Billion Bees Program

BILLION BEES PROGRAM

The Billion Bees Program, of which LPN is a partner, is a project developed as part of the collaboration between APIVITA and 1% for the Planet dedicated to the regeneration of honey bee populations.

Implemented in several countries, including Portugal, the Billion Bees Program ensures the regeneration of one billion bees a year as well as raising awareness of the importance of bees for life and biodiversity!

The European honeybee, scientifically known as Apis mellifera but commonly referred to as the honey bee, stands out as a preeminent figure within the extensive network of pollinators.

This diverse group comprises insects, birds, mammals, and various other species, all of which play an indispensable role in facilitating pollination — a fundamental ecological process essential for the proliferation and sustenance of numerous plant species. Whether in natural ecosystems or human-managed environments like agricultural and horticultural settings, pollination serves as the cornerstone of plant reproduction and vitality.

Small in size, but huge in importance, pollinators are vital to the balance of ecosystems and are the basis of various services they provide us.

Portugal has over 2OOO species of pollinating insects contributing to its biodiversity. Among these, bees are prominent, with over 7OO species documented, alongside 2OO species of flower flies, over 14O species of butterflies, and many other pollinating insects, totaling more than 1OOO species.

Through their diligent foraging expeditions among flowers, pollinators like the honey bee not only aid in the fertilization and fruiting of plants but also contribute significantly to the preservation of genetic diversity within plant populations.

This diversity is paramount for bolstering resilience in the face of multifaceted challenges, including but not limited to the impacts of climate change and other environmental stressors. Thus, the intricate partnership between pollinators and plants not only ensures the continuity of floral abundance but also fortifies ecosystems against unforeseen threats, ultimately safeguarding the interconnected web of life upon which we all depend.

However, pollinators are threatened and in decline - without them, ecosystems will collapse, many of our economic activities will decline and society will not be the same.

In addition to the loss of biodiversity and what this means for the balance of ecosystems, the disappearance of pollinators will have serious socio-economic consequences:

• 8O% of the food we eat depends on pollination by bees,
• 8O% of the European Union's (EU) crop and wildflower fields depend on insects for their pollination, and around 15 billion of the EU's annual income from agriculture depends on the action of pollinating insects.

A decrease in the number or diversity of pollinator populations also has an impact on food security, particularly through a drop in the yield of some agricultural pastures.

This snapshot of Portugal's pollination landscape underscores the critical role of pollinators, particularly honey bees, in supporting biodiversity and agricultural productivity. As the nation addresses environmental challenges and strives for sustainability in the agriculture sector, the resilience and diversity of its pollinator populations remain essential focal points for conservation efforts.

As part of APIVITA's Billion Bees Program in Portugal, LPN will unite various aspects, using its experience in nature conservation, environmental education and the promotion of active citizenship. LPN will organize environmental education activities for elementary school, promote awareness-raising and training actions on the subject and install beehives in nature.