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Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development

Abstract

Reductions in global bee populations are threatening the pollination benefits to both the planet and people. Whilst the contribution of bee pollination in promoting sustainable development goals through food security and biodiversity is widely acknowledged, a range of other benefits provided by bees has yet to be fully recognised. We explore the contributions of bees towards achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our insights suggest that bees potentially contribute towards 15 of the 17 SDGs and a minimum of 30 SDG targets. We identify common themes in which bees play an essential role, and suggest that improved understanding of bee contributions to sustainable development is crucial for ensuring viable bee systems.

Introduction

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are designed to achieve synergy between human well-being and the maintenance of environmental resources by 2030, through the pursuit of 169 targets and more than 200 indicators (UN 2015). The biosphere is the foundation for all SDGs (Folke et al. 2016; Rockström and Sukhdev 2016; Leal Filho et al. 2018), and yet biodiversity conservation remains a persistent global challenge (Tittensor et al. 2014). An examination of how a particular suite of organisms within the global wealth of biodiversity can contribute to the attainment of the SDGs holds the potential to link sustainable development policy with conservation through the design of integrated solutions. We explore the interconnections between bees-a critical group of insects with diverse economic, social, cultural and ecological values-and people, in the context of the SDGs.

Bees, people and the planet

Bees comprise ~ 20 000 described species across seven recognised families (Ascher and Pickering 2014), with many more species yet to be described (Fig. 1). The evolutionary radiation of bees coincided with the evolutionary radiation of flowering plants (Cappellari et al. 2013), and bees occupy an important ecological role as pollinators of a range of flowering plant species. Although bees are not the most diverse group of pollinators (butterflies and moths comprise over 140 000 species), they are the most dominant taxonomic group amongst pollinators; only in the Arctic regions, is another group (flies) more dominant (Ollerton et al. 2017). The ability of bees to transport large numbers of pollen grains on their hairy bodies, reliance on floral resources, and the semi-social or eu-social nature of some species are amongst the characteristics that make bees important and effective pollinators (Ollerton et al. 2017; Klein et al. 2018). Fifty bee species are managed by people, of which around 12 are managed for crop pollination (Potts et al. 2016a).

A snapshot of the diversity of bees. Bees are taxonomically classified under the insect Order Hymenoptera, along with ants, wasps and sawflies, and are part of the superfamily Apoidea, and clade Anthophila, with seven recognised families. Although only 50 of the ~ 20 000 described bee species are actively managed by people, the entire clade is important for ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Bees and flowering plants have co-evolved, making bees effective pollinators of a large proportion of flowering plant species. There are perhaps a further ~ 5 000 bee species that are yet to be described. Data source: Ascher and Pickering ( 2014). Information for this figure was sourced from Michener 1979; Michener 2000; Michez and Patiny 2007; Litman et al. 2011; Cappellari et al. 2013; Peters et al. 2017; Meiners et al. 2019

The potential importance of bees for crop pollination has been highlighted as a particular reason to conserve wild bees and their habitat (Klein et al. 2007; Gill et al. 2016; Potts et al. 2016a; Klein et al. 2018). More than 90% of the world's top 107 crops are visited by bees; however, wind- and self-pollinated grasses account for around 60% of global food production and do not require animal pollination (Klein et al. 2007). Wild bees contribute an average of USD$3 251 ha −1 to the production of insect-pollinated crops, similar to that provided by managed honey bees (Kleijn et al. 2015). A very small number of mostly common wild bee species provide the majority of bee-related crop pollination services (Kleijn et al. 2015), and other insects such as flies, wasps, beetles, and butterflies have an important, underemphasised role in crop pollination (Rader et al. 2016). Such research has highlighted the danger of exclusively highlighting the importance of bees for crop pollination, to the potential detriment of conserving diversity across the landscape (Kleijn et al. 2015; Senapathi et al. 2015). In our assessment of bees and the SDGs, we highlight that the diversity of wild and managed bees has crucial ecological, economic and social importance including and beyond crop pollination.

