Why It’s Important to Save the Bees

Bees Impact on the Environment

Bees play an essential role in our ecosystem as they pollinate food crops that are consumed by all members of the ecosystem. Pollination occurs when insects — like bees and other pollinators — travel from one plant to the next. Bees have little hairs all over their bodies that attract pollen. When the pollen from a flower stick to a bee, it then travels with the bee to its next destination. When a bee lands on the next plant or flower, the pollen is distributed which results in cross-pollination. This process is what later yields fruits, vegetables, and seeds. [1]

As pollinators, bees play a part in every aspect of the ecosystem. They support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for creatures large and small. Bees contribute to complex, interconnected ecosystems that allow a diverse number of different species to co-exist.

Bees Need our Help

Bee populations, both wild and managed, continue to decline due to increased use of pesticides in agricultural and urban areas. Other environmental factors such as the change in land use and climate have left them with scarce distribution of food and nesting areas. [2]

How We Can Help

The United Nations Environmental Programme shared actions we can take to help protect bees and other pollinators including [3].

1. Planting nectar-bearing flowers such as marigolds or sunflowers for decorative purposes on balconies, terraces, and gardens
2. Buying your honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper
3. Setting up a pollinator farm on your balcony, terrace, or garden
4. Preserving old meadows, that feature more diverse array of flowers, and sow nectar-bearing plants.
5. Cutting grass only after the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming
6. Using pesticides that do not harm polinators and spraying them in windless weather. Aim for either early in the morning or late at night, when they withdraw from blossoms

Syrup to Bees Program

As part of our commitment to be good to the earth we chose a syrup partner who shares the same values of protecting our environment. Monin Syrup launched an innovative recycling program in 2008 where they send overages of syrup to local bee farmers to help feed bees during shortages of nectar producing flowers. [4] The initiative has fed millions of bees over the years and their network of bee farmers continues to expand across North America.