By UKOM
In two weeks’ time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fourth time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017 as the result of cooperation between the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association as the initiator, the Republic of Slovenia and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and as the result of the widespread European and wider international support of countries and organisations, including Apimondia (International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations).
The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in the light of food security, the global elimination of hunger, and care for the environment and biodiversity.
The proclamation of World Bee Day is an achievement of Slovenia as a whole, of several governmental and non-governmental institutions and diplomacy. It is closely related to the fact that countries of the world have a uniform opinion on the topic of bees. This topic addresses and proposes solutions for the biggest global issues, such as ensuring food security for the world’s population, which is at further risk due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
With this year’s World Bee Day, we once again wish to draw attention of the general public to the fact that bees are extremely important for our survival on this planet and that they are critically endangered in many countries and regions because of a variety of reasons (in particular due to climate change). Bees need clean air, clean water and a clean environment in a broader sense. If we preserve the environment to such an extent that the bees will find it easier to survive, then people will also live in a nicer and healthier environment. But most importantly, we must all become aware that the role of every individual is crucial for the conservation of bees and other pollinators.
The main international event on the occasion of World Bee Day will be organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and will again be held virtually. Minister Jože Podgoršek will attend the event at the invitation of FAO’s Director-General, Mr Qu Dongyu. The participation of distinguished international guests – apart from FAO’s Director-General – is also anticipated: Chinese Minister of Agriculture, Mr Tang Renjian, German Federal Minister of Agriculture, Ms Julia Klöckner, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ms Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, and various experts on bees and wild pollinators from across the globe. The main topic of this year’s celebration is Bee Engaged: Building Back Better for Bees.
In addition to the main celebration, numerous events will be held all over the world. They will be organised by Slovenian diplomatic and consular representations with the participation of representatives of Slovenian governmental and non-governmental institutions. Minister Podgoršek will address the participants in the panel, stressing the importance of pollinators for ensuring food supply at the global level. The panel will be organised by the Slovenian Embassy in Washington and the regional FAO office.
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