withersailorNearly half of US honeybee colonies died last year. Struggling beekeepers stabilize population
NumbersCanBeFunThis is so grim 😢
What can I do to help? Even if it's a minor contribution?
My impression is the problem is primarily pesticide use is too ubiquitous. Help normalize pesticide free environments and you help bees.
In the case of bees, Neonicotinoids are a particular problem.
Another data point to fight against the deluge of "but it is not 150% established and shouldn't we also look at " "science" peddled by the pesticide industry:
Cuba has zero problems with its bees. Literally zero. They gave up on pesticides first out of necessity (fall of the USSR), then leaned into it, pesticides are generally outlawed and only see very rare use on state-run rice fields, a tiny fraction of their total agriculture.
The result is a very healthy bee population and flourishing honey exports. All of it passes EU organic certification with flying colours and tropical honey tastes real good so it's not cheap stuff, either. Expect at least 30 Euro/kg as opposed to domestic rapeseed honey at 10 Euro/kg, or forest honey (generally the most expensive German stuff) at 16.
StorksforlegsStarting bee gardens and planting bee-friendly seeds wherever you can (provided they are not invasive to your area!)
But lots of seed companies offer "bee blends", [westcoastseeds offers wildflower seeds for this purpose.] (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/products/bee-garden-blend#full-description-anchor) - Im sure similar wildflower mixes are available in different regions and countries.
I know this doesn't eliminate pesticide use but every pesticide free patch of flowers helps