Why are Bees so Important for People and the Environment?

You might not realize it, but the humble little bee buzzing from flower to flower in your garden holds a mighty sway when it comes to the wellbeing of mankind and the health of our planet. And worryingly these striped garden visitors are under threat, with declining numbers and a decrease in diversity of species, human activity is threatening their very survival. 

👉 In this article we’ll take a look at why bees are so important, why they’re under threat, and what we can do to help save them.

Most people will be aware that bees are one of our primary pollinators, and while incredibly important, it’s not their only use. Bees benefit our environment in a number of different ways, let’s take a look at some of these functions below:

Pollinators

We’ll start with the most widely known and important function that bees serve - ie. their role as pollinators. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization report ‘Why Bees Matter’ states that 3 out of 4 crops across the world, producing fruit or seeds for human consumption, depend on pollinators such as bees. Not only this, but pollinators affect 35% of the world's agricultural land, and support the production of 87 leading crop varieties. 

Pollination is the singular most significant agricultural contributor to crop yields worldwide and makes more of a contribution than any agricultural management practice. The global value of crops that are dependent on pollinators such as bees lies between 235 billion USD and 577 billion USD per year - something that helps to highlight the importance of pollinators when it comes to livelihoods. 

Other species of pollinators do exist, but none compare to that of the bee. No other insect comes close when it comes to the range of plants that it is capable of pollinating. So much so that around one in every three bites of food that you take can be attributed to the pollination work of the humble bee. 

This is why drops in bee populations and decline in species variety is so worrying. Without bees we’ll struggle to successfully pollinate all the crops required for food production, which could potentially lead to food insecurity. 

And it’s not just our crops that benefit from bee pollination, there are a huge variety of other plants and trees that are dependent on insect pollination too. These plants contribute to healthy ecosystems and also provide food to wild animals and birds.

Economic importance

Apiculture is the industry of beekeeping, and involves the management and care of honey bees in order to produce honey and beeswax. The industry produces well known products such as honey, bee pollen, beeswax, bee venom, royal jelly… to name a few. These bee products play a huge variety of roles, for example beeswax is often used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, pollen can be taken as a nutritional supplement, and royal jelly is used in the medical industry as well as a natural remedy for viral infections. 

A decline in bee populations presents a huge threat to the industry, and puts the livelihoods of those who work within apiculture at risk.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of different species that exist within a certain geographical area, and is a crucial component of healthy ecosystems - something that is essential for vital resources including the air that we breathe and the food that we eat. 

Bees play an important role in the maintenance of biodiversity. By transporting pollen from flower to flower and fertilizing a huge variety of plants and trees, they improve the diversity of plant species, which in turn impacts the variety of insects and animals in a given ecosystem. 

Most people know that bees are important for the pollination of flowers and plants, but bees are also crucial when it comes to the pollination of many tree species. We can enjoy summer fruits from many tree species thanks to the activities of bees in the early spring. They also contribute to the growth of healthy forests and woodland areas which house a multitude of different animal species.

Nature’s alarm

Bee populations can provide vital clues when it comes to the health of a particular area. Factors affecting bee populations will also impact other insect species and the larger ecosystem generally, which means that by studying bee populations we can also get a good understanding of the environmental health of the area. 

Additionally, bee honey, pollen and wax can be studied and analyzed, revealing information like pollution levels and other such critical information that tells us more about the health of the ecosystem they live in.

Sadly it’s human activity that presents the biggest threat to bees. Global bee populations have been declining over recent decades on account of intensive agricultural practices, loss of habitat, global warming and shifting weather patterns, pollution and the overuse of pesticides. Let’s explore these factors and their impact on bee populations in more detail:

Intensive agricultural practices

In order to more effectively deal with growing global food demand, agricultural practices are becoming more intensive - something that’s known as industrial agriculture. 

Industrial agriculture pushes for increased labor output and increased crop yield. This can be achieved through practices such as the cultivation of monocultures (ie. the same variety of crop), and the replacement of ecosystems with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other non-natural fixes. 

The problem with methods like this is that they damage ecosystems and reduce biodiversity. Not only this, but such intense farming methods also result in a multitude of other harmful effects such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, spillover events, the contamination of water, and even food insecurity. All of this can be harmful to bee populations and studies show a direct link between industrial farming practices and a decrease in the numbers and diversity of bee species - so much so that often these types of farms need to bring in commercial beekeepers in order to pollinate their crops.

Loss of habitat

Change in land use can significantly affect bee populations through the destruction and alteration of their habitat. Cities are expanding to accommodate growing populations, likewise agricultural land is spreading and becoming more intense in order to meet growing food supply demands. However, this means that wild spaces, hedgerows and meadows, where bees would normally be able to find food are becoming more scarce. 

