Some important facts about bees and pollinators
You already know that bees are insects that play a fundamental role in the biodiversity of planet Earth.
Bees and other wild pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of 75% of the plants that feed other living things.
Children's edition
Let’s see how much you know about bees.
Surely you know something about the bee and its parts?
Let's see how much you know about bees
Surely you know something about the bee and its parts. Let's see how far your knowledge goes.
Adult Edition
Show that you know about bees
You can make a good description of the bee, but we are going to surprise you...
Why are bees important?
What's wrong with the bees?
Bees and other pollinators are threatened by the effects of human activity. The crisis of wild pollinators and bees threatens global food and agriculture.
What are we celebrating on World Bee Day?
The main objective of World Bee Day is to protect bees and other pollinators so that they can make a significant contribution to solving the world’s food supply problems and ending hunger in developing countries.
Pollinators are important
We all depend on pollinators and for that reason, it is crucial to control their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.
Why May 20?
May 20 coincides with the anniversary of the birth of Anton Janša who, in the 18th century, pioneered modern beekeeping in his native Slovenia. Janša praised how hardworking the bees are and how little supervision they need for their work.
What can we do to help the bees?
You, in your day-to-day life:
- Grow a wide variety of native plants that bloom at different times of the year.
- Buy unrefined honey from farmers in your area.
- Purchase products from farmers who use sustainable agricultural practices.
- Protects wild bee colonies.
- Sponsor a beehive.
- Leave a shallow bowl with clean water and stones or sticks for the bees to drink and not drown.
- Help them maintain forest ecosystems.
- Raise awareness about their situation, share this information in your circles and social networks. The decline in bee numbers affects us all!
What can beekeepers and farmers do?
- Reserve some areas as natural habitat.
- Create vegetative barriers.
- Reduce or modify the use of pesticides.
- Respect nesting sites.
- Planting attractive crops around the field.
Governments must also act
- Promote participation, knowledge sharing and empowerment of rural and indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Implement strategic measures, including economic incentives to promote change.
- Increase collaboration between national and international organizations, academic institutions and research networks to manage, research and evaluate pollinators and pollination services.
More information about World Bee Day on the United Nations web site
Environmental education activities for schoolchildren
In Ecocolmena we have a plan of activities and dynamics designed specifically for schoolchildren and their educators, find out more at Environmental Education for Schoolchildren.