Top Ten Tips for Bee Conservation
Bees are one of our planet’s primary pollinators and are responsible for the health of our collective food supply. Without bees, we could not support the agriculture required to feed the Earth’s population. Sadly, bee colonies have been dwindling. In some areas, they are disappearing altogether. Learn how to save the bees, and discover how you can help this unique insect while doing meaningful work for the environment.
Startling facts about colony collapse disorder
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a relatively recent disease affecting bee populations worldwide. The main symptom of this disorder is the disappearance of all worker bees from the hive. The worker bees leave behind their queen, a few nurse bees to care for the young larvae, and plenty of food. But, understanding this phenomenon is critical to find ways to help save the bees. Below are five facts you should know about CCD.
- Scientists don’t know exactly what causes CCD and how to save the bees. Proposed causes of CCD include a virus or parasite, pesticides, or environmental changes, such as climate change and habitat loss, but the science is still uncertain.
- Beekeepers in the United States lost 45.5% of their honey bee colonies between April 2020 and April 2021, the highest loss recorded since 2006. This was the beginning of the Save the Bees campaign.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists 156 species of bees as vulnerable, 20 as endangered, and 11 as critically endangered globally.
- Honeybees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year, including more than 130 types of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
- Without bees to pollinate our food, we’d have a third less variety of food to choose from.
How to help the bee population: Ten ideas
Despite the grim outlook for the bee population, it is possible to make things better. There are many ways to help save the bees and help the environment in the process. Whether you’re wondering how to save the bees or how to help endangered species in general, use these ideas to help the bee population and protect agriculture.
1. Start a community garden
Plant a sustainable community garden with vegetables, herbs, and flowers that attract bees. Raise awareness for your cause by starting a community fundraiser and collecting donations to purchase garden supplies. Here are some helpful guidelines for what to include in your bee garden:
- Begin by making your garden friendly to bees by planting blue, purple, or yellow flowers. Bees can’t see red tones, so avoid red and pink flowers so bees can actually get to the pollen.
- Bees are particularly attracted to lavender, mint, cilantro, and basil flowers. Growing native plant species in your area can benefit bees and the environment.
- The seeds of leafy vegetables are a winter staple for bees, like kale, collard greens, and cabbage. Let these vegetables go to seed after harvesting.
- You can learn how to help bees stay hydrated by setting out a small tray of water changed daily. Including something to drink will help keep honey bees in your garden longer.
- Skip the pesticides, as even organic pesticides are harmful to bees. Use other methods for repelling pests, such as planting garlic or rotating crops to keep your garden and bees healthy.
2. Support local agriculture
Like many insects, bees have a symbiotic relationship with their local environment, helping crops thrive. pollinators affect 35 percent of global agricultural land, supporting the production of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide. You’re helping local bee populations live and thrive by supporting local agriculture. Shop at your local farmers market when possible, and buy skincare products made with local beeswax.
3. Raise money for charity and support the Save the Bees campaign.
The Save the Bees campaign is a global initiative created to raise awareness of the critical role bees play in our ecosystem as well as addressing the threats they are currently facing. The non-profit funds bee research, educates people on the dangers bees face and promotes bee friendly practices. You can get involved by starting a “Save the Bees” fundraiser and collect donations for the official campaign or other environmental charities and organizations that help save bee populations. You can also help your community and start a fundraiser that benefits local beekeepers and farmers. Share your fundraiser on social media to gather even more support for saving the bees.
4. Build a bee hotel
A bee hotel is exactly what it sounds like, it is a place where you create the perfect environment for bees to eat, sleep and generally be happy. It involves using wood and wire to create a little house for bees to live. You can use this step by step guide to get you started. By nature, many bee species are solitary, so no need to worry about attracting an entire hive into your yard.
5.Ditch the pesticides
When tending your garden, a great way to help bees is to swap pesticide products for more natural products. Pesticides are a contributing factor to the decline in bee populations in recent years as it seriously affects bee health. If you must use a pesticide, choose a targeted organic product, and always avoid applying pesticides when flowers are blooming or directly to the soil.
6. Volunteer with your local beekeeping society
Most states have a local beekeeping society, and many need help from volunteers. You can donate your time to help with outreach at community events, or you can organize a nonprofit fundraiser with a “save the bees campaign” slogan and collect donations for the society.
7. Join your local beekeeping club
If you are interested in keeping a beehive of your own, joining a beekeeping club is a great way to get started. Participating in your local beekeeping club can be a fun way to meet others in your community who care about the environment and develop your beekeeping skills in the process. If you’re not quite ready to jump into a beekeeping club, you might want to check out some online options on how to help the bee population, such as beekeeping groups on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
8. Sponsor a beehive
As bee populations have declined, commercial bee pollination costs have skyrocketed. Farmers now have to pay more to pollinate their crops, passing that cost onto the consumer through higher prices. By sponsoring a beehive, you’re helping beekeepers and farmers keep costs down and stay in business—plus, it’s a great way to help the local bee population by donating to an animal charity.
9. Create your own beehive
Want to go one step further than a bee hotel and also create your own honey? Then look no further than a beehive. Creating a beehive will deepen your understanding of bees and also the environment in general. To get started you can reach out to your local beekeeping club for guidance.
10. Support local beekeepers
If you aren’t ready to undertake the responsibility of starting your own beehive, you can still help the bees by supporting your local beekeepers. You can buy locally made beeswax, honey and soaps and balms all made from beeswax!
See how others use fundraising to help save the bees
Crowdfunding is one of the best ways people can spread awareness about a cause they care about, while raising helpful donations in the process. Fundraising through GoFundMe means more of the funds you raise will benefit your cause, so you can make the most impact. Take a look at how these individuals took action to help save the bees through fundraising.
Help a family rehome bees
A family in California were shocked when they moved into a new home and discovered a hive of 32,000 bees. Instead of destroying the hive, they decided they wanted to rehome the bees and launched a fundraiser to help them do it. Their community answered their call and they raised $500 dollars, enabling them to donate the colony to a local beekeeper.
Save the bees in Washington
Alex Wikstrom is from Washington State and they noticed hundreds if not thousands of Bumble Bee nests in Washington State are destroyed each year, due to the lack of education and the help for relocation services. Alex has concocted a “Bumble Bee Relocation and Rescue Plan” which consists of relocating as many nests as possible that are under threat of destruction. It also involves recording each nest captured, and tagging the ones that don’t need relocation. If enough data is collected, Alex hopes they will be able to take action to save the bees before they go into severe decline.
Start a save the bees fundraiser today
It’s vital for the world’s agriculture to learn how to save the bees. Bees are important in ensuring the world’s agriculture supply, and the health of the bee population is important to each one of us. Start a fundraiser to support conservation efforts. Sign up to start your fundraiser today, and see how you can make a difference. GoFundMe is here to answer all your fundraising questions and to show you how it works.