Decline of honey bees now a global phenomenon, says United Nations

Decline of honey bees now a global phenomenon, says United Nations

The mysterious collapse of honey-bee colonies is becoming a global phenomenon, scientists working for the United Nations have revealed.

Declines in managed bee colonies, seen increasingly in Europe and the US in the past decade, are also now being observed in China and Japan and there are the first signs of African collapses from Egypt, according to the report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The authors, who include some of the world's leading honey-bee experts, issue a stark warning about the disappearance of bees, which are increasingly important as crop pollinators around the globe. Without profound changes to the way human beings manage the planet, they say, declines in pollinators needed to feed a growing global population are likely to continue. The scientists warn that a number of factors may now be coming together to hit bee colonies around the world, ranging from declines in flowering plants and the use of damaging insecticides, to the worldwide spread of pests and air pollution. They call for farmers and landowners to be offered incentives to restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants near crop-producing fields and stress that more care needs to be taken in the choice, timing and application of insecticides and other chemicals. While managed hives can be moved out of harm's way, "wild populations (of pollinators) are completely vulnerable", says the report.

"The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.

The article continues:

"The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees."

Slow motion wreck.

What more can be said?

reply to post by loam


Hi Loam,,,,You might consider starting up your own top bar hive. I am starting one up next month. This
method appears to be taking hold as a more healthy way of hosting bees. If all goes well I'll create a thread
about it. Best to you.
S&F

Link backyardhive.com...

Please add any comments to the existing thread found here...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

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