Bees, baby, bees!

Silvana Lucolli
Feb 2, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Feb 26

"It makes no sense to elevate economics above the biosphere."

_David Suzuki (Canadian Environmentalist)

Pollinators as bees are essential for the health of the planet and people. They are vital for food supplies and there are around 20,000 known bee species worldwide, and over 4,000 are native to the United States.

The bees populations have been declining globally over recent decades due to habitat loss, intensive farming practices, climate change and the excessive use of agrochemicals such as pesticides. This is a real threat to a variety of plants and critical to human well-being and livelihoods.

Air pollution is also thought to be affecting bees. Preliminary research shows that air pollutants interact with scent molecules released by plants which bees need to locate food. The mixed signals interfere with the bees’ ability to forage efficiently, making them slower and less effective at pollination.

If all bees died, it would cause significant disruptions to ecosystems and agriculture, potentially leading to food shortages and economic instability. While humans wouldn't disappear entirely, many fruits, vegetables, and nuts would become scarce and expensive, and some animal species would face extinction. Bees are vital to making sure ecosystems and are essential for our food systems function.

Would you like to be a bee-hero and support bees and other pollinators of our planet?

Here are some actions you can take:

Plant nectar-bearing flowers such as marigolds or sunflowers for decorative purposes on balconies, terraces, and gardens
Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper
Raise awareness among children and adolescents on the importance of bees and express your support for beekeepers
Set up a pollinator farm on your balcony, terrace, or garden
Preserve old meadows, which feature a more diverse array of flowers, and sow nectar-bearing plants
Cut grass on meadows only after the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming
Use pesticides that do not harm bees, and spray them in windless weather, either early in the morning or late at night, when bees withdraw from blossoms