6 minute read
World Bee Day
World Bee Day 2021
World Bee Day aims to:
• Encourage the world’s decisionmakers to appreciate the importance of protecting bees
• Remind us that we all depend on bees and other pollinators
• Protect bees and pollinators
• Halt the further loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems, thereby contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals* .
Now in its fourth year World Bee Day is celebrated on 20 May. The main purpose of the special day is to draw attention to the hugely important role of bees and pollinators for all life on earth. World Bee Day is a fantastic opportunity for beekeepers to share their knowledge, for farmers to raise awareness about pollinators and for the public to learn more about these wonderful insects.
Worldwide
FAO organised a virtual event with the theme Bee engaged: Build Back Better for Bees. The webinar was attended by scientists and practitioners who drew attention to the urgent need to restore pollinator populations, and their habitats.
Bees and their pollination services are renowned for the important contribution they make to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals – notably SDG 2, Zero Hunger; SDG 12, Responsible Production and Consumption; and SDG 15, Life on Land. There are roles for beekeepers, governments, private sector enterprises, civil society organisations, researchers and consumers to safeguard and promote thriving bee populations. The conclusion of the event was that to protect pollinators, we all need to protect their habitat. Pollinators need floral diversity, nesting sites and an environment free from pesticides. The event shared these resources: www.fao.org/world-bee-day/en/ YouTube – Imagine a world without bees
INDIA
A clay bee hive decorated by the children of local beekeepers
Image © Under The Mango Tree Society
World Bee Day was celebrated by organisations including Under The Mango Tree Society (UTMTS) and The Keystone Foundation. UTMTS organised multiple events throughout the week of World Bee Day, celebrating bees, raising awareness, and calling on stakeholders to work together to protect them. UTMTS put together a series of Instagram live events with three different bee organisations - including Bees for Development – who focussed on the importance of bees and biodiversity in the ecosystem. Through its work with indigenous bees, UTMTS seeks to improve biodiversity management and ecosystem services for small holders and recognises that beekeeping is a highly costeffective way to adapt to climate change.
BOLIVIA
On World Bee Day beekeeping groups in Bolivia shared the news that the demand for honey and propolis from their indigenous stingless bee Melipona sp has increased during COVID-19, because of their importance in local medicines. Osvaldo Soruco, of the Association of Beekeepers of the Department of Santa Cruz explained that people mix honey with herbs and roots to prepare medicines for helping with colds and flu. Maria Luisa Añez, of the Association of Beekeepers of San Ignacio de Velasco noticed an increase in demand, and indigenous women are responding by developing their home-based activities into vibrant enterprises. Read more at www.fao.org/ forestry/news/98584/en
GHANA
Bees for Development Ghana attended Ghana’s very first Honey Festival and World Bee Day celebration.
Honey Festival and World Bee Day Celebrations in Ghana
Image © Isaac Mbroh/Bees for Development Ghana
Isaac Mbroh and Stephen Adu hosted our stand at the premises of the CSIR Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR-FORIG), Kumasi and answered many questions from visitors. The occasion was used to discuss the role of bees and pollinators to humans, honey quality and safety, sensory analysis of honey, and habitat protection. Dr Courage Besah-Adanu, Research Scientist at CSIR-FORIG and the Coordinator of Ghana National Apiculture Platform said the main objective of the Honey Festival was to create a common platform for honey producers, researchers, consumers and other stakeholders in the industry to share knowledge and innovation for the growth of the industry. The theme for the occasion was A Spotlight on Pollinators, Beekeeping, and Honey Safety for Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity Conservation.
Isaac Mbroh enthusiastically hosts the BfD Ghana stand during World Bee Day celebrations
Image © Isaac Mbroh/Bees for Development Ghana
UGANDA
In Uganda, World Bee Day was marked by an interview with Dickson Biryomumaisho, Director of TUNADO (The Uganda National Apiculture Organisation) which aired on prime-time TV channel, NBS, and viewed by millions of Ugandans. Dickson explained to viewers about investment opportunities in the sector in Uganda and recommended that beekeeping can be a rewarding selfemployment option for young people struggling to find jobs.
Dickson Biryomumaisho, Director of TUNADO speaking on Ugandan prime-time TV on World Bee Day
KENYA
World Bee Day celebrations were hosted by Kitui County, reports James Muriuki. At the Municipal Stadium in Kitui town it brought together beekeepers and equipment manufacturers, honey and hive product processors, policy makers, development agencies and the media. Due to restrictions from Covid-19 a limited number of participants were allowed. The event was streamed to reach many people across the country and worldwide.
Speeches focused on conservation of honey bees as pollinators and their role in food security and biodiversity conservation. In his keynote address the Principal Secretary, of the Director of Livestock Production noted that in the face of the devastating impacts of climate change, all must arise and “bee engaged” in taking bold action to protect, conserve and create resilience for our natural resource base on which humanity depends for survival and through such initiatives “we will make the world a safer place for bees and a better home for ourselves and our generations to come”.
The Principal Secretary also enumerated efforts taken by the government to develop a thriving, profitable and sustainable bee industry including genetic resource conservation (aimed at reversing the trend of bee population decline in Kenya), and development of a honey Residue Monitoring Plan to enhance honey traceability and quality assurance.
Api-Expo for WBD Kenya – bee farmers from Caritas Kitui showcase the products they offer
Image © James Muriuki
*Sustainable Development Goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go together with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests. Source www.sdgs.un.org/goals
Published by Apimondia in 2021, you can read and download this 164 page book here https://www.apimondia.com/en/component/html5flippingbook/publication/beekeeping-contributes-to-achievethe-sustainable-development-goals/1#page/1
Bees for Development Journal Distribution Hubs
This Journal has not been distributed in print during the past year because of Covid’s prevention of international postal services. We are now resuming a print edition with this issue, and are setting up a new distribution system to ensure sponsored copies get to where they are most needed. Our new system will rely on BfDJ Hubs to receive a bulk delivery of printed copies to be handed out at local and national beekeeping events and made freely available for pick-up. We are trialling the new system with hubs in the Caribbean, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
We will announce more BfDJ Hubs in the next issue. Paying subscribers will continue receiving BfDJ by post. If you are in any of the countries or region above and would like printed copies of BfDJ – or if you can help us with distributing the Journal by becoming a Hub – email info@beesfordevelopment.org
