All over the world the populations of bees and other key pollinators – the butterflies, hummingbirds and bats – are rapidly declining, largely because of human activities which include the use of chemical fertilisers and fertilisers. To raise awareness about these important organisms, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.
Aga Khan University's Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre (AKU-ACER) and Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) staff and interns participated at this year's celebration organized by Warren Steyn, the founder of BEEtopia and AKU-ACER visiting scientist Dr Kathrin Krausa at the outskirts of Arusha.
The event was also attended by the local stingless beekeeping community, scientists from the University of Dar Es Salaam, NGOs from Kenya and Tanzania, local schools and educators as well as other bee enthusiasts. BEEtopia aims to build bridges between different stakeholders and they fulfilled this exceptionally on the day.
Dr Emmanuel Sulle, Director at AKU-ACER said, “It is important to appreciate the role that the little creatures as bees play to keep our ecosystem healthy, intact and sustainable. We are proud to see our partnership with BEEtopia is growing and is benefiting young children, farmers and local communities through these transformative studies and knowledge sharing about the benefits of preserving pollinators."
AKF interns who attended the event were blown away by the beauty of bees and how they can increase their skills to impact their farmers trainings.
Veronica Venance, an intern at AKF remarked, “During the fascinating bee tour, we were immersed in the world of different types of bees, witnessing their intricate behaviours and roles within the hive. We marvelled at the diversity of bees, from honeybees to stingless bees and solitary bees."
She further went to explain that as a first timer to the bee colony, it was fascinating to learn about the complex social structure of bees and the orchestrated division of labour within their hives. “Each bee, whether it's the queen, drones, or worker bees, plays a vital role in the functioning of the hive. The hive and worker bees tirelessly forage for nectar and pollen, construct and maintain the hive, and nurture the young," she said.
Gobless Moshi, another AKF intern, noted that the Bee Day celebration opened his mind and expanded his skills, as well as ways he can improve his training skills for farmers around AKU's Arusha site. “Understanding the different types of bees and their behaviours helps us appreciate their contributions to biodiversity and the sustenance of life on earth. Protecting bee populations is essential, not just for their survival, but for the health of our planet."
According to the United Nations, 'nearly 90% of the world's wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world's food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.'
Dr Kathrin Krausa, an entomologist and visiting scientist at AKU-ACER is conducting a non-Apis pollinator study in northern Tanzania. The study aims to highlight both diversity and abundance of this group of bees, understand their behavioural ecology, and determine their contribution to pollination function.