May 20: World Bee Day

Every year May 20 is being celebrated as World Bee Day by the United Nations. The official celebrations began in 2018.

Highlights

• The World Bee Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Slovenian apiculture pioneer Anton Jansa. 
• This year, the World Bee Day is celebrated under the theme.
• Theme: Save the Bees
• The day is being celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, bats.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity focuses on conserving these pollinators as well. 
• In 2000, the International Pollinator Initiative was launched at the COP (Conference of Parties) V. 
• The initiative focuses on the sustainability of pollinators in agriculture.

Significance

• Bees are the greatest pollinators. 
• They are under great threats currently due to habitat loss, parasites, diseases and agricultural pesticides. 
• According to United Nations, around 35% of world agriculture still depend on pollinators.

International Pollinator Initiative

• The International Pollinator Initiative mainly aims to promote coordinated world wide action. 
• It was launched under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 
• The initiative is to run till 2030. India is also a part of the initiative.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity is a multilateral treaty. 
• It was opened at the Earth Summit that was held in Rio de Janerio in 1992.