By Bakah Derick
Environmentalists in the North West part of Cameroon have made a fervent call for the protection of bees as the World observes the international day this May 20, 2022.
Speaking to www.hilltopvoices.com, Wirsiy Emmanuel Binyuy Environmentalist, Apiculture and Nature Conservation Campaigner was categorical that "without bees, we will have no food and honey." The Director of Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) stated that bees play a vital role in the food production process.
"Bees contribute to 85% of food we eat. They are responsible for biodiversity." He said
Corroborating in an earlier conversation we had, Kari Jackson Environmentalist and Director of Sustainable Run for Development (SURUDEV) explained that the food ecosystem cannot be anything without bees. As pollinators of over half of the food eaten by humans, Kari believes that bees are highly in need to continue the food production process and also to respond to the needs of all particularly at a time when the demand for honey is on the rise.
With deforestation and excessive use of pesticides, Wirsiy Emmanuel has appealed for the protection of the bee.
"Please let us protect them and use it's products like honey and honey products to create jobs and income to improve community livelihood. Bees have much to offer us and let us product bees and give them a chance to improve on our livelihood." Wirsiy Emmanuel appeals
The Director of CAMGEW has been using part of his environmental education program for children to educate them on the importance of bees. During the program, "the children were shown some of the products of honey like wax, soap, vaseline, Power detergent and body lotion." He told www.hilltopvoices.com on World Earth Day 2022.
With a shop selling natural honey supplied by rural farmers from in and around the protected Kilum-Ijim forest area, Wirsiy Emmanuel says his organisation has spent time and resources to carryout anti bushfire campaigns in an effort to protect the "precious insect."
This year's World Bee Day being the 5th edition, is observed with the theme "Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems".
According to the the United Nations, World Bee Day 2022 "focus attention on the role of different local bees and beekeeping systems in improving food security and livelihoods, by providing a range of products and ecosystem services, and what governments, agrifood systems actors and the public can do to protect them."
Declared World Bee Day by the UN general assembly in 2017, and first edition observed in 2018, May 20 was chosen as the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture.