Long-standing associations exist across multiple bee species and human societies. Documented ancient bee-people interactions include honey hunting dating back to the Stone Age for the honey bee Apis mellifera in Europe (Roffet-Salque et al. 2015), more than 2 000 years of keeping the honey bee Apis cerana in Asia (Crane 1995), and beekeeping reaching back to at least pre-Columbian times for stingless bees ( Melipona beechii) in Mayan Mexico (Quezada-Euán 2018). Bees also appear in many religious scriptures and are found within mythology, cosmology and iconography (Fijn 2014; Roffet-Salque et al. 2015; Potts et al. 2016a; Quezada-Euán 2018). Beeswax from culturally significant sugarbag bees ( Tetragonula spp.) has been used in the production of rock art by Aboriginal peoples in northern Australia for at least 4 000 years (Watchman and Jones 2002). In Greek society, bees are closely linked with the cycle of birth and death, and considered an emblem of immortality (Cook 2013). "Telling the bees" was a popular tradition in 19th Century New England; it was customary for keepers to inform their bees of any major event such as a birth, death, marriage or long journey (Hagge 1957). These reciprocal bee-human relationships have historic legacy and are highly important for informing current practices around bee management.

Today, the long-standing mutualistic relationship between bees and people is jeopardised by recent reported declines in bee populations (Potts et al. 2016b). The loss of managed honey bee colonies (e.g. Potts et al. 2010) and declines in wild bee pollinators (e.g. Biesmeijer et al. 2006; Koh et al. 2016) have been observed, particularly in Europe and North America. However, much remains undocumented about the conservation status of most bee species (Goulson et al. 2015; Jamieson et al. 2019). The global conservation status of just 483 bee species has been assessed by the IUCN, most of which were 'data deficient' (IUCN 2019). The European Red List assessment of 1 965 species of European bees found that 9.2% were threatened, whilst insufficient data were available to assess the conservation status of nearly 57% of European species; many of these may also be threatened (Nieto et al. 2014). Goulson et al. ( 2015) reason that declines in wild bees definitively noted for Europe and North America are likely to have occurred elsewhere.

With a decline in bee populations, there has been a surge of research focusing on the drivers of bee decline and the impacts on provisioning ecosystem services (Goulson et al. 2015; Decourtye et al. 2019). Drivers such as habitat loss, pesticide use, the proliferation of parasites, availability and diversity of forage, change in land use and climate, and species competition have all contributed to the reduction in bee populations (Goulson et al. 2015; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys 2019; Wagner 2020). These drivers interact in complex ways; for example, market-driven agricultural intensification has limited bees' access to forage resources and at the same time potentially increasing bees' exposure to harmful agrichemicals (Durant 2019; Sánchez-Bayo and Goka 2014). People can act as a positive influence for ecosystem function through designing bee-friendly policies and contributing to bee conservation approaches (Potts et al. 2016a; Matias et al. 2017; Hill et al. 2019). Acknowledging the plethora of literature addressing the decline in bee populations and the consequences for agriculture, we contend that the ubiquitous importance of bees in connecting the planet and people remains relatively less explored, particularly with regard to broader goals in sustainable development.

Framing the broader importance of bees to sustainable development

Bees provide a range of ecosystem services that contribute to the wellbeing of people whilst maintaining the planet's life support systems (Gill et al. 2016; Matias et al. 2017). Ecosystem services inherently contribute to achieving global sustainable development (Wood et al. 2018). Yet the extent to which bees contribute towards the achievement of the full suite of the SDGs has not been explored in detail. Existing research has highlighted the importance of insects in achieving multiple SDGs through the regulation of natural cycles, biological pest control, pollination, seed dispersal, and even as bio-inspiration (Gill et al. 2016; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys 2019; Dangles and Casas 2019). Bee pollination has been identified as directly contributing to food security (SDG2) and biodiversity (SDG15) (Dangles and Casas 2019). However, bees could also contribute to a broader range of SDGs.

We explicitly identify the realised and potential contributions of bees towards achieving the SDGs, presenting evidence to highlight the interconnectedness between bees, people and the planet from an integrated system perspective (Stafford-Smith et al. 2017). We review the SDGs alongside the potential contributions of bees in achieving individual SDG targets. As the SDGs explicitly build on the foundation of the biosphere (Folke et al. 2016; Leal Filho et al. 2018), the perspective presented here may help in designing implementation pathways to achieve SDG targets. We identify 30 targets to which bees may contribute (Table 1) through a range of direct and indirect connections between bees, people and the planet.

