“Bee Engaged – Build Back Better for Bees” on World Bee Day

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We all depend on the survival of bees.

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

When we talk about pollinators, here is what we insinuate;

Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% 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. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

Why World Bee Day?

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.

Bee engaged : Build Back Better for Bees

Worldwide, our World Bee Day will be celebrated – in the midst of a still ongoing pandemic – with a virtual event organized by Mr Bees Africa Limited  on 20 May 2021 under the theme “Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees”.

Intensive farming practices, land-use change, mono-cropping, pesticides and higher temperatures associated with climate change all pose problems for bee populations and, by extension, the quality of food we grow.

Spraying with bad chemicals is not healthy for the bees;

How can we do more?

Individually by:

  • Planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;
  • Buying raw honey from local farmers;
  • Buying products from sustainable agricultural practices;
  • Avoiding pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens;
  • protecting wild bee colonies when possible;
  • Sponsoring a hive;
  • Making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;
  • Helping sustaining forest ecosystems;
  • Raising awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks; The decline of bees affects us all!

As beekeepers, or farmers by:

  • Reducing, or changing the usage of pesticides;
  • Diversifying crops as much as possible, and/or planting attractive crops around the field;
  • Creating hedgerows.

As governments and decision-makers by:

  • Strengthening the participation of local communities in decision-making, in particular that of indigenous people, who know and respect ecosystems and biodiversity;
  • Enforcing strategic measures, including monetary incentives to help change;
  • Increasing collaboration between national and international organizations, organizations and academic and research networks to monitor and evaluate pollination services.

 

Happy World Bee Day 2021!

Kunihira Stephen, is the Founder of Mr Bees Africa Limited.