THE CONARD COURANT
Est. 1957
How to Save the Bees
By Ella Garbarsky
With Springtime approaching and warmer days on the horizon, it is hard to walk down a street and not notice the beautiful flowers beginning to bloom, or the yellow daffodils growing around each corner.
But what if one day, you walked down the same street, at the same time, in the same weather, and there weren’t flowers? This could be a reality sometime in the future as the decline of bee pollinators occurs nationwide.
Bees provide vital processes for the environment that help to pollinate the vegetation which not only leads to the growth of beautiful flowers but to the growth of other plants that feed other organisms, creating a thriving ecosystem simply through the process of pollination. This vegetation also fields many jobs and is a large source of income for many food distributors who rely on fresh fruits and vegetables that originate from the plants the bees pollinate.
Agriculture is one of the top threats facing the bees from the intense practices the land is put through to gain more yield and the number of times that the land is used for agricultural purposes. With an increase in pesticides used on these large patches of land, the harsh chemicals destroy the natural habitats and land the bees inhabit and decrease the biodiversity in the area.
Another action that threatens the bees and their ability to pollinate is human development, specifically, urbanization. The building of new skyscrapers, more apartments, newer houses, and even a new grocery store all take away from the natural landscapes that the bees need to thrive. This constricts the area that the bees can pollinate, stopping them from sparking the vast growth of vegetation. While this might not seem like a huge issue at the moment, the more urban sprawl that occurs, the more humans try to expand their world, the less pollination the bees will be able to do, stunting the growth of plants worldwide, and lessening the amount of fresh produce humans have access to.
Other than agriculture and human development, the worldwide effects of climate change have not skipped the bees. With the atmosphere warming, the bees are shifting where they pollinate since the habitats they currently abide in are becoming too warm, forcing them to leave and move to other places more suitable. This may have negative effects on the pollinators in the future and the livelihood of vegetation and produce around the world.
But how can humans help save the bees? There are a few ways, actually! For one, growing native plants in the area one lives in is a great way to provide food sources for bees that can provide a continuous source of food. Also, planting specific “bee-friendly” plants can help too. Planting flowers in clumps can help make it easier for the bees to spot the plants and pollinate them, and even bee hotels are a great place to provide a nesting spot for them. One last thing one can do that may surprise some is to mow less. When one mows too often, it can rid the grass of wildflowers which can provide food and shelter for the bees.
Needless to say, the next time you step outside to smell the roses, try to remember who put those roses there and why it is so important that we protect these- tiny- but mighty beings.