Friday
Oct312014
U.S. Government Sued By Activists Seeking Endangered Status of Bees Vital To Pollinating Staple Crops
October 31, 2014 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis 
Rusty patch bumble bee. Photo by Headline & Global News.
While most people don’t give much thought, if any, to how important bees are to our lives by pollinating some of our most basic fruits, vegetables, and grains. Activists are taking notice and making efforts to stop their declining numbers in the wild from threats including habitat destruction, pesticides, and pathogens.
To really understand the important role of bees, Achim Steiner, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, says of “the crop species that provide 90 percent of the world’s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.”