Bees Have Been Announced As Most Important Living Thing Because Of Their Contribution To Planet's Health

Oct 28, 2019 by apost team

As pollinators, bees are considered to be very important for our ecosystem, with the scientific community warning the public of their importance, as well as the catastrophic consequences their already declining population can have on our planet. 

The Earthwatch Institute at a recent meeting of the Royal Geographical Society of London (cited by Science Times) has been declared the most important living thing. It has been discovered that seventy percent of the world's crops depend on bees, and much of the world's fauna would start to disappear without them.

In light of these findings, it's become a serious issue that bees are facing a depopulation crisis, with the Rusty Patched Bumblebee being officially recognized as an endangered species in the United States in 2017. 

"Today's Endangered Species listing is the best—and probably last—hope for the recovery of the rusty patched bumble bee," Rebecca Riley, NRDC Senior Attorney said in a statement from the Xerces Society. "Bumble bees are dying off, vanishing from our farms, gardens, and parks, where they were once found in great numbers."

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It's always been known that bees are important, but now we know that they are more vital than people previously understood. Bees are important for plant pollination. This helps plants breed and grow to produce food for other living things that depend on them. Most of the plants that humans subsist on rely on pollination. Some of these common crops include soybeans, asparagus, citrus fruits, broccoli, and many others.

"Bees are irreplaceable," said Dr. George McGavin of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, as per the Guardian. "Their loss will be catastrophic."

Bee populations have been declining because of excessive pesticide use, declining flower populations, and deforestation. If people stop using some of the most damaging pesticides and preserve natural habitats, the bee crisis could be averted.

Humans aren't the only creatures that rely on bees for their food supplies. Other animals that eat wild berries, plants and nuts would starve if the bees did not help pollinate these plants. Trees that supply oxygen to the air also rely on bees for pollination. Honey bees are also important for the US economy. Their honey production is valued at approximately $15 billion per year.

Given all these important functions and qualities, it should come as no surprise that researchers have placed them officially at the top of the list of the most important living things on the planet. That is why we must respond to the news that bees are currently on the endangered species list.

Although this all might seem very grim, there are ways we as citizens can help reverse the bee population from vanishing. Ohio State Insights provides a list of four simple things we can do to help bees: 

1. Make your garden bee-friendly. You can do this by growing an abundance of colorful, local flowers to encourage polination. 
2. Consume bee-friendly products. Try to purchase organic produce more often, as the organic industry tends to use fewer or no pesticides. 
3. Don't use pesticides in your own garden. 
4. Never kill a bee. Opt for ignoring the bee and walking away instead. 

Are you ready to get on board to help save the bees? Let us know your thoughts, and pass this along to your friends to raise awareness about the issue.