for pollinators. 00:03:45.999 --> 00:03:48.999 Biodiversity refers to the variety of species 00:03:48.999 --> 00:03:50.250 in a given location. 00:03:50.250 --> 00:03:54.125 For example, a cornfield has very little biodiversity 00:03:54.125 --> 00:03:56.208 because there's only one species growing. 00:03:56.208 --> 00:03:59.125 Whereas a prairie might have dozens of plant species. 00:03:59.125 --> 00:04:02.041 All these species have different traits and blooming periods 00:04:02.041 --> 00:04:05.291 that make them favorable to certain pollinators. 00:04:05.291 --> 00:04:06.999 And by supporting pollinators, 00:04:06.999 --> 00:04:08.999 we're directly helping ourselves as well, 00:04:08.999 --> 00:04:11.667 because if they can't get the food they need, 00:04:11.667 --> 00:04:14.041 we might not get the food we need. 00:04:14.041 --> 00:04:16.959 I'm here at an apple orchard to talk with a farmer 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.417 whose harvest relies on these pollinators, 00:04:19.417 --> 00:04:23.583 just like the pollinators rely on these flowers. 00:04:23.583 --> 00:04:24.999 Deirdre is an organic farmer 00:04:24.999 --> 00:04:28.000 who decided to designate 30 acres of her land 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:29.041 to restore a native prairie 00:04:29.041 --> 00:04:31.166 that would help support the wild pollinators. 00:04:31.166 --> 00:04:32.792 And she has a pretty incredible story 00:04:32.792 --> 00:04:34.999 about how that decision paid off. 00:04:34.999 --> 00:04:37.999 - Deirdre Birmingham: In 2022, we were having 00:04:37.999 --> 00:04:44.291 a very long, cool, kind of miserable, damp spring. 00:04:44.291 --> 00:04:46.166 I knew that it was delaying bloom, 00:04:46.166 --> 00:04:49.917 and then it surged into the 90s. - Oh, wow. 00:04:49.917 --> 00:04:52.792 - Deirdre: And so, the blossoms were, like, exploding. 00:04:52.792 --> 00:04:55.166 They were just opening very quickly. 00:04:55.166 --> 00:04:57.625 And I had seen some wild pollinators. 00:04:57.625 --> 00:04:58.500 And so, I thought, "Good, 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:00.875 "I know the wild pollinators are here, 00:05:00.875 --> 00:05:04.583 "but I haven't seen this neighbor's honey bees 00:05:04.583 --> 00:05:06.208 on the landscape yet." 00:05:06.208 --> 00:05:07.458 So, I hadn't seen them. 00:05:07.458 --> 00:05:08.250 I called him and said, 00:05:08.250 --> 00:05:10.083 "Hey, are your honey bees coming soon?" 00:05:10.083 --> 00:05:11.667 He said, "Oh, they're on a truck 00:05:11.667 --> 00:05:12.917 from Texas." - Oh, wow! 00:05:12.917 --> 00:05:14.333 - 'Cause he would ship 'em to work, 00:05:14.333 --> 00:05:15.375 you know, work someplace else. - Wow! 00:05:15.375 --> 00:05:19.625 - And so, they won't be here in time for my early blossom. 00:05:19.625 --> 00:05:20.750 It was about a three, 00:05:20.750 --> 00:05:21.999 maybe three-and-a-half day window. 00:05:21.999 --> 00:05:24.999 And the wild bees did it, 'cause I got a crop 00:05:24.999 --> 00:05:28.333 on those early season varieties thanks to wild pollinators. 00:05:28.333 --> 00:05:31.959 - Having this diverse native prairie habitat available 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:34.250 gave these wild pollinators a better chance 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:36.875 at coping with additional stressors 00:05:36.875 --> 00:05:38.500 such as a delayed blooming period. 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:41.667 So, what are some ways we can incorporate more diverse 00:05:41.667 --> 00:05:44.458 and connected habitats into our own communities? 00:05:44.458 --> 00:05:49.333 - Actually, urban and suburban areas can be even better habitat 00:05:49.333 --> 00:05:52.875 for wild bees because there's more diversity. 00:05:52.875 --> 00:05:55.667 People have different plants in their yard. 00:05:55.667 --> 00:05:57.999 They have flowers, they might have vegetables. 00:05:57.999 --> 00:06:01.375 So, all this diverse stuff that people have there 00:06:01.375 --> 00:06:03.625 can be great for pollinators. 00:06:03.625 --> 00:06:06.458 - Think about all the areas in your community 00:06:06.458 --> 00:06:10.333 that are currently covered in a simple bed of grass. 00:06:10.333 --> 00:06:11.667 This might be the grassy area 00:06:11.667 --> 00:06:13.291 between the sidewalk and the road, 00:06:13.291 --> 00:06:14.999 or the median in the street. 00:06:14.999 --> 00:06:18.500 These areas could become habitat for pollinators 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:21.750 if the right species were growing there. 00:06:21.750 --> 00:06:22.375 Another great way 00:06:22.375 --> 00:06:24.000 to get involved in protecting pollinators 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.999 is by participating in a citizen science program. 