DISPERSEED
A 3D printed and edible seed sphere.
How does it work?
DISPERSEED should be distributed in forest areas that have recently been affected by fire. They are provided with hangers so that they can be attached to tree branches or similar structures. The module has rounded shapes and reddish and purplish colors that resemble fleshy forest fruits, attracting birds even over long distances. When they approach the product, they peck and ingest them, increasing the seed's possibility to germinate and the dispersal of plant species over large distances. It is composed of a dough containing whole seeds and the hanger is made of a potato starch-based material, which is biodegradable; hence the product leaves no residues in the ecosystem.
Why is it needed?
In Spain, it is unusual to have a summer in which there are no wildfires. Unfortunately, climate change does not contribute to this situation. These fires have led to an overpopulation of pyrophyte species, whose seeds and roots resist fire, but are prone to burn again. This adaptation is a strategy to eliminate their competition in the plant kingdom, but it also means depriving the fauna of its habitat. The design favors the diversity of non-pyrophyte species in Mediterranean forest areas and enables the creation of healthier and more sustainable forests that have greater resistance to these types of disasters.
How does it improve life?
It acts as a forestry control tool, supporting the diversity of plant species and anticipating the massive destruction of future fires. It also seeks to encourage the population to actively participate in the installation process; this way, it is the user who feels directly involved in the change.