Supporting Causes That Matter: eLI Visits The Bee Camp
September 19 was a big day within the eLearning Business calendar. As a part of our firm’s company social accountability (CSR) program and in anticipation of eLI Day 2025, all of us gathered for a particular trigger. This 12 months’s eLI Day not solely marks the fortunate thirteenth anniversary of eLearning Business but additionally represents one other 12 months of collective efforts to keep up productiveness, camaraderie, and social accountability.
For these causes and extra, we spent a morning with The Bee Camp, the primary nonprofit group in Greece created to guard and lift consciousness about bees and different city pollinators. Their imaginative and prescient is to assist remodel cities right into a greener, blooming haven that’s welcoming to our hard-working pals. And contemplating that eLI’s mascot is the bee, we discovered this trigger very near our hearts.
Learn on to find extra about The Bee Camp, our day with them, and the way we will make our cities a greater place for treasured pollinators comparable to bees.
Why Are Bees So Vital?
Aside from being our firm’s emblem, there are various extra causes that make bees so vital. However earlier than we get into that, let’s outline what we imply after we confer with “bees.” Most individuals affiliate this time period with the honeybee, the acquainted black-and-yellow bee that produces honey. Nonetheless, there are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide, with about 1150 present in Greece alone. The honeybee is likely one of the few bee species that dwell in social hives, as virtually 90% of bee species lead solitary lives, establishing their very own nests.
Whether or not they dwell alone or in colonies, all bee species are important for our planet, as they carry out the invaluable activity of pollination. Pollination is the method of transferring pollen from the anther (male a part of the flower) to the stigma (feminine a part of a flower) of a plant of the identical species, permitting the fertilization and replica of the plant. We are able to attribute as a lot as one-third of all of the world’s meals and three-fourths of flowering vegetation to this course of, which bees and different animals carry out instinctively.
The increasing city atmosphere, the usage of pesticides, local weather change, and the prevalence of monocultured crops are only some of the dangers bees and different pollinators face each day. These challenges threaten the survival of many bee species, notably wild species that do not dwell in honeybee colonies. The extinction of bees may trigger a catastrophic chain response, resulting in meals insecurity, ecosystem collapse, and vital financial penalties.
What Does The Bee Camp Do?
These causes and plenty of extra pushed Aggelina Kanellopoulou to discovered The Bee Camp again in 2018. The crew consists of six younger girls with numerous backgrounds, united by their want to make a distinction by making cities greener and extra bee-friendly. They obtain this via workshops, academic actions, and consciousness campaigns for youngsters and adults, in addition to conservation and greening actions. Considered one of their initiatives consists of bee spots, transportable protected havens for bees and different pollinators that include easy-to-grow, pollinator-friendly vegetation. These bee spots join city inexperienced areas to create a “bee path” throughout Athens, providing water, meals, and shelter to those fragile animals.
Our Go to
On the sunny morning of September 19, the eLI crew was welcomed at Papagou Park by Anthi and Lilian from The Bee Camp. We began our dialog by defining what makes a bee, realizing that there are various extra species than the frequent honeybee and plenty of extra visible kinds aside from the standard black and yellow. As soon as we began speaking in regards to the societies that bees type and the way they succeed of their survival, it was simple to know simply how a lot we will study from them. Bees are a superb instance of what teamwork and collaboration can obtain, making the world a greater place one flight at a time.
Most significantly, we realized how we can assist them proceed their work by making their atmosphere a bit greener. We made “seed bombs,” enclosing fast-growing seeds in pure clay, to plant in our gardens and balconies or just place in empty tons in our neighborhoods. When these seeds develop, they’ll add to the inexperienced areas within the metropolis, changing into a supply of pollen and nectar and making the brutal city atmosphere a friendlier place. Up to now, The Bee Camp has created and unfold over 41,000 seed bombs.
The Bee Camp: “Seed bombs” within the making
4 Methods To Promote Bee-Pleasant Cities
Make It Inexperienced
Simply as we did throughout our go to with The Bee Camp, you can also take measures to make the world a greener place. Plant flowers in your balcony, roof, backyard, and empty tons that will exist in your neighborhood. Select vegetation that can bloom early within the spring and all via the summer time, to extend meals sources for bees. When you’ve got a garden, strive mowing much less regularly to permit grass and windflowers to develop, offering variety and nesting choices.
Create Houses For Bees
Bees, particularly these main solitary lives, usually wrestle to seek out shelter within the metropolis. Leaving just a few lower logs in your backyard, useless stems, and undisturbed floor are all nice nesting choices for bees. If this is not an possibility, you’ll be able to set up small “bee homes” in your balcony, which can supply bees a much-needed break, shelter, and drink of water as they make their means across the metropolis.
Keep Away From Pesticides
If you’re rising meals or vegetation in your backyard or balcony, be certain that to not use artificial pesticides and herbicides. Not solely will they depart residue on the fruit and greens you devour, however they may also severely harm bee populations. It’s potential to create a sustainable and balanced plant ecosystem by utilizing pure fertilizers and using companion planting.
Educate Your self And Unfold The Phrase
The survival of bees relies on us gathering information and sharing it with the world. Discover which species are present in your space, how they dwell, and which vegetation could be extra helpful to them. This information is well accessible via scientific papers, workshops, webinars, and organizations comparable to The Bee Camp. Then, unfold the phrase inside your group to inspire extra folks to plant flowers and create nesting areas for bees.
The eLI Crew
Conclusion
As one other eLI Day is coming to an finish, we keep dedicated to our values of studying extra about the best way to assist the group and make the world a greater place. Our social accountability exercise with The Bee Camp reminded us that each motion, regardless of how small, could make an excellent affect in our world. The bee, a seemingly small and insignificant member of our planet, holds unimaginable energy, and its extinction would have dire penalties.
If you wish to know extra in regards to the significance of pollination and supporting the bee inhabitants, be certain that to verify The Bee Camp web site and support their cause by making a donation or spreading consciousness.
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