00:06:27.999 --> 00:06:29.375 Citizen science programs are ways 00:06:29.375 --> 00:06:30.625 that members of the community 00:06:30.625 --> 00:06:33.583 can take action on environmental issues they care about 00:06:33.583 --> 00:06:38.625 by aiding real scientists in collecting local data. 00:06:38.625 --> 00:06:40.375 The Bumble Bee Brigade 00:06:40.375 --> 00:06:43.125 is an example of a citizen scientist program, 00:06:43.125 --> 00:06:46.583 coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 00:06:46.583 --> 00:06:51.291 to aid in the conservation of bumblebees in the state. 00:06:51.291 --> 00:06:53.041 When you're on a, what do you call them, 00:06:53.041 --> 00:06:54.667 bee expeditions, when you come down here 00:06:54.667 --> 00:06:55.959 to the park? - Aishika Samanta: Bee-search. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.999 - When you're doing some bee-search, I should call it, 00:06:57.999 --> 00:06:59.750 what do you-- What does it day look like? 00:06:59.750 --> 00:07:03.250 - Yeah, so we kind of walk along the same path each time 00:07:03.250 --> 00:07:04.125 for consistency 00:07:04.125 --> 00:07:06.500 and look at each individual flower 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:08.583 and see what bees are on them. 00:07:08.583 --> 00:07:10.750 We keep track of what flower preferences, 00:07:10.750 --> 00:07:12.959 so what flower each bumblebee is on, 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:13.583 the bumblebee species, 00:07:13.583 --> 00:07:16.999 the sex of the bumblebee, humidity, temperature, weather, 00:07:16.999 --> 00:07:20.208 all that stuff to kind of keep track of population, 00:07:20.208 --> 00:07:21.125 but also flower preference 00:07:21.125 --> 00:07:24.375 and kind of how populations fluctuate throughout the season. 00:07:24.375 --> 00:07:25.542 And that's one of my favorite things 00:07:25.542 --> 00:07:28.999 about citizen science is that anyone can get involved. 00:07:28.999 --> 00:07:31.208 - There are a lot of ways you can get involved 00:07:31.208 --> 00:07:34.041 in protecting and advocating for pollinators 00:07:34.041 --> 00:07:34.875 and their habitat. 00:07:34.875 --> 00:07:37.999 You can start by building a bee house for your backyard, 00:07:37.999 --> 00:07:40.917 or planting a pollinator garden at your school. 00:07:40.917 --> 00:07:44.208 You could even try participating in citizen science programs 00:07:44.208 --> 00:07:46.999 or start advocating for protective laws 00:07:46.999 --> 00:07:48.999 that safeguard pollinator habitat. 00:07:48.999 --> 00:07:52.917 All of these can directly or indirectly help pollinators, 00:07:52.917 --> 00:07:56.792 protect habitats, and save our food resources. 00:07:56.792 --> 00:08:01.583 So, make like a bee and get busy. 00:08:02.709 --> 00:08:05.959 [gentle music] 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:14.166 Spoiler: it's bad. 00:08:14.166 --> 00:08:15.291 Not the sandwich. 00:08:15.291 --> 00:08:16.999 I'm getting weirder. 00:08:18.208 --> 00:08:19.999 Aaah! 00:08:22.417 --> 00:08:23.999 Our connection to food 00:08:23.999 --> 00:08:27.291 is a lot deeper than just eating to survive. 00:08:27.291 --> 00:08:28.625 Food invokes memories. 00:08:28.625 --> 00:08:31.999 It is a way to express ourselves, where we come from, 00:08:31.999 --> 00:08:33.333 and what we believe in. 00:08:33.333 --> 00:08:35.834 Food is part of cultural identity 00:08:35.834 --> 00:08:37.917 for people all over the world. 00:08:37.917 --> 00:08:41.208 For example, wild rice, known as manoomin 00:08:41.208 --> 00:08:42.458 in the Anishinaabe language, 00:08:42.458 --> 00:08:45.333 is a significant part of Anishinaabe culture. 00:08:45.333 --> 00:08:48.250 But it's becoming harder to find and harvest 00:08:48.250 --> 00:08:50.959 due to climate change and other human impacts. 00:08:50.959 --> 00:08:52.999 But how exactly does climate change 00:08:52.999 --> 00:08:54.291 impact culture and community? 00:08:54.291 --> 00:08:58.792 And what can we do to protect these traditional foods? 00:08:59.250 --> 00:09:01.875 [bright music] 00:09:04.083 --> 00:09:06.000 Northern wild rice, or manoomin, 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.417 is a species native to the Great Lakes region. 00:09:09.417 --> 00:09:10.041 For hundreds of years, 00:09:10.041 --> 00:09:13.583 this species has grown in the shallow waters of lakes 00:09:13.583 --> 00:09:14.792 and slow-flowing rivers, 00:09:14.792 --> 00:09:16.709 and has been a traditional food source 00:09:16.709 --> 00:09:17.999 for First Nations people. 00:09:17.999 --> 00:09:21.250 However, climate change has impacted wild rice habitat 00:09:21.250 --> 00:09:24.625 and is making it difficult to grow and harvest. 