World Bee Day | History of World Bee Day | World Bee Day Theme 2025| Bee Species | Pollinators and Pollination

World Bee Day is celebrated every year on May 20. It raises awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators. However, bees  and other pollinators play a vital role in the ecosystem but face many threats. The day encourages actions to protect and restore pollinators and their habitats. It also aims to increase their numbers and support sustainable beekeeping practices.
Over 200,000 animal species serve as pollinators, most of which are wild including butterflies, birds, bats, and more than 20,000 bee Species. All bee species help in pollination.

Humans have practiced beekeeping, also known as apiculture (or meliponiculture for stingless bees), for thousands of years, dating back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.

History of World Bee Day

World Bee Day was first proposed by Slovenia in 2017, honoring the birthday of Anton Janša, an 18th-century pioneer of modern beekeeping. The United Nations officially declared May 20 as World Bee Day in 2018.

The idea began on September 15, 2014, when Boštjan Noč, president of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, thought of it while driving to work. After hearing a radio show about international observance days, he wondered, “Why not a day for bees?”

Bees pollinate one-third of our food. Today, they face numerous threats and often rely on human intervention to survive. Boštjan Noč believed the world needed to better understand their importance and beekeeping practices.

This day highlights the critical role of bees in sustainable agriculture. It also addresses the growing threats such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. In addition, the day encourages people around the world to take action to protect pollinators.

شہد کی مکھی کے ہلچلی رقص کی شہد کی پیداوار میں اہمیت، ڈاکٹر مجاہد حسین

World Bee Day Theme 2025

This year’s theme for World Bee Day 2025 is:
“Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all.”

This theme emphasizes the important role that bees and other pollinators play in sustaining agrifood systems and maintaining healthy ecosystems. However, pollinators face serious threats due to habitat destruction, unsustainable farming practices, climate change, and pollution. As a result, their declining populations pose significant risks to global food production, raise costs, and worsen food insecurity, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.

Pollination plays a vital role in global agriculture. It supports the growth of over 75% of crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In addition to improving crop yields, pollinators also enhance the quality and variety of food.

Globally, more than 200,000 animal species act as pollinators. Over 20,000 bee species are the most well-known, while other pollinators include butterflies, birds, bats, and various wild insects.

Bee species and other pollinators also act as indicators of environmental health, providing valuable insights into ecosystem conditions and climate trends. Protecting them not only ensures pollination but also strengthens biodiversity and supports essential ecosystem services such as soil fertility, natural pest control, and the regulation of clean air and water.

This Year theme encourages the adoption of nature-friendly agricultural practices, including agroecology, intercropping, agroforestry, and integrated pest management. These sustainable approaches help maintain healthy pollinator populations, ensure stable crop yields, and reduce environmental harm and food shortages.

Ultimately, each one of us has a role to play in protecting pollinators and securing a sustainable beekeeping practices in  future.

What are Bees?

Bees are winged, flying insects. They play a vital role in pollination and produce both honey and beeswax. They belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and the super family Apoidea. However, there are over 20,000 bee species across every continent except Antarctica.

These insects have many shapes, sizes, and colors. While species like honeybees and bumblebees live in colonies, many bees live alone. Social bees build organized hives with a clear structure: a queen lays eggs, workers gather food and care for the young, and drones help with reproduction. Each bee plays a unique role in the survival of the colony.

Importantly, bees feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. As they move from one bloom to another, they unintentionally carry pollen, helping plants to reproduce. This natural process called Pollination. As pollination, is essential for the growth of over 75% of crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Moreover, bees do far more than make honey. They support biodiversity, boost crop yields, and help ensure global food security. Without them, ecosystems would weaken, food variety would decline, and prices would rise.

In conclusion, bees may be small, but their impact is enormous. By protecting bees, we also protect nature, agriculture, and our future.

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

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