Bees are important because they pollinate many of the plants people and animals depend on for food, and they help keep ecosystems healthy and diverse. They also provide products like honey and beeswax that people use for food, medicine, and materials.
Food and crops
Many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds need bees to move pollen between flowers so they can form seeds and fruits. Roughly a third of the food people eat benefits from animal pollination, and bees are the main pollinators for many of those crops.
Nature and biodiversity
By pollinating wildflowers and trees, bees support habitats that other insects, birds, and mammals rely on for food and shelter. Losing bees would reduce plant diversity and could weaken entire ecosystems over time.
Products and human use
Bees make honey, beeswax, and other substances that are used in foods, skincare, medicine, and other products. These products support livelihoods for beekeepers and contribute to local and global economies.
Human health and survival
Because bees help secure a varied food supply, they are tied to human nutrition and health. Declining bee populations are a warning sign, since their loss would threaten food security and the stability of natural systems people depend on.