00:09:24.625 --> 00:09:27.709 As people lose access to foods that were once abundant 00:09:27.709 --> 00:09:29.583 and a significant part of their diet, 00:09:29.583 --> 00:09:32.375 they begin to lose their food sovereignty. 00:09:32.375 --> 00:09:33.999 Food sovereignty is a person's right 00:09:33.999 --> 00:09:36.291 to healthy and culturally appropriate food 00:09:36.291 --> 00:09:40.125 produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. 00:09:40.125 --> 00:09:42.999 It is the power to have control over your food, 00:09:42.999 --> 00:09:45.750 where it comes from, and how it is grown. 00:09:45.750 --> 00:09:48.375 But why is food sovereignty so important? 00:09:48.375 --> 00:09:49.917 - Sagen Quale: Food is medicine. 00:09:49.917 --> 00:09:51.125 What we put into our bodies 00:09:51.125 --> 00:09:55.999 and the way in which we harvest and grow it is really important. 00:09:55.999 --> 00:10:00.166 Manoomin is just so central to Anishinaabe 00:10:00.166 --> 00:10:04.500 or Ojibwe identity that really with, like, a loss of manoomin, 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:08.041 people have felt, like, a loss in that identity. 00:10:08.041 --> 00:10:11.999 I always think back to our migration story. 00:10:11.999 --> 00:10:15.083 Ojibwe people were originally on the east coast 00:10:15.083 --> 00:10:16.166 of Turtle Island. 00:10:16.166 --> 00:10:18.709 They were given a prophecy to say that 00:10:18.709 --> 00:10:20.999 in order to continue to, you know, survive 00:10:20.999 --> 00:10:22.999 and thrive and live, you need to go 00:10:22.999 --> 00:10:24.375 to where the food grows on water. 00:10:24.375 --> 00:10:26.709 People say it took a couple hundred years 00:10:26.709 --> 00:10:29.417 to move all the way from the East Coast 00:10:29.417 --> 00:10:31.291 to the Great Lakes region. 00:10:31.291 --> 00:10:32.375 And once we got here 00:10:32.375 --> 00:10:35.792 is when Ojibwe people came to find manoomin, 00:10:35.792 --> 00:10:37.500 the good berry, wild rice. 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:42.999 So, I was taught that that rice is really special. 00:10:42.999 --> 00:10:45.999 Passing along the knowledge of manoomin 00:10:45.999 --> 00:10:47.750 is something that was done for me, 00:10:47.750 --> 00:10:52.417 and that is what I need to do for others. 00:10:52.417 --> 00:10:54.834 - Wild rice plays a significant role 00:10:54.834 --> 00:10:56.667 not just in Anishinaabe culture, 00:10:56.667 --> 00:10:59.999 but also within its own ecosystem. 00:10:59.999 --> 00:11:02.999 It helps stabilize the banks of lakes and rivers 00:11:02.999 --> 00:11:06.625 by holding sediment in place with its root system. 00:11:06.625 --> 00:11:07.999 It filters the water. 00:11:07.999 --> 00:11:10.834 It provides habitat for fish and waterfowl 00:11:10.834 --> 00:11:14.667 and food for birds, insects, and people. 00:11:14.667 --> 00:11:17.083 It's a vital part of the ecosystem. 00:11:17.083 --> 00:11:19.000 But as the ecosystem changes, 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.625 this species is having a hard time growing 00:11:21.625 --> 00:11:22.999 where it used to thrive. 00:11:22.999 --> 00:11:25.625 So, what exactly is causing this decline? 00:11:25.625 --> 00:11:28.250 Let's get down in the weeds and talk to some researchers 00:11:28.250 --> 00:11:30.999 from the UW-Madison Center for Limnology, 00:11:30.999 --> 00:11:33.458 who are working up at the Trout Lake Station 00:11:33.458 --> 00:11:34.999 in northern Wisconsin. 00:11:34.999 --> 00:11:36.041 What does your research focus on? 00:11:36.041 --> 00:11:39.333 - Gretchen Gerrish: I think our project started on wild rice, 00:11:39.333 --> 00:11:40.875 with the more recent declines. 00:11:40.875 --> 00:11:44.542 So, for the last five years, we've been surveying populations 00:11:44.542 --> 00:11:46.999 to look at which populations are doing well, 00:11:46.999 --> 00:11:49.166 which ones have experienced decline, 00:11:49.166 --> 00:11:50.542 and which ones may be threatened. 00:11:50.542 --> 00:11:53.125 There's a lot of questions about the seed storage. 00:11:53.125 --> 00:11:56.875 So, rice that falls one year can actually fall into the mud 00:11:56.875 --> 00:12:01.417 and sit there for many years before it germinates. 00:12:01.417 --> 00:12:02.583 - Ami: Oh! - Yeah. 00:12:02.583 --> 00:12:04.458 A lot of annual plants have seed banks. 00:12:04.458 --> 00:12:05.792 - What does annual plant mean? 00:12:05.792 --> 00:12:08.625 - The difference between an annual and a perennial plant 00:12:08.625 --> 00:12:11.291 is that annual plants grow from seed each year. 00:12:11.291 --> 00:12:13.166 A perennial plant can actually have a root 00:12:13.166 --> 00:12:15.375 that stays in the dirt or in the lake, 00:12:15.375 --> 00:12:19.792 and then it'll start growing out of that existing root structure. 