Green Southerners Warn: The Disappearance of Bees in Lebanon Threatens Nature and HumansDr. Hesham Younes: Decline of Bees in Lebanon is a Serious Environmental AlarmOver the past seven years, millions of bee colonies have vanished across various regions of the world, and Lebanon has not been spared from this loss. Reports have indicated a decline in bee populations in the country, which has negatively impacted honey production.
According to the Green South Association ("Al-Janoubiyoun Al-Khodor"), the causes are numerous. In addition to global climate change resulting from irresponsible human exploitation of the Earth’s resources, there are also local factors that have contributed to the decline of bee populations, including:
The widespread and unregulated use of pesticides and agricultural toxins, without consideration for the timing or activity of bees.Urban sprawl at the expense of green cover, particularly along coastal areas and agricultural zones made up primarily of citrus and fruit plains, regions that have traditionally provided both food and space for bees to thrive.The worsening pollution caused by random waste dumps around towns and villages, which resort to burning garbage, often including plastic materials, leading to toxic emissions.The Green South Association emphasized that the scale of the phenomenon and its consequences require a collective effort at the governmental, civil society, and individual levels. The association called on the government to adopt a policy of rationalizing and limiting pesticide use, and to reassess land classification policies, especially in forested and fruit-farming areas.
The association also proposed several steps for municipalities, civil society, and individuals to help protect bee populations, including:
Minimizing, or altogether avoiding, the spraying of pesticides on trees, plants, and in public or private gardens within towns and villages.Encouraging municipalities to plant, in public spaces, and individuals in their own gardens and yards, as many nectar-rich flowering and aromatic plants as possible that are friendly to bees.Refraining from dumping domestic, industrial, or other types of waste around towns, and avoiding burning it as a method of disposal. Instead, efforts should be made to establish recycling plants in each region.Dr. Hisham Younes, President of the Association, stated that the issue is not merely catastrophic due to the loss of a single vital species such as bees. Rather, the consequences of this phenomenon on the health of the planet and its living beings, including humans, are profound. Notably, one-third of human consumption of vegetables and fruits depends on bee pollination. Furthermore, bees play a critical role in pollinating countless species of plants and trees, which makes them essential for maintaining plant and tree cover.
The association also recalled a statement often attributed to Einstein: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would have only four years left to live.”
Biologists affirm a clear truth, there is a direct correlation between the phenomenon of bee disappearance and the worsening health of the planet.
Al JADEED TV website
05/07/2025
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