Table 1 The contributions of bees towards relevant SDG targets

We incorporate contributions from all bee species, including wild and managed populations. The European honey bee ( A. mellifera) and buff-tailed bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris) could be considered as 'massively introduced species' having greatly expanded their geographic range through human management and escape (Geslin et al. 2017). We note the extensive and evolving literature on the interactions between native wild bees, introduced domesticated bees, and feral bees, noting evidence of competition for forage and nesting resources, disruption of native plant-pollinator networks, and potential for viral disease transmission between species (e.g. Geslin et al. 2017; Mallinger et al. 2017; Wojcik et al. 2018; Alger et al. 2019; Murray et al. 2019; Valido et al. 2019). We pursue a holistic perspective that encompasses native wild and managed introduced bees, following Kleijn et al.'s ( 2015, 2018) calls for an inclusive approach that safeguards all pollinators.

The identified critical role of bees in sustainable development

The importance of bee pollination for food crops has been widely acknowledged, with growing concern of a global crisis as demand for pollination services continues to outstrip supply, with an associated increase in less diverse, pollinator-dependant agriculture systems (Aizen and Harder 2009; Aizen et al. 2019). In addition to improving the yield of some crops (target 2.3) (Klein et al. 2007, 2018; Stein et al. 2017), bee pollination contributes to enhanced nutritional value (target 2.2) and improved quality and longer shelf life of many fruits and vegetables (Klatt et al. 2014), which could potentially help in reducing food waste (target 12.3) resulting from aesthetic imperfections (Gunders and Bloom 2017).

Less-explored aspects of bee pollination include the contribution to biofuels (SDG7). Despite being self-pollinated, oil seed crops show increased yield when pollinated by bees (target 7.2) (Halinski et al. 2018; Perrot et al. 2018). Research in Mexico on the performance of bees on Jatropha curcas found significant improvement in the seed set when the self-pollinated varieties were supported with bee pollination (Romero and Quezada-Euán 2013). Canola, another self-pollinating oilseed crop, also shows a positive association between higher yields and bee diversity (Halinski et al. 2018).

Beyond agricultural landscapes, research in urban bee ecology aids understanding of bee dynamics in our cities and informs urban bee conservation initiatives (Hernandez et al. 2009; Stange et al. 2017). Urban beekeeping strengthens residents' connection to nature (Stange et al. 2018). Planting aesthetically pleasing, bee-attractive flowering species in landscape planning can provide forage for bees, and close proximity to such plantings may result in pollination rewards for trees and other species in public green spaces (target 11.7) (Lowenstein et al. 2015; Hausmann et al. 2016). European honey bees can be used as an indicator species for tracking contaminants and monitoring environmental health (target 13.3) in urban areas (Zhou et al. 2018). In addition, understanding bee forage preference, suitability of habitat and mobility between different habitat types is critical for designing sustainable urban (target 11.7) and rural landscapes (target 15.9) to optimize pollination benefits as well as support bee health (Stange et al. 2017; Langellotto et al. 2018). For example, the United Kingdom's Protection of Pollinators Bill was proposed to develop a national network of wildflower corridors called B-lines to support bee populations and other pollinators (UK Parliament, House of Commons, 2017).

The contribution of wild and managed bees in pollinating wild plants in natural ecosystems and managed forests (target 15.1) is well-acknowledged (Senapathi et al. 2015; Klein et al. 2018). The biodiversity found within forests provides a critical range of ecosystem services including water cycle regulation (target 6.6) and carbon sequestration (Brockerhoff et al. 2017; Creed and van Noordwijk 2018). Bee-pollinated plants provide a source of food for wildlife and non-timber forest products for people (Bradbear, 2009; Senapathi et al. 2015). For example, Brazil nut trees ( Bertholletia excelsa) require bee pollination to set their high-value fruit, with much greater productivity in the wild, likely due to low numbers of native bees in plantations (Cavalcante et al. 2012). Beekeeping within forest boundaries can support forest conservation (target 15.1) alongside rural livelihoods (Sande et al. 2009; Chanthayod et al. 2017; Mudzengi et al. 2019).

