Today, May 20th, is World Bee Day! You may not know this, but the human population depend on bees and their survival in order for our survival on the planet. Bees and other pollinators e.g. butterflies, hummingbirds are a key part of our ecosystems, and without them, humans would have great difficulty finding a sufficient enough diet to survive, as these species are responsible for pollinating more than 75% of the worlds food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.
Because of this, bees are a keystone species that we must protect. The purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of bees and other pollinators, and to educate our population on the severe threats that they face due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and so on.
Bees can significantly contribute to sustainable development, and help to contribute to increasing food yields in developing counties and begin to eliminate hunger. It is crucial that we take a step forward and ensure that bee species are protected worldwide, to halt the loss of biodiversity and allow them to continue their critical pollination process.
The Covid-19 pandemic has unfortunately had a detrimental impact on the beekeeping sector – so this year, World Bee Day will focus on bee production, and good practices adopted by beekeepers to support their livelihoods and deliver good products.
Keep an eye out for ‘Bee Engaged’ online information and events hosted by the UN today. Also, why not 'Bee Creative' and design and create your very own bee! Head to www.wildinartworld.com where you can download one of many templates, including the iconic Manchester bee, and be a part of their largest virtual art trail yet.
