It’s wild to imagine how something as small as a bee could have such an impact on our world. But they really are like mini superheroes.

Bees are vital to most ecosystems. Yet their populations are declining rapidly, and if they disappeared entirely, a vast proportion of our food sources would be at risk. Beekeepers in the US and Europe note a 30% decline in their bee numbers each year and currently 1 in 4 wild bee species is in danger of extinction.

It’s our actions that are causing the decline of many of the world’s species, including bees. That means it’s also up to us to help reverse their extinction in any way we can.

4 simple reasons the world needs bees

Bees are super pollinators

We all know that the main job of a bee is to pollinate. A bee transfers pollen to different plants for fertilization, which helps them to grow and reproduce.

90% of flowering plant species are dependent on insect pollination. These plants aren’t just random flowers; bees pollinate most of the fruits and vegetables that we need to survive.

Without bees, we’d have to manually pollinate plants. That would take a lot more manpower, driving up the prices of fresh food. Bees aren’t the only pollinators, but they’re super efficient: on one trip out of the hive, bees can visit up to 1000 plants, meaning one hive can pollinate over 200 million flowers in a single day.

Now we know where the saying ‘busy bee’ comes from!

Bees are vital to most ecosystems

Bee pollination helps feed and home other animals, too. Wild nuts, berries, seeds and other fruits would mostly disappear if bees weren’t around to pollinate them. Not to mention that these plants — kept alive by pollination — are also essential habitats for wild animals like birds and insects.

If those populations decline from lack of food and habitat, it will affect the rest of the food chain.

Bees keep certain plants alive

Some plant species only survive because of bees and their pollination. Without bees, they’d have no way to reproduce and would simply become extinct. For one, this would be a terrible loss for our planet’s biodiversity. But it would also slash the habitats of a number of different animal species, putting them at risk of extinction, too.

Forget “the butterfly effect”, the bee effect is pretty immense, as well!

Bees help produce medicine

As well as keeping a number of plants and animals (and humans) alive, bees also give us the delicious gift of honey. Not only is it a tasty addition to green tea or your morning toast, honey also has some pretty amazing medicinal qualities.

Honey is an antibacterial substance that can be used to treat wounds and animal bites, reducing infection. Because it’s so thick and viscous, it also acts as a barrier to protect cuts as they heal. When eaten, it’s a good source of antioxidants, a probiotic that treats digestive issues, and can ease a sore throat and stop coughing. Plus it tastes great!

Why are bees in danger?

Bee populations are facing a number of threats to their wellbeing. The number one issue is climate change, causing changes in temperature and vegetation and affecting bees’ ability to survive. For example, spring flowers are blooming earlier in the season, giving bees less time to feed on the pollen.

Pesticides are also having a devastating impact on bee numbers. In trying to control pest erosion of certain crops, farmers are accidentally poisoning harmless bees. In the EU, certain chemicals have been banned to help protect bees but that change needs to be enacted worldwide.

The exponential industrialization of our planet is also extremely damaging to bee populations. More and more natural habitats are being built upon, forcing animal and insect species to adapt their mating and foraging behaviors.

How can we help?

It all sounds pretty bleak. But there are a number of things we can do to help ensure bee populations thrive into the future.

Support science-based organizations

There are a number of organizations around the world dedicated to saving the bees through education and legislation. You could make a donation or get involved as a volunteer.

And check out Street Designed’s new 3D-printed hive design jewelry range — 100% of the profits go towards saving the bees!

Create a bee-friendly garden

No backyard? No problem. A small planter box or window garden is an easy way to give your local bees a place to pollinate. Remember to avoid harmful pesticides and use native plants from your local area.

Support local beekeepers

If you buy honey, see if there’s a way to buy it from a local beekeeper — maybe at a farmer’s market or local health food store? We all need to do our part, to keep the grass roots industries alive.

Inform and inspire

Now that you know just how important bees are to our future, you can spread the good word!

Let your family and neighbors know about what you’re doing to help bee populations, and you could inspire them to do the same. Giving a Street Designed hive-inspired jewelry piece this Spring is a great place to start!