Written by Lauren James Budhu
Did you know that we all depend on the survival of bees? Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90 percent of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land, according to the United Nations. Unfortunately, pollinators such as bees and butterflies are under threat from human activities.
To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development, the United Nations designated May 20th as World Bee Day. The ultimate goal is to bolster measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would make a huge difference in contributing to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating hunger in developing countries.
From bees and butterflies to birds and bats, pollinators are the lifeline of agrifood systems, ensuring the reproduction of crops and wild plants alike. They are essential to the production of more than 75 percent of crops globally, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Pollination increases not only the quantity but also the quality and diversity of our food. Bees are more than just pollinators – they are indicators of environmental health. Their behavior and population trends offer insights into the climate and ecosystems.
So, what is happening to these fabulous creatures? They are being threatened by habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change, and pollution, which ultimately jeopardizes food production, increases costs, and exacerbates food insecurity, particularly for rural communities. Close to 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17 percent of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, face extinction globally. Farmers and policymakers have a major role to play in safeguarding our pollinators. But there are things we can do, too!
There are many ways to help the bees — for those who are particularly invested, you can even consider beekeeping right in your backyard. Yet starting a beehive might not "be" for everyone; there are plenty of actions on a smaller scale that can have a large impact, such as:
- plant a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;
- buy raw honey from local farmers;
- purchase products from sustainable agricultural practices;
- avoid pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides in our gardens;
- protect wild bee colonies when possible;
- sponsor a hive;
- make a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;
- and raise awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks!
Get more tips and a step-by-step process of setting up a hive at Almanac.com. On May 20th, you can celebrate World Bee Day by organizing an event that features interactive workshops, discussions, lectures, or trivia questions; have a picnic at the park or plant flowers in your garden; do a local honey tasting; share photos of bees or pollinator-friendly actions on social media using the hashtag #WorldBeeDay; start or join a community or school garden to give locals or young people a chance to learn by doing; or improve your knowledge about bees! There are lots of things you can do.
Here’s to saving the bees!
