World Bee Day - 20 May 

World Bee Day is observed on 20 May each year to draw attention to the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. It provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, civil society and concerned citizens everywhere to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping. 

World Bee Day shines a light on the habitat of pollinators to improve the conditions for their survival so that bees and other pollinators may thrive.

The date was chosen as it was the day Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture, was born. Janša came from a family of beekeepers in Slovenia, where beekeeping is an important agricultural activity with a long-standing tradition.

We have been celebrating this day since 2018, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Slovenia and FAO, with the support of Apimondia, that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day!

The theme for 2025 Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all underscores the critical roles of bees and other pollinators in agrifood systems and the health of our planet’s ecosystems.

From bees and butterflies to birds and bats, pollinators are the lifeline of agrifood systems, ensuring the reproduction of crops and wild plants alike. They are essential to the production of over 75 percent of crops globally, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. In fact, pollination increases not only the quantity, but also the quality and diversity of our food. Nature provides us with a remarkable blueprint for sustainability, and nowhere is this more evident than in the delicate balance between pollinators and their ecosystems. Bees are more than just pollinators – they are indicators of environmental health. Their behaviour and population trends offer insights into the climate and ecosystems.

Province of British Columbia Proclamation