World Bee Day is observed on 20 May each year to draw attention to the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. It provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, civil society and concerned citizens everywhere to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of bee-keeping.
World Bee Day shines a light on the habitat of pollinators to improve the conditions for their survival so that bees and other pollinators may thrive.
The date was chosen as it was the day Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture, was born. Janša came from a family of bee-keepers in Slovenia, where bee-keeping is an important agricultural activity with a long-standing tradition.
We have been celebrating this day since 2018, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Slovenia and FAO, with the support of Apimondia, that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day!
Bees and other pollinators are essential for our existence, sustaining agriculture and biodiversity worldwide. With over 20,000 species of bees and various other wild pollinators, they face challenges from human activities, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
In recognition of the pivotal role that youth can play in addressing challenges bees and other pollinators are facing, World Bee Day 2024 focuses on the theme “Bee engaged with Youth.” This theme highlights the importance of involving young people in bee-keeping and pollinator conservation efforts, recognizing them as the future stewards of our environment.