Keeping bees provides opportunities for income diversity (target 1.1) with low start-up costs, through diverse products and services including honey, pollen, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and pollination services (Bradbear 2009). Initiatives to promote beekeeping and pollination services in Kenya have resulted in livelihood improvements for smallholder farmers through increased farm productivity and an additional income stream (target 1.5) (Carroll and Kinsella 2013). However, in other regions of Africa, constraints to improve livelihoods through bee-related activities have been attributed to a lack of knowledge concerning bee husbandry processes, access to equipment, and training (Minja and Nkumilwa 2016). Vocational education in beekeeping (target 4.3) could promote economic opportunities for employment and entrepreneurial enterprise (targets 8.6 and 4.4) and diversification for Indigenous groups (targets 1.4 and 4.5), as well as help empower women (target 5.5) including those within traditionally patriarchal societies to promote gender equality (target 5.a) (Pocol and McDonough 2015; Mburu et al. 2017).

Beekeeping can be an important strategy for livelihood diversification (Bradbear 2009), which can directly contribute to an increase in per capita and household income (target 8.1) (Mazorodze 2015; Chanthayod et al. 2015) and also allow for enhanced fiscal opportunities (e.g. tourism) and sustained income growth for people in rural areas, irrespective of social and economic status (targets 10.1 and 10.2) (Pocol and McDonough 2015; Vinci et al. 2018). An initiative for sustainable tourism in Slovenia packages bee-related education and healing experiences with bee products, together with opportunities to create and purchase original crafts using bee products (Arih and Korošec 2015). In Fiji, The Earth Care Agency is working to promote organic honey production on remote islands to provide economic alternatives for indigenous Fijians (Matava Fiji Untouched 2019). These initiatives contribute to local economies and in the case of Slovenia (Arih and Korošec 2015), help in marketing the country's natural attractions whilst providing additional livelihood opportunities through increased tourism activities (target 8.9).

In relation to health, honey, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom have all been used in traditional and modern medicine (target 3.8) (Kocot et al. 2018; Easton-Calabria et al. 2019). Researchers have identified bioactive properties of honey, propolis and royal jelly which suggest the presence of compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer activities (Pasupuleti et al. 2017; Kocot et al. 2018; Easton-Calabria et al. 2019). Honey is used in wound and ulcer care, to enhance oral health, fight gastric disorders, and liver and pancreatic diseases, as well as to promote cardiovascular health (Pasupuleti et al. 2017; Easton-Calabria et al. 2019). Propolis is used in gynaecological care, oral health, dermatology care, and oncology treatments, whilst royal jelly is used in reproductive care, neurodegenerative and aging diseases, and wound healing (target 3.4) (Pasupuleti et al. 2017).

Bees have contributed to industry, innovation and infrastructure by inspiring the design and development of a range of structures, devices and algorithms that can benefit sustainable development (target 9b). The honeycomb structure of beehives is often a mainstay in structural engineering (Zhang et al. 2015). Drawing inspiration from bee anatomy, the medical industry has benefited from innovations such as surgical needles adopted from the design of bee stingers (Sahlabadi and Hutapea 2018). Bee behaviour has inspired complex computer-based search and optimisation processes informing a new wave of genetic algorithms (Xing and Gao 2014).

Towards sustainable bee systems

The decline in global insect populations has attracted the attention of the scientific community, general public and policymakers (Potts et al. 2016a), with heightened public awareness of the importance of bees for pollination. Our research has highlighted the contribution bees can provide towards achieving a diverse range of SDG targets in addition to their crucial role in pollination. The increasingly positive attitude of the public towards bees, and insect pollinators more broadly, provides opportunities for efforts to conserve bee habitat and support pro-pollinator initiatives in land management, agricultural diversification and urban greening (Senapathi et al. 2015; Schönfelder and Bogner 2017).

A holistic view of ecosystems including wild and managed bees and humans is necessary to address sustainability challenges (Kleijn et al. 2018; Saunders et al. 2018). By employing a system approach, we can better understand the interconnections between elements within coupled human-environment systems. We strongly advocate the need for appropriate natural resource management approaches for maintaining sustainable systems as vital for allowing the continued success of bees in their natural role. We summarise our findings by suggesting eight key thematic priority areas whereby bees can play a crucial role in meeting the SDGs (Fig. 2).

