“Pack a Home 2.0” : Fudy ‘s Journey in Biodiversity Conservation

A Fresh Perspective: Our Intern’s Journey

Before unveiling our “Pack a Home 2.0” series products, we invite you to explore the reflective diary of Lin, our sustainability intern at Fudy. Through her unique perspective as a newcomer, Lin documents her transformative journey—from a student with merely textbook knowledge of ecological conservation to someone who deeply understands the intricate connection between biodiversity and human destiny through her involvement in the “Pack a Home 2.0” project. Her journey toward becoming a sustainability-driven practitioner vividly illustrates how theoretical knowledge can translate into practical action.

Lin’s story represents more than personal growth; it exemplifies how Fudy Group’s sustainability culture is being embraced and carried forward by the next generation. In the coming weeks, we’ll share a series of articles that delve into the complete journey of “Pack a Home 2.0,” showcasing how Fudy translates sustainability principles into concrete actions, contributing to Taiwan’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

What If Birds Disappeared? “Pack a Home 2.0” Reveals Hidden Dangers

Hi, I’m Lin, a sustainability intern who joined Fudy in February. Before this internship, I never really thought about how declining bird populations could affect our ecosystem and daily lives. Sure, I knew about endangered species and climate change from textbooks, but it all seemed rather distant from my everyday reality.

Working on “Pack a Home 2.0” opened my eyes to a startling truth: when birds disappear, it’s not just about losing beautiful creatures—it’s a warning sign for our entire planet.

While researching this topic, I learned about an interesting perspective from Dr. Peter Doherty, a Nobel Prize winner. In his book Their Fate Is Our Fate, he discusses how birds serve as nature’s sentinels, acting as early warning systems for both human health and global ecological conditions. He indicates that when environmental conditions begin to deteriorate, changes in bird populations and health often serve as the first observable indicators.

So, what would happen in a world without birds? Here are four major consequences:

1. Surge in Pest Population: A Threat to Agriculture and Public Health

According to the Wild Bird Society of Taipei, a single swallow can consume as many as 3,000 insects daily, totaling an astonishing 500,000 during the breeding season. Without these natural pest controllers, populations of mosquitoes, locusts, and caterpillars would multiply rapidly. This explosion in pest numbers wouldn’t just harm crop production—it would force increased pesticide use, disrupting ecological balance and potentially compromising human health.

2. Disruption of Forest Regeneration

Birds serve as nature’s seed dispersers. Species like pigeons, Chinese hwamei, and Japanese white-eyes transport seeds through their droppings after feeding, playing a crucial role in forest regeneration. The absence of these “forest gardeners” would severely impact seed dispersal mechanisms, leading to declining tree populations and deteriorating health of forests and grasslands.

3. Aquatic Ecosystem Imbalance and Water Quality Degradation

During my internship, I discovered the vital link between waterbirds and water quality. Species such as egrets, kingfishers, and common moorhens control populations of aquatic insects and fish, preventing their excessive proliferation. A decline in waterbird populations could trigger uncontrolled growth of aquatic species, compromising water quality and weakening wetlands’ natural purification capabilities.

4. Loss of Nature’s Sanitarians: Increased Disease Risk

Vultures and crows serve as nature’s waste management experts, consuming animal carcasses and preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. The consequences of losing these scavengers can be severe—as demonstrated in India, where a dramatic decline in vulture populations over just a few decades led to an increase in feral dogs and a surge in rabies infections, resulting in approximately 47,000 human deaths annually.

These findings have transformed my perspective: birds aren’t merely components of our ecosystem—they are essential guardians of our quality of life and health security.