First Ever World Bee Day Launched By UN
First Ever World Bee Day Launched By UN: Organizations across the globe has marked the first-ever World Bee Day launched by the UN to raise awareness about the fate of pollinators.
Over the past decade, bees and other pollinators have witnessed a steady decline, with experts blaming several factors, including insecticides, climate change and disease.
Decline of Bee Population
Authorities believe Colony Collapse Disorder is behind the sudden decline of bee populations.
The phenomenon occurs “when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen,” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Scientists believe Colony Collapse Disorder is the result of several factors, including pesticides, loss of habitat due to urbanization, climate change, invasive alien species and pathogens.
Why a day for bees?
The UN Food and Agricultural Organization believe bees and other pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds, “are increasingly under threat from human activities.”
International authorities are hoping to draw attention to the steady decline of bee populations. For examples, around 24% of Europe’s bumble bees are threatened with extinction according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Bees contribute to the pollination of around 90 percent of the world’s major crops. Without them, the world risks food insecurity, according to the UN.
What is Germany doing about it?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called on people to “think about biodiversity and do something good for bees” during her annual budget speech to parliament. She said that it is “something that perhaps seems a bit small to some people, but is actually really big.”
In Germany, there are several initiatives at the local, regional and federal level aimed at preserving pollinator populations.
For example, in Berlin, hives have been established in more than 15 prominent buildings across the capital, including the state legislature and the finance ministry. The initiative, started by German biologist Corinna Hölzer, has expanded to 25 other cities.
Pakistan Observed Bee Day
Honeybee Research Institute (HBRI) and the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)
A seminar was organized by the Honeybee Research Institute (HBRI) and the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). At the seminar a resolution regarding the conservation of bees and promotion of bee flora in Pakistan was passed by all the participants of the event. Furthermore, participants spoke about the importance and relevance of bees to the ecosystem and agriculture.
Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR)
Another seminar on beekeeping to observe World Bee Day held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR).
The seminar was organized with an aim to create awareness regarding importance of bees in pollination and as a source of honey and other products like prospolis, wax, pollen and royal jelly etc.
Prof. Dr. Sarwat N. Mirza, Vice Chancellor of the University, in his address emphasized the participants to learn more and conduct research on various aspects of beekeeping as this activity augments and ensures pollination in variety of fruits and vegetables.
The UN has declared May 20th as World Bee Day to focus on the pollinators’ role in ecosystem.
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