In the UK for example 97% of wildflower meadows have disappeared completely since the 1930s. This has resulted in declining bee populations, with two species of bumble bee even becoming extinct in the UK. And sadly the problem is not UK specific - bee populations are experiencing a similar trend in other countries across the world. 

Shifting weather patterns and global warming

Climate change is not only causing global temperatures to rise, it’s also resulting in more frequent and intense weather events such as flooding, drought, heatwaves, and cyclones etc. This is adding significant stress to bee populations. For example, heavy rainfall can disrupt a bee's feeding patterns, floods can destroy their habitat, and drought can destroy their sources of food. Not only this, but changing weather patterns is resulting in the spread of disease and pests to areas where they previously didn’t exist. This makes bee colonies susceptible to viruses and pests like mites. 

Another issue resulting from the global temperature rise is that flowers are blooming earlier in the season due to milder winters and warmer spring temperatures. The risk is that bee populations might not be around to feed on them at the correct moment. 

Pollution

Recent studies have proven that air pollution is impacting the ability of pollinators (such as bees) to follow the scent of flowers, reducing pollination by as much as a third. It’s thought that this could be playing a significant role in the decline of bee populations across the world. 

Air pollutants interact with the scent molecules that are released by flowers and plants, something that bees need in order to be able to locate their food and to forage effectively. The air pollution particles decrease a bee's ability to locate such food sources, which reduces pollination.

Pesticides

In non-organic farming, pesticides are used to protect crops by controlling weeds and preventing insect infestations and diseases. There are over 1000 different varieties of pesticides used across the world and some of the older chemicals (which are now banned in many countries) can even stay in the soil and water for years and years after use. 

Pesticides are not just a problem for human health, they’re also harmful when it comes to our insect populations, including bees. Pesticides can impair bees’ immune systems, delay their development and also prevent the bees from being able to navigate and reproduce normally.  What makes the situation worse is that the cocktail of different pesticides that bees come into contact with is even more harmful and has increased the mortality rate of bees.

Given how important bees are for our ecosystems and food production, what exactly is being done to protect their populations? Well the good news is that Governments and organizations across the world are beginning to wake up to the plight of bees. 

International bodies such as the European Union are starting to take action to protect pollinators from harmful pesticides and chemicals used in industrial agriculture. For example, there is an EU wide ban on three harmful types of pesticides known as neonicotinoids that pose a lethal threat to bee populations. Other international summits and instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity have recognised the importance of conserving the habitats of pollinators. 

Individual countries are also taking action. In the UK for example there is a National Pollinator Strategy, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published an ‘Implementation Plan for the Healthy Bees Plan 2030’ which lays out over 50 actions for beekeepers, bee farmers, and the UK Government to undertake in order to protect and enhance national bee populations. 

However, the biggest threat to bee populations is intensive farming practices and the use of pesticides. And while efforts have been made to ban the use of the more harmful varieties, pesticides still heavily feature in farming practices across the UK and other countries worldwide. Experts believe that more needs to be done by governments and international organizations to protect our bee populations. This means bold and progressive initiatives that go further than current measures.

While it’s undeniable that governments across the board need to do more to protect native bee populations, there are also things that we as individuals can do to help the situation. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective and simple actions that can make a big difference: 

Plant a bee garden

As we’ve already touched on, the habitats of bees are under threat. This is why by planting your own bee garden you can help provide them with food and somewhere safe to live. What’s more is that you don’t need a heap of space in order to grow the type of plants that bees like - window boxes, flower pots and planters are all great options. The most important consideration is the type of plants that you select to grow - you’ll need to pick a range of plants that flower across March to September and are abundant in pollen and nectar. 

Avoid the use of any chemicals in your garden

Pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers are all harmful for bee populations so it’s best to completely avoid using these chemicals in your garden. Instead opt for organic products and use compost to improve the health of your soil and plants. When it comes to keeping pests at bay you can purchase ladybugs or other insects to deter them.

Plant a tree

Most people don’t realize just how important trees are for bees - bees don’t just feed on flowers, but the blossoms from trees too. In fact, bees actually get the majority of their nectar from trees, not flowers. This is why planting trees in your garden is so helpful. Not only does it provide food for bees, but it also provides material for them to create their homes, and bees can find shelter in the tree’s cavities.

👍 If you’re not able to plant your own trees, not to worry, you can help out by joining a tree planting organization in your local community.

Help out a tired bee

If you come across a bee on the ground that’s slow moving and lethargic, the chances are that he’s simply tired and could use a little help. A bee in this condition needs a little hit of sugar. Mix a couple of teaspoons of white granulated sugar with a bit of water and drip it onto a flower or place it on a plate to help give the little striped guy a burst of energy. After you’ve given the bee the sugary liquid just leave it alone and let it rest. Before long he should have enough energy to be(e) on his way!

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