Every year, the honey bee population declines by 30-40% primarily due to industrial agriculture, climate change, and pesticide use. Bees are also what we depend on for 1/3 of all food. These foods include alfalfa, berries, cucumbers, melons, squash, peaches, tomatoes, and pumpkins. Can you imagine a world where these foods (as well as many others) are simply unavailable? This world is one without bees. Beyond our food needs, there are many reasons to protect the bees. Bees play a key role in the lives of many other animals as well. Pollinators facilitate the pollination of many plants and their reproduction, so by having fewer pollinators, the plant populations are threatened. Every ecosystem is based on plants and primary productivity, and without this, the rest of the ecosystem would suffer. Without bees and other pollinators, there are many ecosystems that would collapse because of lack of pollination. But, the thing is, the declining bee population is something that we as humans can help. There are many ways to get involved, such as installing bee hotels, minimizing mulch use, planting pollination gardens, using fewer pesticides, and spreading awareness to others. Everything counts, and together we can save the bees!
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