Discover Australian events through May in recognition of World Bee Day

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We need bees.

Bees provide food security

Food security

Bees are important to our livelihood as they help to pollinate most of the crops we eat and many that feed farm animals. Nearly two-thirds of Australia’s agricultural production benefits from bee pollination.

But bee populations are under threat. Destruction of their natural habitat, intensive farming practices, and pests and diseases are just some of the complex reasons driving a decline in both the number and diversity of bees.

Without bees, our food security is at risk.

Biodiversity

There are over 20,000 species of bee that exist globally and Australia is home to around 2,000 species of native bee. Native bees have co-evolved with our unique native flora over thousands of years.

Some species of plant can only be pollinated by a particular species of bee. In the absence of pollination, the plant species cannot reproduce so if that bee species dies, so too will the plant.

Without bees, biodiversity is at risk

Ecosystem Health

Bees are keystone species that play a vital role in preserving ecosystem health. Bees provide essential pollination services for plants.

Maintaining plant diversity supports other essential ecosystem services including helping to regulate climate, purify air and water, build soil and recycle nutrients.

Without bees, ecosystems are at risk.

World Bee Day celebrates our hard-working little pollinators. Find an event near you or host your own to help raise awareness of the importance of bees.

World Bee Day

Featured Events

Online Waggle Dance Challenge

Show your support and have some fun for World Bee Day, and let’s make it a GLOBAL Waggle Dance Challenge!

Join the Global Waggle Dance Challenge

Celebrating World Bee Day 2023

Let’s celebrate together, raise awareness and do something good for bees.

The main purpose of World Bee Day events is to spread awareness of the significance of bees and other pollinators for our survival. Simply proclaiming World Bee Day does not do much for bees and other pollinators; the main work of safeguarding their existence still needs to be undertaken. World Bee Day is an excellent opportunity to put bees at the centre of the national conversation for a day and encourage actions that create more bee-friendly landscapes.

Beekeepers and nature conservationists are united in encouraging improved conditions for bees to build pollination security and to safeguard our food security.

Join us in celebrating World Bee Day – 20th May 2023

A message from The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

Watch previous messages from: 2022 | 2021 | 2020

All the Buzz

Latest News

Waggle Dance Compilation 2020

Message from Dr. Jeff Pettis, for World Bee Day 2020

Jeff is the Apimondia President, and explains the bees waggle.

World Bee Day

About the Project

About World Bee Day Project

Slovenia proposed that the United Nations (UN) proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day. On 20 December 2017, following three years of efforts at the international level, the UN Member States unanimously approved Slovenia’s proposal, thus proclaiming 20 May as World Bee Day.

The purpose of the www.worldbeeday.org website is to present the initiative and its implementation, raise awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping, inform the public of major beekeeping events around the world and celebrate World Bee Day.