Protecting pollinators: why bees matter more than you think

Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of over 75% of flowering plant species and approximately 35% of global food production. Yet populations of bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators have been declining sharply over the past several decades, driven by habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change.

The economic value of pollination services provided by wild insects is estimated at over $500 billion per year globally. The loss of pollinators would not only devastate natural ecosystems but would also trigger cascading failures throughout our food system, threatening the availability and affordability of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Why Pollinators Are Disappearing

• Pesticide use, particularly neonicotinoids, disrupts bee navigation and reproduction.
• Habitat loss eliminates the wildflowers that pollinators depend on for food.
• Monoculture farming reduces the diversity of food sources available to pollinators.
• Climate change shifts the timing of flowering plants out of sync with pollinator activity.

How to Help Pollinators

Creating pollinator-friendly gardens, reducing or eliminating pesticide use, supporting local beekeepers, and advocating for pesticide reform are all powerful ways to help reverse pollinator decline. Even small patches of wildflowers in urban areas can provide vital habitat for bees and butterflies struggling to survive in increasingly hostile landscapes.