Bees inspired by nature to nourish us all
- World Bee Day (WBD) : 20 May -

Ranjan K Baruah *

Bee Keeping :: Photo by Arati Ningombam

Have we wondered that the honey that we eat may not be available if we do not take action? We should be aware that bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

When we talk of bees then we must talk of pollination as it is a fundamental process for the survival ofour ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world 's wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world's food crops and 35% ofglobal agricultural land.

We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity. Bees and other pollinators are essential for sustainable agriculture and ecological balance, enabling the production of over 75% of global crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Their role enhances not only the quantity but also the quality and diversity of our food. Yet, they face growing threats from habitat loss, unsustainable farming, and climate change. Bees are the ambassadors of pollination and it tells us the importance of bees.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the United Nations designated 20 May as World Bee Day (WBD).

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

WBD 2025, with the theme "bee inspired by nature to nourish us all," emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices inspired by nature's ecosystems. Protecting pollinators fosters key ecosystem services like pest control, soil health, and water regulation.

There is no doubt that a world without pollinators would equal a world without food diversity — no blueberries, coffee, chocolate, cucumbers and so much more. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems. The diversity of pollinators has a direct and positive impact on crop yields.

Bees and other pollinating insects are, in fact, improving the food production of 2 billion small farmers worldwide, helping to ensure food security for the world's population. Honey hunting of wild bee colonies also remains an important part of the livelihoods of forest-dependent peoples in many developing countries.

Bee keeping or apiculture is a livelihood option for many including in a country like India. Apiculture is the act of rearing honeybees and we have seen many people engaged in this profession. Beekeeping and the use of honey are mentioned in ancient Vedic scriptures and other texts in India.

India has a large number of bee colonies, producing significant quantities of honey annually. We have National Beekeeping and Honey Mission and also national Bee Board in India under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

The challenge for us is that bees are under threat. Globally, the present species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal due to human impacts. Close to 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17 percent of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, face extinction globally.

The best and easiest way to safeguard pollinators is through planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year and we should buy raw honey from local farmers.

We must be vigilant and take action against pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens. We should protect wild bee colonies when possible and must take part in raising awareness around us by sharing this information that the decline of bees affects us all.


< (With direct inputs from UN publication)