Farmers will play a huge role in protecting Ireland’s essential pollinators, according to the Minister of State for Biodiversity.  

Today is World Bee Day, an event to mark the importance of bees and other pollinators for the environment.  

To mark the day, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett is highlighting the need to maintain Ireland’s bee population.  

“The message to go out is to raise people's awareness of the value of bees and other pollinators,” she said. “Which are essentially fundamental to healthy ecosystems, but also to things like food security, not only here but across the world.” 

Research shows one third of Irish bees are under threat of extinction by 2030.

According to bee experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. 

Image: A group of bees flying away from a hive. Image via Damien Tupinier on Unsplash

They provide high-quality food such as honey, royal jelly and pollen, and other products such as beeswax, propolis and honeybee venom. 

Green Party Senator Hackett said farmers play a “huge role” in protecting the bee population and suggested ways to promote growth.  

“Managing their hedges on a three-year rotation and allowing some of their hedges to flower will support pollinators,” she said.  

A beekeeper tending to a group of bees. Image by Bianca Ackermann via Unsplash

“Also, how they manage their land – things like buttercups are important," Senator Hackett said. "Farmers might not like [bees], but they are very important pollinators."

To mark World Bee Day, Wicklow Mountains National Park held a bumblebee and wildflower identification walk. They will hold another walk on June 11th at 11am.  

The Irish Bee Conservation Project also hosted a seminar in Fota House and Gardens in Co Cork, followed by a family Bumblebee Hunt on the Pollinator Trail at Fota House Arboretum and Gardens.