It’s #WorldBeeDay

We need bees – and bees need us to remove the factors threatening their very existence…and ours.

The UN has dedicated today as World Bee Day to raise awareness about the critical importance of honey bees. With a third of the food we eat dependant on them, we simply can’t hope to achieve a sustainable world, one without hunger, if they disappear.

https://twitter.com/UN/status/998141783497326592

They help increase crop yields and promote nutrition.

“Pollinators allow many plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity – a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems,” the UN says.”Invasive insects, pesticides, land-use change and monocropping practices may reduce available nutrients and pose threats to bee colonies.”

 

May 20 was chosen as the date for World Bee Day as it is the birthday of Anton Janša, the Slovenian who developed beekeeping techniques in the 18th century.

Follow hashtags #WorldBeeDay #SavetheBees and get involved in the conversation on social media.

And watch the video below for more on how you can make a difference.