Under the theme “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”, World Bee Day 2023 calls for global action to support pollinator-friendly agricultural production and highlights the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, particularly through evidence-based agricultural production practices. The day has been celebrated since 2018 and there are many resources and special events happening around the UK, where you can learn more about the threats that pollinators face as well as find out how you can help protect them.
Bees and other pollinators are a fundamental part of agriculture, as well as keeping our ecosystems functioning as they need to. Pollinators contribute to 35 percent of the world’s total crop production, pollinating 87 of 115 leading food crops worldwide. Pollination has a positive impact on the environment in general, helping to maintain biodiversity and the vibrant ecosystems upon which agriculture and humanity depend. A wide variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods require pollinators. In fact, bees and other pollinators provide the important ecosystem service of ensuring out-crossing (that is, crossing genes) and, thus, reproduction of many cultivated and wild plants. Close to 75 percent of the world’s crops producing fruits and seeds for human use depend, at least in part, on pollinators.
This year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is planning a whole day of awareness, and you can register for this here. There are scheduled talks from UN members across the world about how bees and other pollinators are being protected by legislation, what risks they are currently facing, and how people can work together with government and charity organisations to ensure proper protections are put in place to promote pollinator welfare and survival.
What are the threats to pollinators?
Pesticides
These are one of the biggest threats. many use harsh chemicals that are poisonous to any animal that consumes it, pollinator or not. In the UK, pesticides are meant to be regulated, however (and as always) the actual regulating of the use of pesticides is very subpar. Not enough is done by government official bodies to adequately regulate and monitor what pesticides are being used and how often these are being used, meaning that many of the negative effects of pesticides are not being properly documented.
See this article here from the RSPB about how pesticides effect the environment and the surrounding wildlife.
Loss of wild flower areas
A big one in more urban areas is the loss of wild areas. These days, parks and local green spaces are pruned and landscaped to be more alethically pleasing and more inviting for the people who live nearby. This means that many flowers that pollinators rely on are being cut away to make sure the place is more pleasing for the public.
More wild spaces are also being turned into agricultural farm lands, meaning that habitat loss is mixed in with the use of pesticides and herbicides.
How can you help bees and other pollinators
- plant bee friendly plants in your gardens
- encouraging your local council to plant wildflower meadows and/or leave grass verges to allow wildflowers to bloom
- Not use pesticides or deterrents in your own gardens
- Always remove bees from your home/property in a non-lethal manner!
- Sign petitions – here is one to stop the use of a certain pesticide in agriculture
- have your own wild garden – or at least one area of your garden that is left to grow wild
- Build a Bee Hotel to hang in your garden
Helpful resources
Pollinator friendly plants courtesy of the British Beekeeper Association
See the British Beekeeper Association to find Local Beekeepers
A very helpful infographic web report on the importance of bees from the FAO
Taylor Talks Vegan 