Nature - Based
Urban Solutions 

If insects were to vanish, their absence would trigger significant changes within the ecosystem, potentially paving the way for new, possibly invasive species to dominate the habitat.

Insects are such keystone species, offering indispensable ecosystem services that extend well beyond pollination. They provide essential biological pest control and act as sensitive indicators of stream and soil health. Insects serve as the foundational elements of complex ecological food webs in agricultural, natural, and
urban environments, shaping the diversity and complexity of these landscapes. Many insects also pose challenges as significant pests of crops and urban areas, capable of spreading diseases that endanger human, plant, and animal health. Invasive insect species can devastate crops and disrupt the delicate balance of healthy ecosystems, threatening global biodiversity, food security, and human livelihoods. Furthermore, insect-borne diseases cause millions of deaths annually.

These problems can be tackled with the introduction of counteractive species of insects that mitigate the damage and reduce the requirement of heavy chemical interventions in the agricultural industry.

Globalisation and climate change are continually reshaping the abundance, diversity, and distribution of insect populations worldwide. It is crucial to comprehend the underlying factors influencing insect habitats to maintain robust
and productive ecosystems that support beneficial insects while mitigating the impact of pest species.

The decline of numerous insect species has been documented globally, drawing attention from entomologists and environmentalists since the late 1930s. A notable study in 2017 revealed declines exceeding 75% in insect biomass in protected areas, sparking international concern and debates about the extent and implications of global insect declines. The overarching trend is clear: declines are occurring across diverse regions, including remote and less disturbed areas like the Arctic, underscoring the urgency for action to reverse these trends.

The drivers of insect decline parallel those causing broader biodiversity losses, 
encompassing habitat loss, pollution (e.g., light, microplastics, pesticides), pathogen spread, parasites, and climate change. These stressors often interact synergistically, amplifying the threats to global insect biodiversity.

Insects & ecological services are economically valued at approximately US$57 billion annually. Pollinators such as bees, flower-flies, and butterflies play a crucial role, pollinating a vast majority of wild flowering plants and agricultural crops. The disruption or loss of insect communities can disrupt food webs and hinder
ecosystem recovery post-disturbance. Dragonflies control disease-carrying
mosquitoes, lacewings manage agricultural pests like aphids, and dung beetles
facilitate waste decomposition and enhance disease resistance in farm settings.

Their decline threatens not only biodiversity but also human well-being and economic stability. Addressing the complex factors driving these declines is imperative to safeguarding

The sculptors’ work on the forest landscape, to install conceptualised works surrounding the theme. These works are made of naturally available materials, focusing on shedding a light upon existing insect ecosystems within the forest scape.  These sculptures enhance and play with the sizes, forms and shapes of the insects’ concentrating on their roles in the habitats. The sanctuary houses pedagogically rich sculptures conceptualised in collaboration with entomological accurate information.

Objectives

1. Visualising a sculpture in coherence with the theme.

2. Research on availability of sustainable materials to bring the sculpture to life.

3. Foster artistic collaboration and growth among participating sculptors

4. Raise awareness about the importance of small beings in our ecosystem.