Bees and the SDGs. Overarching themes whereby bees contribute to sustainable development targets

These themes provide a foundation for an emerging, yet urgently needed research agenda to explore the complex relationship between bees, people and the planet. A range of important questions should guide this research agenda including: (i) What social and ecological entities contribute to a bee-human system, what feedback and trade-offs exist amongst these entities, and how can understanding structural interconnectivities within this bee-human system contribute to sustainable decision making at various spatial scales? (ii) Are there critical thresholds of bee species diversity and/or bee population abundance beyond which there are significant impacts to meeting certain SDG targets, and do these thresholds vary by geographic regions? (iii) What ecosystem services can be optimized with existing bee diversity in a region, to what extent can they contribute to achieving SDG targets, and does the introduction of managed species enhance or suppress existing ecosystem services? In addition, the distinct roles of wild and managed bees provide a further research lens for identifying the critical role that bees can provide in achieving the SDGs. We must strive to restore balance and reverse bee decline trajectories if we are to encounter a future in which bees continue to contribute to the sustainable development of society.

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Acknowledgements

This research was undertaken with funding support from the Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products and the Faculty of Science, University of Western Australia. We thank the Associate Editor, Dr. Graciela Rusch, and two anonymous reviewers for providing the constructive, detailed and insightful comments to improve this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia (M004), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

Vidushi Patel, Natasha Pauli & Bryan Boruff

2. Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products, 128, Yanchep Beach Rd, Yanchep, WA, 6035, Australia

Vidushi Patel, Liz Barbour & Bryan Boruff

3. Department of Geography and Planning, The University of Western Australia (M004), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

Natasha Pauli, Eloise Biggs & Bryan Boruff

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Correspondence to Vidushi Patel.

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Patel, V., Pauli, N., Biggs, E. et al. Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development. Ambio 50, 49-59 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01333-9
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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development - Ambio

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Reductions in global bee populations are threatening the pollination benefits to both the planet and people. Whilst the contribution of bee pollination in promoting sustainable development goals through food security and biodiversity is widely acknowledged, a range of other benefits provided by bees has yet to be fully recognised.

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They are known as hard-working, detail-oriented and fiercely determined, friends of flowers and makers of the nectar that sweetens our morning coffees and teas. There are many ways bees help the environment and enrich human life. But did you know these little insects are also powerful partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?

By acting as pollinators, bees promote biodiversity (Goal 15) and fight hunger (Goal 2). They provide decent jobs (Goal 8) in agriculture and other sectors, advancing Goal 1, no poverty. They maintain balance in our ecosystems, but these little helpers are under pressure from a variety of forces.

Keep reading to learn what all the buzz is about, and help spread the word about the power of bees!

Mama Beehive
Victoria Namalikye is better known in her community as "Mama Beehive". With a broad smile and obvious pride, she asserts, "I am famous with the bees. They know me."

Victoria is a beekeeper and mother of seven in Uganda. Profits from her honey sales are paying for her children's school fees and uniforms, securing a better life for the next generation. "I have benefitted from beekeeping by being able to educate my children," she says.

Here in the mountains of eastern Uganda, and in many other places, bees play a significant role in nature and in human life. They contribute to food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. In addition, beekeeping and production of honey and related products provide livelihoods, especially in developing countries, that can empower women and youth.

Family 'beesness'
Bakhtiyar Menligiev has been involved in bee farming in Uzbekistan since 2014. In that time, he's managed to increase his hives from four to 18 and now owns three hectares of horticultural land. While some countries in Europe and North America have recorded declines, globally the number of managed western honey bee hives has increased over the last five decades.

Beekeepers help ensure a healthy bee population, but for Bakhtiyar, the best part is that he gets to work with his family. His wife Mehriban says that she likes to observe how bees work and live as one family. "They are not very different from us in that regard," she laughs.

Their children, Sevinchay and Kuwanishbek, love the fresh honey from the farm. Besides honey, bees provide royal jelly, pollen and other nutritious foods as well as sub products like beeswax and propolis, used in the cosmetics and health industries.