00:12:19.792 --> 00:12:21.875 So, based on that seed bank question, 00:12:21.875 --> 00:12:23.750 and we've also been taking sediment cores. 00:12:23.750 --> 00:12:25.834 And so, this is where you just take a tube 00:12:25.834 --> 00:12:28.625 and shove it down in the mud, cap it off. 00:12:28.625 --> 00:12:30.500 You pull it up and you sieve it. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.709 And then you look at how many seeds 00:12:32.709 --> 00:12:34.458 are in a section of sediment, 00:12:34.458 --> 00:12:36.208 how deep they are in that sediment. 00:12:36.208 --> 00:12:38.999 And that gives you an idea of how much seed goes 00:12:38.999 --> 00:12:39.999 from one year to the next, 00:12:39.999 --> 00:12:41.709 or how much goes from fall to summer. 00:12:41.709 --> 00:12:44.667 So, it's common in a sparse population like this, 00:12:44.667 --> 00:12:47.166 where your core might contain no seeds. 00:12:47.166 --> 00:12:49.875 - So, what changes are happening in the environment 00:12:49.875 --> 00:12:51.999 that threaten wild rice growth? 00:12:51.999 --> 00:12:54.208 - Climate's threatening the wild rice. 00:12:54.208 --> 00:12:57.041 Water level rise and fall is definitely one. 00:12:57.041 --> 00:12:58.500 And those are two big ones. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.999 But the other ones are herbivory. 00:13:00.999 --> 00:13:02.792 And then, of course, wave action. 00:13:02.792 --> 00:13:04.417 You know, if you have rice on a lake 00:13:04.417 --> 00:13:06.959 where there's boats creating big waves, 00:13:06.959 --> 00:13:07.792 it can uproot the plants. 00:13:07.792 --> 00:13:10.999 - Ray Allen: And I think there has been worries about people 00:13:10.999 --> 00:13:13.542 because you can get a state permit to harvest wild rice. 00:13:13.542 --> 00:13:15.709 You don't have to be a tribal member to do it. 00:13:15.709 --> 00:13:17.959 Is that, people just don't know the techniques. 00:13:17.959 --> 00:13:20.375 And yet, since it's, like, such a delicate plant. 00:13:20.375 --> 00:13:22.417 And it's, as Gretchen mentioned, it's annual. 00:13:22.417 --> 00:13:24.999 Like, if you lose that seed that one year, 00:13:24.999 --> 00:13:26.709 you're not gonna have it the next year. 00:13:26.709 --> 00:13:28.542 - Yeah. - And you'd have to rely 00:13:28.542 --> 00:13:29.166 on your seed bank. 00:13:29.166 --> 00:13:31.500 - Yeah, I think when we get into discussions 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:33.000 about loss of wild rice too, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.750 the loss of human connection to the rice 00:13:35.750 --> 00:13:39.208 over the years, there's a lot of knowledge about harvesting. 00:13:39.208 --> 00:13:42.999 So, if you harvest rice before it's ripe, 00:13:42.999 --> 00:13:44.166 the seed that falls 00:13:44.166 --> 00:13:46.959 can't actually germinate for the next year. 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:48.291 And so, there's a timing for harvest 00:13:48.291 --> 00:13:50.875 that's very, very important to think about. 00:13:50.875 --> 00:13:53.750 And so, having that deeper understanding 00:13:53.750 --> 00:13:55.583 of when it's ready to harvest 00:13:55.583 --> 00:13:57.375 is knowledge that needs to come forward 00:13:57.375 --> 00:13:59.166 to help protect the rice. 00:13:59.166 --> 00:14:01.375 - Ami: Climate change and other stressors, 00:14:01.375 --> 00:14:02.917 such as human impact, 00:14:02.917 --> 00:14:05.625 are causing wild rice beds to decline. 00:14:05.625 --> 00:14:07.667 But losing manoomin isn't an option 00:14:07.667 --> 00:14:10.875 for those dedicated to protecting this species. 00:14:10.875 --> 00:14:15.999 Let's meet up with Kathy Smith, a strong advocate for wild rice, 00:14:15.999 --> 00:14:17.999 to learn why the species is so important 00:14:17.999 --> 00:14:22.625 for its ecosystem and how we can help protect it. 00:14:22.625 --> 00:14:23.792 Can you tell me a little bit 00:14:23.792 --> 00:14:27.375 about the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission? 00:14:27.375 --> 00:14:32.208 - Kathy Smith: So, what we do is we help our 11 member tribes 00:14:32.208 --> 00:14:35.083 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan 00:14:35.083 --> 00:14:37.291 with their hunting, fishing, and gathering rights 00:14:37.291 --> 00:14:39.792 for off reservation only. 00:14:39.792 --> 00:14:40.999 - Manoomin, it's wild. 00:14:40.999 --> 00:14:43.166 But you are stewarding it. 00:14:43.166 --> 00:14:45.375 What does that look like, and how do you monitor it? 00:14:45.375 --> 00:14:48.417 - What we also do at GLIFWC, is we do aerial photos. 00:14:48.417 --> 00:14:52.417 We fly over, you know, parts of Minnesota, parts of Michigan 00:14:52.417 --> 00:14:56.166 and northern Wisconsin here within the ceded territories. 00:14:56.166 --> 00:14:59.000 So, we continue to monitor, you know, rice from the air. