We all depend on the survival of bees
In 2017, World Bee Day was founded by the UN. Every year on 20 May, the UN will make people extra aware of the importance of conserving bees and other pollinators.
Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly threatened by human activity.
In the vast majority of countries there are therefore activities on 20 May to focus on the endangered species. In Norway too, there are many lectures, walks and inspiring events in several towns and villages.
The UN encourages concrete measures to be taken to preserve and protect pollinators.
Because if this trend continues, nutritious crops such as fruit, nuts and many vegetable crops will increasingly be replaced by staple crops such as rice, corn and potatoes, ultimately resulting in an unbalanced diet.
HOW CAN ECOTRAIL OSLO HELP THE BEES?
We have discontinued the traditional and unsustainable medal, and introduced seed bag medals. And we collaborate with Bybi. Those who complete the ultra distances receive a honey trophy. We hope that this will raise awareness of urban pollination.
HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT HELP THE BEES?
If you live in the city and do not have your own garden, you can investigate whether it is possible to put an insect hotel, for example, on the roof or in the backyard. Surely it is also better for you that they can stay in their own hotel, and not in your apartment? ;-)
Perhaps the housing association can also get together to install fall-proof window boxes on the building's facade? Then you can grow some right outside the kitchen window and decorate with sunflowers and other bee-friendly things that are even edible.
Good for the eyes, good for the stomach - and good for the pollinators. Win, win.
Here is the UN's list of how individuals can help the bees, if you have a garden:
• You can open a bee hotel in the garden. Build or buy a beehive where the bees can live.
• You can put out water for the bees. Set out a bowl of water that the bees can drink from, preferably put glass balls in the water so that the bees have something to land on.
• You can plant different plants in the garden, which flower and edible car-friendly plants (such as Ecotrail Oslo's seed bag medal) at different times during the year. This means that the bees have food throughout the season.
• You can avoid using pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in the garden.
• You can shop from sustainable producers.
• You can raise awareness by sharing this information with friends, acquaintances and your local community.