The birds and the bees
The benefits of beekeeping are not just economic and not limited to the beekeepers. Bees pollinate plants near their hives and for miles around, helping to improve biodiversity. Pollinators such as birds, butterflies and bats transport pollen from flower to flower to fertilize plants. This process makes it possible for fruits and seeds to develop and therefore is critical to a healthy human diet.

According to FAO, 75 percent of the world's food crops depend at least in part on pollination by insects and other animals, the reason why bees are considered the invisible helpers of farmers across the globe. Agricultural products that require pollination, like coffee, chocolate, almonds and cocoa, are also an important source of jobs and income, especially for small and family farms. A third of the food produced in the world - every third mouthful - depends on pollination.

DID YOU KNOW?

One honey bee alone
can produce 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its life.
Source: worldbeeday.org

Sweet success
Like many in her community in Guatemala, 21-year-old Manuela Choc López used to rely on coffee production to earn a living. But an epidemic of coffee leaf rust led them to beekeeping to diversify their incomes and strengthen their food security. Completing the circle, it turned out the bees also helped boost their coffee harvests.

"Before we had bees, coffee plantations didn't have many flowers," says Manuela. "But now, thanks to pollination done by bees, we're seeing great results in our coffee plantations and in trees near the apiary. They've helped a lot with our coffee harvest."

It is estimated that between US$235 billion and $577 billion worth of annual global food production relies on direct contributions by pollinators.

A stinging truth
As we have seen, bees are guardians of biodiversity and ecosystems. Their presence or absence can indicate the state of the environment around them, alerting communities of potential threats or changes.

Nevertheless, bees and other pollinator populations have significantly decreased, and some bees and butterflies are under threat. Some of the reasons are pests, use of pesticides and other non-sustainable agricultural practices, pollution and loss of habitat. Much of this can be traced to human activity. The European Union banned the use of bee-harming pesticides as a measure to protect bees and other insects vital to crop production.

Bees' survival and development are also threatened by climate change. In some places, extreme temperatures, floods, droughts and other climate events have killed off bees in their thousands. Across Europe, bee populations and honey stocks have been falling since 2015, in some places up to 30 percent annually.

In Kosovo, winters are getting longer, and the bees have one less month to collect pollen from nearby pastures and forests. "In the last two years, the winter and spring weather have been strange," reflects Ejup Mustafa, a 63-yeard-old beekeeper. To help producers, including beekeepers, adapt and become more resilient to changing weather patterns, UNDP works with communities to design solutions for sustainable agriculture.

"We are not responsible for causing climate change," says Sadikin, a 38-year-old father of five and honey hunter for more than 15 years. "All we can do is change the way we collect honey." Armed with a steel blade, a bucket and a whole lot of courage, every day he climbs Indonesia's largest trees, the majestic Boan tree, looking for the sweet nectar. But changing weather patterns are bringing more rainfall, and flowers aren't blossoming.

In some areas, global warming is causing spring to arrive early and autumn to come late, and not all species are adapting at the same rate. Flowers are blooming at different times than they used to, when bees aren't there to pollinate, with potential knock-on effects for entire ecosystems.

Be(e)friend the pollinators
There are many things we can do to protect bees and other pollinators. Maintaining their habitats and committing to more sustainable agricultural practices, including the use of indigenous and local knowledge and avoidance of pesticides, are key to safeguard these species, says UNEP. Bee-friendly plants, like mango, thyme and water grass, can also help them thrive. Each of us can choose local organic produce when possible and help raise awareness about the importance of bees for our ecosystems. These actions will help protect the environment and ensure the future of these industrious insects and the variety of the food on our tables.

DID YOU KNOW?

Honey bees are the only bee species that die after a sting.
Source: worldbeeday.org

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A powerful force for sustainable development, bees and other pollinators maintain balance in our ecosystems. But these little helpers are under pressure from a variety of forces.

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But one in four species of bee is at risk of extinction in North America, according to the United Nations Environment Program . And the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has recorded declines in bee populations in Europe, South America, and Asia.

A combination of factors are contributing to the decline of bees, including habitat loss and degradation, pesticide use, the invasive parasitic Varroa destructor mite, and other . The effects of climate change are compounding these stressors on bee populations worldwide.

