Honey Bee collecting pollen at a white flower, Netherlands. Photo Credit: Kees Smans/Getty Images

AnimalsEnvironment Netherlands22. January 2022

Good News for City Bees: Census Reveals a Steady Population

The fourth ever national bee census – where thousands of volunteers across the Netherlands count bees – was held last year, and the results show a study urban bee population, proving just how effective initiatives can be.

As it turns out, the population of bees in Dutch cities has remained steady in recent years, after initiatives were put in place to curb the worrying decline that began in the 1940s with the rise of harmful pesticides and increased wild flower scarcity. 

“An average of 18 to 20 bees and hover flies were recorded in each garden during the count. These numbers have remained steady over the years, indicating that there is no strong decline in urban gardens,” says Vincent Kalkman, entomologist at Naturalis, one of the organizations behind the census. As the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, the Netherlands understands the crucial role wild bees play in the pollination of food crops. 

A national pollinator strategy involving 70 measures was put in place in 2018 with a goal of creating more nesting sites for bees and strengthening their food supply. Ranging from “bee stops” — bus stops with roofs covered in native plants — to planting wildflowers along the highways, the measures provide an integration between nature and urbanization. The latest census, involving 11,000 volunteers, proves that the initiatives have helped — particularly for the honeybee (Apis Mellifera) species that accounted for more than a quarter of the bee sightings. 

Source:
The Guardian

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