CommuniCating BiodiversityStorybook Design Seminar 3, 23rd Aug, 2013

Story requirementS

the STORY

should

Address the topic of BIODIVERSITY

Be RELEVANT / FAMILIAR to the audience

Find and illustrate cONNEcTIONS

create INTEREST and EMpAThY, not guilt and sympathy

Deliver something uNExpEcTED

Evoke a sense of RESpONSIBILITY

the STORY

so far

Story development

Is located in a peri-urban and urban landscape. Narrated by witnesses and marginalised species. Focuses on dietary and animal diversity. A set of five accounts woven together in a narrative. Is non-linear. has a casual, descriptive tone.

Gives the reader a generic template.

LANDFILLTREE STuMpS

SupERMARKEThIGh RISE

ApARTMENTS

SETTLEMENT

CharaCter development

“ What would you do with a sticker tree anyway ? You can’t eat a sticker!” said Grandfather Monkey.

“Yes, but it must be a wonderful thing! The cityfolk put it on their apples to make them crunchier!” Long Fingers replied.

the monkeys

Live in a peri-urban landfill. Live in tension with the humans over food and habitat. Observe and mimic human habits. Long-fingers is playful, meddlesome, inquisitive.

Grandfather Monkey is wise, cautious, full of stories.

Observed changes because of the long life span.

G.M. Food, impact of changing habits.

CharaCter development

“I’m a third generation apartment dweller, mind you. And I can tell you the ventilator window is ideal for nests. Of course, it’s risky. But it’s less riskier than living on trees, don’t you agree?”

the pigeon

The outlaw of the high-rise apartments.

habitat evolves with urban development. Are threatened by humans but persist in the same environment - are survivors. Deforestation, habitat loss, dwindling species.

CharaCter development

“ The part I most looked forward to was the bargain, being pulled to and fro between grocer and shopper. I felt so important...holding a bounty of fragrances and colours, being fought over like that!”

the shopping Bag

Witnesses the change in food habits and consumption patterns. (Sees, thinks, wonders) has seen the local market being replaced by the supermarket Whimsical and nostalgic comments on disappearing dietarydiversity, market politics, consumer choices.

Monoculture in the urban lifestyle.

CharaCter development

“ Getting covered in mud was part of the job, the plough didn’t mind that. he knew when he was taken from the slushy paddy to the coarse millet patch, he would shed the rich, dark mud over the young millets.

the plough

Essential part of food production but is overlooked. Represents the farmer’s toil, which is an invisible force to the city-dwellers. has seen change in farming patterns, witnesses the farmer’s dillema. Is connected to the variety of crops and notices the disappearing local varieties. Monoculture in farms, threat to local seeds, crop failure, impact on the life of farmer - leads to ecological refugees.

CharaCter development

“ The farmer’s son opened his trunk and wondered what he’d do with the seeds he had carried from his village. he decided to eat them the following day. The next day, he had run out of fuel again.”

the trunk

Travels from the farm to the city.

Describes the life of an ecological refugee.

Disparity in accessing nutritious food,expensive fruit and vegetables. public Distribution System, food and economy

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Images : http://www.scaramangashop.co.ukwww.northlondonpestcontrol.comwww.telegraph.co.uk www.juteworldexports.com www.ign.com

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