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:02.999 We have all these tools that are given to us to be able to, 00:15:02.999 --> 00:15:07.458 you know, work alongside that Ojibwe knowledge. 00:15:07.458 --> 00:15:08.999 - What changes have you seen? 00:15:08.999 --> 00:15:11.750 - I've seen some beds really decline 00:15:11.750 --> 00:15:14.041 where they were not doing too well. 00:15:14.041 --> 00:15:14.999 It's a indicator species 00:15:14.999 --> 00:15:17.333 that really tells us what's going on, 00:15:17.333 --> 00:15:19.959 you know, within this natural environment. 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:20.875 If it's not doing so well, 00:15:20.875 --> 00:15:23.458 something could be impacting it by pollution, 00:15:23.458 --> 00:15:26.417 invasive species, or even water quality. 00:15:26.417 --> 00:15:27.542 But that's what happens, you know, 00:15:27.542 --> 00:15:30.500 when we have the shifting of the seasons or of the climate, 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:34.375 you know, just really impacting some of these rice beds. 00:15:34.375 --> 00:15:37.208 - What kinds of restoration projects do you do? 00:15:37.208 --> 00:15:39.999 - So, the types of restoration projects that we do 00:15:39.999 --> 00:15:41.792 is we get the seed from the rice 00:15:41.792 --> 00:15:43.667 and then go and spread it in areas 00:15:43.667 --> 00:15:45.542 that, where it's sparse to help things along. 00:15:45.542 --> 00:15:48.667 So, that's what the purpose of reseeding, you know, today 00:15:48.667 --> 00:15:52.291 is to be able to, you know, put the rice where 00:15:52.291 --> 00:15:53.375 there was a little bit sparser, 00:15:53.375 --> 00:15:55.917 maybe build up the density for the rice. 00:15:55.917 --> 00:15:58.917 So, for our future, I hope our kids get really excited 00:15:58.917 --> 00:15:59.959 about good, clean food, 00:15:59.959 --> 00:16:02.999 and food sovereignty, I think, is a big thing. 00:16:02.999 --> 00:16:04.667 This is our grocery store right here. 00:16:04.667 --> 00:16:07.291 You know, we got a lot of wonderful foods and medicines. 00:16:07.291 --> 00:16:09.583 - You just have to know what you're looking at. 00:16:09.583 --> 00:16:13.458 Climate change is a threat to food sovereignty everywhere, 00:16:13.458 --> 00:16:15.999 not just for Indigenous food systems. 00:16:15.999 --> 00:16:17.750 But there are ways we can support 00:16:17.750 --> 00:16:19.458 and protect these resources. 00:16:19.458 --> 00:16:21.750 Be conscious of where you get your food, 00:16:21.750 --> 00:16:22.709 and make sure you're obtaining it 00:16:22.709 --> 00:16:25.625 from a sustainable source that prioritizes the health 00:16:25.625 --> 00:16:28.083 and care of the ecosystem as a whole. 00:16:28.083 --> 00:16:29.834 Participate in restoration efforts, 00:16:29.834 --> 00:16:31.625 such as reseeding events, in the places 00:16:31.625 --> 00:16:34.999 that you live or visit, and advocate for regulations 00:16:34.999 --> 00:16:38.041 that protect sensitive habitats and encourage others 00:16:38.041 --> 00:16:40.417 to learn about the species that live and grow 00:16:40.417 --> 00:16:41.041 in their communities 00:16:41.041 --> 00:16:43.999 so that they can be better stewards of these areas too. 00:16:43.999 --> 00:16:46.125 Food is part of cultural identity. 00:16:46.125 --> 00:16:46.999 By protecting our environment, 00:16:46.999 --> 00:16:51.125 we're also preserving heritage, traditions, and communities. 00:16:51.125 --> 00:16:53.792 So, know where your food comes from, 00:16:53.792 --> 00:16:56.999 how it's harvested, and ways that you can help protect it 00:16:56.999 --> 00:17:00.999 so you can continue eating it for years to come. 00:17:02.125 --> 00:17:05.083 [bright music] 00:17:06.875 --> 00:17:09.625 - Videographer: I'm rolling. - Okay. 00:17:09.625 --> 00:17:11.834 What's the vibe? 00:17:11.834 --> 00:17:12.250 Casual? 00:17:12.250 --> 00:17:15.458 - Producer: There's a snake. [water splashes] 00:17:20.417 --> 00:17:23.000 - How do you typically get around? 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.999 Well, for the majority of Americans, 00:17:24.999 --> 00:17:29.667 the answer is in a gas-powered vehicle. 00:17:29.667 --> 00:17:30.667 And so what? 00:17:30.667 --> 00:17:31.333 Why is that significant? 00:17:31.333 --> 00:17:34.375 Because our reliance on gas-powered vehicles 00:17:34.375 --> 00:17:36.291 is one of the biggest contributors 00:17:36.291 --> 00:17:37.000 to climate change today. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.417 But what makes gas-powered vehicles so harmful 00:17:41.417 --> 00:17:43.291 for our environment? 00:17:44.417 --> 00:17:47.041 [bright music] 00:17:48.999 --> 00:17:49.792 Life in the fast lane 00:17:49.792 --> 00:17:53.792 has put us on the fast track to changes in climate. 