Happy World Bee Day to bees, the most ancient workers of the world!

Did you know that bees are one of the oldest inhabitants of the Earth? Yes; according to research, bees, whose existence on Earth dates back to before humankind, have a deep-rooted history of at least 300,000 years on Earth. We can never adequately express our gratitude to bees, who have literally "run" the world for thousands of years… But by taking the right steps to protect bees, it is possible to create better conditions not only for them but also for the future of the whole world!

“If bees disappear from the Earth, humanity can only live for four years. If there are no bees, there will be no pollination, no plants, no animals, and eventually no humans.”

We assume that no one has not heard these striking words emphasizing the importance of bees. Although the quote explains everything, there are still many steps to be taken to explain the role of the bee population on our planet to all generations. The first of these is to raise awareness about the bee-ecosystem relationship… The annual World Bee Day celebrations are among the most comprehensive steps taken so far for this purpose.

1. WHAT IS WORLD BEE DAY?

World Bee Day is a special period celebrated with various events to draw attention to the importance of the connection between bees and life. Declared by the United Nations (UN), World Bee Day is celebrated in May, when summer approaches and bee populations flock to nature.

2. WHEN IS WORLD BEE DAY CELEBRATED?

World Bee Day celebrations are held every year on May 20th. The main reason this date was declared World Bee Day is that it is the birthday of Slovenian Apiarist Anton Janša, known as the father of modern beekeeping. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to be achieved by the end of 2030, play an important role in making this a special day to celebrate. This universal call to action invites all countries to take action to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity.

3. WHEN WAS WORLD BEE DAY ACCEPTED?

The celebration of May 20 as World Bee Day was unanimously accepted at the UN General Assembly meeting held on December 20, 2017. Based on the strong connection between bee and human life in all areas, the draft resolution presented to the Assembly received great support with the joint participation of 115 countries. World Bee Day on May 20, which was celebrated for the fourth time in 2021, continues to be celebrated with larger organizations every year in almost all countries.

4. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEES IN OUR ECOSYSTEM?

Bees, the producers of the world's sweetest natural food, are still among the most intriguing creatures in the animal kingdom with their extraordinary life cycles and colony structures. These winged creatures are known as the only insect species completely harmless to humans and nature with the activities they carry out throughout their life cycles. In addition, the benefits they provide are quite numerous.

While bees travel from flower to flower to obtain their food, they also facilitate pollination in plants. In fact, by providing most of the pollen exchange on Earth, they play the most critical role in the continuity of the ecosystem. All these activities of bees ensure the production of 70 percent of the most consumed foods by humans. This means that we owe almost every meal we eat to bees.

5. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO BEES?

Plants, both as food and through their respiration, constitute the basic source of life for all living things on Earth. To reproduce, many plants need their pollen and seeds to be transported by natural means. External forces such as wind and birds play an important role in this. However, bees take on the most important burden in plant reproduction.

It is estimated that if bees disappeared, there would be an 80% decrease in plant pollination. This indicates that many members of the flora, especially flowering plants (fruits, vegetables, etc.), would rapidly become extinct. When plant species become so depleted, it seems inevitable that there will be major negative changes in human life as well as in natural life on Earth. In short; from this perspective, the word "bee" corresponds to both "purity" and "life"!

6. HOW CAN WE PROTECT BEES IN OUR ECOSYSTEM?

• Pesticide use in homes and gardens should be reduced.

• Unplanned urbanization should be prevented and natural areas should be protected.

• Agricultural spraying should be reduced and organic farming should be further expanded.

• Strategic measures should be taken nationwide against climate change.

• Programs and events should be organized to instill environmental awareness in new generations.

• More incentives should be created for beekeeping activities.

• The planting of flowering plants that bees can benefit from should be widespread in agricultural and landscape areas, as well as in private gardens and balconies.

• To overcome the fear of bees in society, the public should be more informed about the bee's defense mechanism.

7. YOU ARE ALSO INVITED TO WORLD BEE DAY EVENTS!

Balparmak, the pioneer of the honey industry in Turkey, has been working diligently not only for the development of its sector but also for nature since its establishment in 1980. The brand, which has implemented many valuable projects in this field from the beginning until today, also draws attention to the vital importance of bees with programs and events organized throughout Turkey in cooperation with TEMA Foundation on World Bee Day 2021.

Within the scope of the "Bees Mean Tomorrow" project, implemented by TEMA Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education and with the support of Balparmak, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of bees for nature and humans, their contributions to the ecosystem, and what can be done to protect them; this year, on World Bee Day, digital content full of fun for adults and children awaits bee lovers. To have a good time and learn more about bees, start following Balparmak and TEMA Foundation social media accounts! To learn more about the project, you can visit www.arilarvarsa.org. Happy World Bee Day in advance.