In our story, we state that Eco Loco was born from a tadpole. It could also have been true to say that it was born from bees.
When I was little, I used to watch them, and without really knowing what I was doing, I would sometimes capture one in a jar, observe it and then set it free. I didn't realize how important they were, but I found them fascinating!
Today, I understand that they are as vital to our ecosystem as water, or almost. Not only are they an indicator of a healthy planet, they're essential. Why are they so important?
* UNEP Director Achim Steiner, 2011
Bees are thought to have appeared on Earth 100 to 150 million years ago, and there are 20,000 different species of bee worldwide. They have enabled the evolution of flowering plants and, it goes without saying, ensured their survival through sexual pollination.
Unlike human beings, bees are at the top of the list when it comes to balancing biodiversity and ecosystems.
By pollinating, they play a very important role in the growth of plants (trees, flowers and others), which serve as both food and shelter for many species (including humans). They also make it possible for several species to coexist.
Not only are they responsible for the pollination of many wild seeds (nuts, berries and fruits) that are an essential food source for many species, bees also provide honey for many species, and are part of the food chain for many species of birds (hummingbirds, blackbirds, starlings...) and other insects (religious mints, spiders...) that feed on them.
Bees also play a very important role for many tree species, making them a vital pollinator for the development of forests worldwide (tropical, wooded savannahs and deciduous forests, ...).
For humans, they're certainly not just inconvenience species when you're having a drink on a terrace! They play a major role in 4 major areas of agriculture, and therefore have a direct impact on what we eat: fruit farming, field crops, market gardening and seed production.
The vegetable garden is home to a wide variety of species, including birds, squirrels and insects. If bees were to disappear, so would the animals and insects that depend on them. It's the same for many animal species around the world, and humans are no exception.
What can be done to help them survive?
Pesticide
First of all, it has been widely demonstrated by scientists that bees are highly sensitive to pesticides, particularly insecticides. It goes without saying that, for this and many other reasons, it's best to avoid the use of such products in the domestic environment. It's also another reason to favor organic food.
Promoting biodiversity
Encouraging biodiversity can start at home. This can mean having as little lawn as possible (and cutting it less often), having a vegetable garden, flowers, fruit trees, shrubs... Do you live in the city and have a balcony? Don't worry, you too have the power to encourage a little diversity with tomato plants, herbs, flowers...
Encouraging biodiversity can also mean buying our fruit and vegetables from growers who themselves offer diversity, rather than monoculture.
Here in Quebec, we have a number of beekeepers who take great care of our bees. By taking good care of them, they are able to extract honey and beeswax in a way that respects them.
Ecologically yours,