00:17:53.792 --> 00:17:56.999 Gas-powered vehicles like most cars, buses, 00:17:56.999 --> 00:18:00.999 and airplanes burn fossil fuels for energy. 00:18:00.999 --> 00:18:01.999 Fossil fuels are the result 00:18:01.999 --> 00:18:04.250 of the heat and pressure of the Earth's crust 00:18:04.250 --> 00:18:07.208 transforming the ancient remains of plants and animals 00:18:07.208 --> 00:18:10.041 into an energy-rich resource. 00:18:10.041 --> 00:18:12.959 But it's a non-renewable resource. 00:18:12.959 --> 00:18:15.417 Crude oil, natural gas, and coal 00:18:15.417 --> 00:18:18.250 are all examples of fossil fuels we use today. 00:18:18.250 --> 00:18:22.750 And when they burn, they emit carbon dioxide, or CO2, 00:18:22.750 --> 00:18:23.667 into the atmosphere. 00:18:23.667 --> 00:18:26.625 But too much CO2 in the atmosphere 00:18:26.625 --> 00:18:29.458 causes something known as the greenhouse effect. 00:18:29.458 --> 00:18:32.709 This effect traps heat, kind of like a greenhouse, 00:18:32.709 --> 00:18:35.999 leading to the entire planet becoming warmer. 00:18:35.999 --> 00:18:40.667 So, we burn fossil fuels for our transportation needs. 00:18:40.667 --> 00:18:42.999 Burning fossil fuels emits CO2. 00:18:42.999 --> 00:18:45.999 Too much CO2 leads to the greenhouse effect. 00:18:45.999 --> 00:18:49.999 And the whole result is a major contribution 00:18:49.999 --> 00:18:51.375 to climate change. 00:18:51.375 --> 00:18:54.291 But how does this impact us? 00:18:54.583 --> 00:18:56.750 - Hi, Jonathan. - Jonathan Patz: Hi, Ami. 00:18:56.750 --> 00:18:58.375 - Hey, I have a climate question for you. 00:18:58.375 --> 00:19:02.083 How much CO2 is emitted from transportation 00:19:02.083 --> 00:19:04.083 in the United States each year? 00:19:04.083 --> 00:19:05.000 - In the United States, 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.333 transportation is the largest emitting sector 00:19:09.333 --> 00:19:10.999 of greenhouse gas emissions. 00:19:10.999 --> 00:19:14.959 Transportation emissions come from all over the place, 00:19:14.959 --> 00:19:16.999 be it from cars and trucks, 00:19:16.999 --> 00:19:20.999 off-road vehicles, to ferries and ships 00:19:20.999 --> 00:19:23.999 contributing to warming of the planet. 00:19:23.999 --> 00:19:26.875 - How does our reliance on fossil fuel 00:19:26.875 --> 00:19:29.375 impact people everywhere? 00:19:29.375 --> 00:19:30.999 - When you burn fossil fuels, 00:19:30.999 --> 00:19:34.458 you emit all these dangerous pollutants. 00:19:34.458 --> 00:19:36.583 Globally, burning fossil fuels 00:19:36.583 --> 00:19:41.125 causes more than 5 million premature deaths every year. 00:19:41.125 --> 00:19:44.291 When you breathe in these fine particles, 00:19:44.291 --> 00:19:45.625 it gets into your bloodstream. 00:19:45.625 --> 00:19:48.999 It affects your heart, it affects your lungs. 00:19:48.999 --> 00:19:51.999 And, you know, there are issues with asthma, 00:19:51.999 --> 00:19:54.834 lung cancer, heart disease. 00:19:54.834 --> 00:19:56.667 Those are some of the main issues, 00:19:56.667 --> 00:19:57.999 but it also affects mental health. 00:19:57.999 --> 00:20:01.750 And there studies that show an impact on learning, 00:20:01.750 --> 00:20:05.709 you know, being a compromise with air pollution. 00:20:05.709 --> 00:20:09.125 - What can an individual do to make a difference? 00:20:09.125 --> 00:20:12.709 - Well, what I can tell you is that we drive too much. 00:20:12.709 --> 00:20:15.625 In the United States, a majority of car trips 00:20:15.625 --> 00:20:19.709 are short car trips, less than five kilometers. 00:20:19.709 --> 00:20:21.875 And there would be enormous benefits 00:20:21.875 --> 00:20:24.750 if we could convert those short car trips 00:20:24.750 --> 00:20:27.999 into active travel, say by bicycle, 00:20:27.999 --> 00:20:31.750 because you're avoiding the emissions. 00:20:31.750 --> 00:20:32.375 And at the same time, 00:20:32.375 --> 00:20:34.999 you're promoting physical fitness and exercise. 00:20:34.999 --> 00:20:38.750 So, this is a strong reason to start designing cities 00:20:38.750 --> 00:20:43.750 for people rather than just for cars. 00:20:43.750 --> 00:20:46.291 You know, bike and walk as much as you can, 00:20:46.291 --> 00:20:50.333 and the world and you will be better for it. 00:20:50.333 --> 00:20:54.959 - So, as you can see, our reliance on fossil fuels 00:20:54.959 --> 00:20:58.583 is a pretty big contributor to climate change. 00:20:58.583 --> 00:21:01.250 But how can we move away from this? 00:21:01.250 --> 00:21:02.417 And what's stopping us? 00:21:02.417 --> 00:21:05.166 Well, for many people, it's a lack of access 00:21:05.166 --> 00:21:08.291 to a more sustainable means of transportation. 00:21:09.999 --> 00:21:11.999 Take biking, for example. 