What in the World Why humans rely on bees
Mar 5, 2026
Georgina Rannard, BBC climate and science correspondent who explains environmental issues, gives a lively tour of bee biology and pollination. She outlines why wild bee declines matter for our food and what is driving those drops in Europe. There are stories from a Sierra Leone beekeeper and practical ideas for helping bees in gardens and local landscapes.
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Bees Pollinate Most Of Our Food
- Bees enable 75% of the crops humans eat by transferring pollen when they visit flowers for nectar and pollen.
- Different bee species evolved with specific plants, so bee declines directly threaten crop yields and wild plant reproduction.
Wild Bee Species Have Declined Rapidly
- Wild bee diversity has fallen sharply: one study found 25% fewer wild bee species between 2006 and 2015 versus the prior century.
- Honeybees can thrive in some regions and sometimes crowd out wild bees, worsening declines for native species.
Managed Honeybees Can Harm Wild Bees
- Honeybee management can inadvertently harm wild bee populations because thriving honeybees may outcompete native wild bees for resources.
- Conservation must consider interactions between managed and wild bee species, not just honeybee numbers.