By Ayoob A., Community Wellbeing
We celebrate World Bee Day each year on May 20th. The day raises awareness about the crucial role bees play in pollination, food security, and biodiversity. This year, we organized several programs and activities at our Mananthavady Resource Centre in Wayanad. These events highlighted the importance of bees. They also stressed the urgent need to protect these essential pollinators. Bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
Mr. Justin Baby, Mananthavady Block Panchayat President, officially inaugurated the celebrations and spoke about the importance of bees.He congratulated the Keystone Foundation for organizing this significant event and noted that Kerala may be hosting such a celebration for the first time. Mr. T.C. Jose, Chairman of the District Biodiversity Management Committee, presided over the event and highlighted the vital role bees play in pollination, especially in Wayanad, where farmers predominantly grow coffee.Additionally, Mr. P.J. Manuel, Director of the Eco-Friends Nature Study Center, praised Keystone Foundation’s efforts in raising awareness and promoting bee conservation.
As part of the event, a procession took place through Mananthavady town, involving students from Gothra Deepam Library, Keystone Foundation staff, and community resource persons. The participants marched on the streets holding placards in their hands depicting the messages of value of conserving the bees. Additionally, a flash mob was organized to captivate viewers and raise public awareness about the vital importance of bees.
Bee Day is a day to honor beekeepers and encourage global collaboration to support bee health. We acknowledge the responsibility of protecting bees for future generations and the overall health of our planet’s ecosystem by celebrating World Bee Day.
Photo credit:Ayoob A