00:21:11.999 --> 00:21:13.999 It's a great alternative means of transportation 00:21:13.999 --> 00:21:16.291 that doesn't produce any CO2 emissions. 00:21:16.291 --> 00:21:19.375 But not everyone has a bike or knows how to fix it 00:21:19.375 --> 00:21:20.083 if it breaks. 00:21:20.083 --> 00:21:21.166 Or maybe they just don't have access 00:21:21.166 --> 00:21:23.999 to safe bike routes to get them to their destination. 00:21:23.999 --> 00:21:26.917 Thankfully, there are individuals and organizations 00:21:26.917 --> 00:21:30.000 dedicated to increasing accessibility to safe, 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.500 sustainable means of transportation right here 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:34.000 in our communities and schools. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.208 Let's head to Madison East High School and take a look 00:21:37.208 --> 00:21:39.000 at how one student's idea 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.542 changed the way his peers show up to class. 00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:44.291 - Student: This about right? 00:21:44.291 --> 00:21:46.834 - Andy Nguyen: Maybe a little bit more, actually. 00:21:46.834 --> 00:21:47.709 There you go. 00:21:47.709 --> 00:21:49.083 I started the club last year, 00:21:49.083 --> 00:21:51.667 which is halfway through my junior year. 00:21:51.667 --> 00:21:54.583 So, I saw a ton of bikes in the front bike rack. 00:21:54.583 --> 00:21:59.500 Not well maintained, broken, low tire pressure, no brakes. 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:03.999 And with a background in cycling and bike repair, 00:22:03.999 --> 00:22:06.000 I decided to put my talent to use 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.959 and educate my peers on how to repair bikes. 00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:12.625 I see climate change as a big issue 00:22:12.625 --> 00:22:14.083 because we only have one planet, 00:22:14.083 --> 00:22:18.792 so biking opens up another form of transportation 00:22:18.792 --> 00:22:21.083 that people can consciously choose 00:22:21.083 --> 00:22:24.542 and reduces the reliance on cars. 00:22:24.542 --> 00:22:25.375 And just riding my bike, 00:22:25.375 --> 00:22:30.000 it helps you get a better perspective on the world. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.083 - Oh! - Yeah. 00:22:31.083 --> 00:22:32.542 You guys wanna give it a try? 00:22:32.542 --> 00:22:35.999 - Silas Hunter: I got taught by Andy and my uncle, 00:22:35.999 --> 00:22:37.291 and it's super cool 'cause now 00:22:37.291 --> 00:22:39.417 I'm able to teach even more people 00:22:39.417 --> 00:22:41.041 through what they have taught me. 00:22:41.041 --> 00:22:43.208 And it's kind of this very cool trickle-down effect 00:22:43.208 --> 00:22:45.542 'cause, like, they've taught multiple people 00:22:45.542 --> 00:22:46.999 and now I've taught multiple people, 00:22:46.999 --> 00:22:48.166 and it just keeps growing. 00:22:48.166 --> 00:22:50.834 - Andy: People can stand up for what they believe in. 00:22:50.834 --> 00:22:53.917 Many people see climate change as such a big issue 00:22:53.917 --> 00:22:56.417 and that their impact is too little. 00:22:56.417 --> 00:22:59.291 I wish more people would start somewhere, 00:22:59.291 --> 00:23:01.959 starting with just cycling to work 00:23:01.959 --> 00:23:04.625 or cycling places is a good start. 00:23:04.625 --> 00:23:06.125 And every little bit counts. 00:23:06.125 --> 00:23:08.250 - Ami: Big changes have to start somewhere, 00:23:08.250 --> 00:23:09.291 and it's often one person 00:23:09.291 --> 00:23:12.208 who causes a chain reaction for those around them. 00:23:12.208 --> 00:23:14.375 Andy saw an issue at his school and realized 00:23:14.375 --> 00:23:18.750 he had the knowledge and the power to fix it, so he did. 00:23:18.750 --> 00:23:20.000 Thanks to him, there are now 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.375 even more students biking to school 00:23:21.375 --> 00:23:25.125 and lowering their school community's carbon footprint. 00:23:25.125 --> 00:23:28.208 A carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide 00:23:28.208 --> 00:23:32.458 released into the atmosphere by a specific person or entity. 00:23:32.458 --> 00:23:33.959 A carbon footprint can be calculated 00:23:33.959 --> 00:23:36.500 for individuals, businesses, schools, 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:40.041 communities, states, or even entire countries. 00:23:40.041 --> 00:23:43.083 Some of the biggest contributors to a carbon footprint 00:23:43.083 --> 00:23:46.625 include electricity, heating and cooling our homes, 00:23:46.625 --> 00:23:47.166 and food waste. 00:23:47.166 --> 00:23:52.083 But by far, the biggest factor is our transportation habits. 