Did you know today – 20th May 2020 – is World Bee Day?
Slovenia was approved to proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day in 2017 by the United Nations. The date is significant as it is the birth date of Anton Janša (1734–1773), a Slovenian beekeeper who was considered to be the pioneer of modern beekeeping.
We need the bees
Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds have been under threat from our destructive activities.
Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our 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% of global agricultural land.
Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.
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.
The main objective of World Bee Day 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.
We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.