The Importance of Bees to the Environment and Human Life
The environment is a complex system built on many different species working together to create the conditions necessary for biodiversity.
Biodiversity is what makes our planet so unique and what providesfunctioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air, water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment, and many ecosystems necessary for life on earth as we know it.
But, many times, we take for granted some of the essential elements that built the world we know; it is the case of bees.
Bees play an essential role in maintaining our planet; for many different reasons.
They are the most important pollinators for our crop; it is estimated that a third of the food we consume relies on pollination, done mainly by bees, so what bees do with pollination is not only essential to the wild environment but also for our food supply chain that profoundly relies on the pollination by these insects.
The effect of bees on wild environments is also not that simple; by providing pollination for wild plants, they are responsible for producing many seeds, nuts, berries, and fruit, vital food sources for wild animals.
Honey is not only good to feed bees’ colonies and for humans to harvest but is also part of other species’ diets, from birds and raccoons to other insects.
These aspects are, together with the biodiversity that bees’ pollination provides to our planet, what makes bees so essential for our world, and why we need to protect bees, a species that is now in danger.
The factors that are putting bees in danger are numerous, like the use of pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, climate change, and more, and many are linked. These factors made the number of beehives in the US declined from 6 million haves in 1947 to 2,4 million in 2008. This decline is not unique to the US but has been seen worldwide, and it should be an alarm for everyone.
Discover more on this issue:
The importance of bees in natural and agricultural ecosystems
Soil Association - Why Are Bees in Danger