But people around the world are working to create an environment that helps bees thrive. In honor of National Honey Month, Food Tank is highlighting 15 organizations and initiatives working to preserve the livelihood of bees, the ecosystem, and the global food supply.

1. Bees for Development, United Kingdom

Bees for Development is an international organization that utilizes beekeeping as a tool to alleviate poverty and retain biodiversity around the world. They work in over 50 countries within local communities, and implement sustainable beekeeping techniques that use only local bees and local resources. They have an open-access information portal that provides information on bees and beekeeping worldwide. Bees for Development also provides advice and guidance to the World Bank, the United Nations, and other international organizations.

2. BEES for the World, Germany

BEES for the World is dedicated to designing sustainable supply chains for high quality organic-certified bee products all over the world. Their commitment is to Biodiversity, Education, Empowerment, and Sustainability (BEES). They work primarily within African countries to support forest beekeeping. By empowering local communities in the production of high-quality beeswax and connecting them to markets, the group protects local ecosystems while fostering the creation of jobs.

3. Elephant and Bees Project, Kenya

4. Federation of Nepal Beekeepers, Nepal

5. Honeybee Research Institute, Pakistan

The Honeybee Research Institute promotes beekeeping in Pakistan with the honeybee . While Apis mellifera honey bees were initially imported from Australia, the species has thrived in Pakistan since the late 1970s. With over 400,000 colonies present today, the bees contribute to increased honey production, income-production for rural populations, and increasing biodiversity. The Institute provides beekeeping training courses, promotes beekeeping for income generation, and has on-going research projects.

6. Pesticide Action Network Europe, Belgium

Founded in 1987, the Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) is a network of consumer, public health, and environmental organizations, trades unions, women's groups, and farmer associations from across Europe. As advocates for a pesticide-free Europe, PAN Europe works closely with government representatives to try to reduce the use of hazardous pesticides. Through t heir European Citizens' Initiative, "Save Bees and Farmers", they are collecting signatures and calling on the European Commission to phase out synthetic pesticides in agriculture by 2035.

7. Pollinator Partnership Canada, Canada

8. Purple Hive Project, Australia

Australia is the only continent not yet affected by the Varroa destructor mite, but researchers fear that Australian honey bees may soon be at risk. The Purple Hive Project is on a mission to prevent this mite - which decimates colonies and spreads honey bee viruses - from impacting honey bees in Australia. The Purple Hive uses Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technology to detect the mite in real-time so that its spread can be prevented. Their long-term goal is to create a network of hives in high-risk locations across Australia.

9. Slovenian Beekeepers Association, Slovenia

10. The Bee Girl Organization, United States

11. The Honeybee Conservancy, United States

The Honeybee Conservancy is dedicated to protecting bees and securing food justice through education, research, habitat creation, and advocacy. Their flagship program, Sponsor-A-Hive, places native bee homes within urban gardens, schools, and organizations that grow produce to bolster local ecosystems. Last year they unveiled an eight-foot-tall rooftop beehive on the Empire State Building, which will house over 70,000 honey bees. Their goal is to place one million bees to support communities of need across the U.S..

12. Under the Mango Tree, India

Under the Mango Tree was founded with the mission to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural India. The organization teaches farmers how to maintain bee boxes on their farms and harvest honey, and connects them to markets to sell their honey. They specifically focus on the indigenous bee, Apis cerana indica , to increase pollination and crop yields. In addition, the organization has trained upwards of 1,000 women to be beekeepers.

13. United Nations Development Program, International

14. Wheen Bee Foundation, Australia

Gretchen Wheen, a pioneer in bee research and one of Australia's most well known beekeepers, donated her estate to establish the Wheen Bee Foundation upon her passing in 2012. The Foundation promotes awareness of the importance of bees for food security and ecosystem health. It funds research and development projects that seek to improve the health of the local bee population. They are currently working in partnership with other organizations to save the Green Carpenter Bee on Kangaroo Island, as the island recovers from the destructive fires earlier this year.

15. World Bee Project, England
Photo Courtesy of Leslie Brooks
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15 Organizations and Initiatives Helping to Save the Bees - Food Tank

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But one in four species of bee is at risk of extinction in North America, according to the United Nations Environment Program . And the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has recorded declines in bee populations in Europe, South America, and Asia.

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