00:23:52.583 --> 00:23:55.875 So, one of the most effective ways to lower a carbon footprint 00:23:55.875 --> 00:23:58.999 is to choose more sustainable transportation methods 00:23:58.999 --> 00:24:01.041 that release little or no CO2 00:24:01.041 --> 00:24:05.625 into the atmosphere, like riding your bike. 00:24:08.083 --> 00:24:09.709 Let's take a look at how a similar club 00:24:09.709 --> 00:24:13.166 at Omro Middle School grew into a community-wide program, 00:24:13.166 --> 00:24:17.959 all thanks to one person who saw a need and filled it. 00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:20.375 - Joe Horvath: It's amazing the number of bikes here 00:24:20.375 --> 00:24:21.792 that came out of a dump 00:24:21.792 --> 00:24:25.625 and people just get rid of 'em, and that's to our benefit. 00:24:25.625 --> 00:24:26.417 I never turn down bikes 00:24:26.417 --> 00:24:27.917 'cause you never know what you're gonna find. 00:24:27.917 --> 00:24:31.458 They know in the community now, rather than throw 'em out, 00:24:31.458 --> 00:24:32.959 they'll just come and drop 'em off. 00:24:32.959 --> 00:24:35.834 So, people know that bikes aren't gonna go to waste. 00:24:35.834 --> 00:24:36.917 - It's very interesting to me 00:24:36.917 --> 00:24:38.999 that such a small and rural community 00:24:38.999 --> 00:24:41.417 would be so excited about bikes, when often I think of, like, 00:24:41.417 --> 00:24:45.291 bike transportation and stuff as being something really urban. 00:24:45.291 --> 00:24:45.999 - Right. 00:24:45.999 --> 00:24:47.166 We became more involved in biking 00:24:47.166 --> 00:24:50.208 through the Safe Routes to School initiative. 00:24:50.208 --> 00:24:53.709 We developed safe routes from all corners 00:24:53.709 --> 00:24:57.250 of the community to bike and walk to school. 00:24:57.250 --> 00:24:59.458 - Why do you think biking is important? 00:24:59.458 --> 00:25:03.041 - Elizabeth Schubert: 'Cause it helps to stop air pollution 00:25:03.041 --> 00:25:07.041 and so then we don't use up all our natural resources 00:25:07.041 --> 00:25:09.375 like gas and oil in the Earth. 00:25:09.375 --> 00:25:10.999 'Cause once we run out, we're out. 00:25:10.999 --> 00:25:13.583 - Maddie Fisher: Bikes, they're not like cars. 00:25:13.583 --> 00:25:14.959 They don't pollute the environment. 00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:20.291 If, say, one person rode a bike instead of taking a car, 00:25:20.291 --> 00:25:25.458 every day, that's one less car emitting fumes. 00:25:25.458 --> 00:25:28.333 - So, one bike at a time. - One bike at a time. 00:25:28.333 --> 00:25:31.417 - I want the kids to know there's things that they can do, 00:25:31.417 --> 00:25:33.625 like ride your bike to school. 00:25:33.625 --> 00:25:34.999 We're trying to build a culture. 00:25:34.999 --> 00:25:35.999 We need people that care. 00:25:35.999 --> 00:25:40.750 And you may not realize you have a skill you can pass on 00:25:40.750 --> 00:25:45.625 that's valuable, and especially if it has anything to do 00:25:45.625 --> 00:25:46.458 with the changes 00:25:46.458 --> 00:25:47.999 that our environment is going through. 00:25:47.999 --> 00:25:51.750 And you just pass it on to one kid at a time. 00:25:51.750 --> 00:25:56.083 And that will just blow up. - One thing, one kid, 00:25:56.083 --> 00:25:57.625 one community. - Right. 00:25:57.625 --> 00:25:59.041 - Ami: These clubs or community groups 00:25:59.041 --> 00:26:00.750 are an effective form of advocacy 00:26:00.750 --> 00:26:03.709 that empowers others and encourages communities 00:26:03.709 --> 00:26:07.542 to build infrastructure to support sustainable habits. 00:26:07.542 --> 00:26:10.542 Another great option is to utilize public transportation 00:26:10.542 --> 00:26:11.083 and carpooling. 00:26:11.083 --> 00:26:13.999 If some of these options don't exist in your community, 00:26:13.999 --> 00:26:15.500 become an advocate for them. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:19.000 It's easy to feel like our actions have little impact 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:21.583 on the big picture, but it's individuals 00:26:21.583 --> 00:26:23.709 who get the wheels of change turning. 00:26:23.709 --> 00:26:25.999 So, what sustainable means of transportation 00:26:25.999 --> 00:26:27.792 are you already using in your life? 00:26:27.792 --> 00:26:29.834 And which ones are you going to add? 00:26:29.834 --> 00:26:31.291 Together, we can shift gears 00:26:31.291 --> 00:26:33.375 towards a more sustainable future. 00:26:33.375 --> 00:26:36.417 [cheers] I'm gonna get there so fast! 00:26:36.417 --> 00:26:38.792 This is as fast as I can go! 00:26:38.792 --> 00:26:40.125 [group cheers] 00:26:40.125 --> 00:26:42.750 Wait, you guys, it has no brakes! 00:26:42.750 --> 00:26:44.834 [group laughs]