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3 Things to Know About Urban Beekeeping

Plant biodiversity begets bee biodiversity.
Photo: Jacky Parker

The buzz on how to boost bee biodiversity

By Bridget Reed Morawski
Architectural Digest
July 24, 2022

Excerpt:

If you looked around your neighborhood this year and wondered where all the bees went, you’re probably not alone. Researchers conducting a recent review of biodiversity records found that nearly a quarter of all known bee species haven’t been seen in decades, raising concern (but not concrete proof) that bee biodiversity is shrinking.

Why does that matter? Wild bees help pollinate the vast majority of the plants that we use for food, helping to fill a crucial role in their own local ecosystems. Some species will only pollinate one or two “very specific plants” or categories of crops, meaning the plants might not reproduce without their designated bee buddies, according to Eve Bratman, a sustainable development professor at Franklin & Marshall College with a focus on pollinators.

Read the complete article here.