Israel Saving Butterflies from Extinction

Butterflies are disappearing.

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
"The main reason is us – people. Israel is developing urbanizing, polluting areas, and butterflies are disappearing."

So what’s the big deal about saving the butterflies?

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
“Butterflies are part of the whole ecosystem and if they disappear then plants disappear and all creatures that live off them disappear, so they are a crucial element in the ecological ecosystem. They are pollinators, and they pollinate flowers. The pollination ends with fertilization and the fruiting and seeding of plants. This is their main importance in nature."

And it’s not just about the butterflies, but the ecosystem as a whole.

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
“They are pollinators, and they pollinate flowers. The pollination ends with fertilization and the fruiting and seeding of plants. This is their main importance in nature."

So what can be done to save them?

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
"There is damage that we cannot correct, but we can do a lot of things in order to bring back some of the natural treasures we've lost. We can firstly plant the plants that attract the butterflies, but also do all kinds of things around it - not use chemicals in our garden, or use less as possible."

And kids are also helping to bring the butterflies back.

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
"Here in the garden some of the children get a plant with 3 caterpillars and they can grow them at home.”

Dr. Fragman-Sapir’s reasoning for doing this is simple.

[Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Head Scientist, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens]:
"You back up your computer files, we back up the plants and butterflies in nature.”