They are an essential component of our ecosystem, but wild bee populations are in drastic decline, and managed beehives are struggling to keep up honey production.
A honey bee colony requires a billion flowers a season to survive. A billion! As our population grows and becomes increasingly urbanised there is a need to make city environments more hospitable to the creatures that contribute so much to our vital food sources. Many of the foods we take for granted are reliant on pollination. Fruit, nuts and coffee, for example, will be much harder to come by if crop pollination is compromised. As MBA Honours graduate and environmentalist Carli Davis puts it: “the disappearance of cultivated bees, or even a substantial drop in their population, would make many foods scarce and expensive. Humanity may survive—but our meals would be a lot less interesting.”
Pollution is one of a number of factors that threatens these species.
Here are some ways you can you help the bees and other pollinators – that includes Monarch Butterflies – in your community:
Grow plants that are rich in nectar, such as lavender, borage, herbs and wildflowers. You don’t need to have a lot of space to do this, but you don’t have a space in your home for planting, discover community gardens in your area.
Where possible, find alternatives to pesticides.
Join a Biking Bee and explore bee friendly spaces around Auckland. The next Biking Bee is 14th April and ventures from New Lynn to Savoy Community Gardens in Glen Eden, with stops at other community gardens along the way.
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