The Bee Projects

In the spirit of ecological restoration, The Bee Projects recognize the natural contribution honeybees make to planetary and human wellbeing. On these pages, we examine the global consequences of their declining population and take an indepth look at one of the most advanced species on Earth. We also promote forward thinking solutions and urge farmers and urban dwellers to be involved and make a difference.

What Honeybees Are Telling Us

It’s not the strongest of us that survive. It’s the one that’s willing to evolve and adapt.
Charles Darwin, Naturalist, 1809-1885

I have a fascination with the work of cartoonist Gary Larsen. I probably relate to his humor because as a kid, I believed that all beings -- from whales to guppies, worms or wolves, even the birds and the bees -- at the end of their ‘working’ day would swim, crawl, run or fly home. Once there, they would communicate with their partners, offspring, even neighbours, living much like humans experiencing the good and the bad of it all.

The Intricate World of Pollination

Louie Schwartzberg's film “Wings of Life,” was inspired by the vanishing of one of Nature’s primary pollinators, the honeybee. This award-winning cinematographer captures breathtaking images that celebrate life, interdependency, universal rhythms and sheer beauty.

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Humanity's Garden

One hundred million years ago, during what geologists call the Cretaceous period, the face of our planet was reshaping itself, yet again. The supercontinent Pangaea had broken up into the land formations we are familiar with today. But it would take another 40 million years for the continents to make the journey to where they are currently anchored.

The land mass we now call South America was an island, slowly drifting westward. Africa was in pieces. India and Madagascar were island neighbours while much of Europe was still a series of small islands. Down under, Australia’s land mass was attached to Antarctica. And while the southern polar cap had just about settled into its current position, the temperature was a balmy 10◦C/50◦F, instead of the coldest spot on Earth.

A Taste of Honey

Honeybees have been revered by humans throughout time. A 15,000 year old rock painting in a cave in Valencia, Spain tells the story of a hunter collecting honey from a wild nest.

The Altruistic Gene

The mark of a sophisticated society is one which encourages natural evolution. It encompasses the ability to communicate effectively with all who share the same environment while synchronizing behaviour to enable a safe and productive atmosphere in which the essentials of life – food, shelter and the ability to procreate - are all assured. Some social species like Homo sapiens do, at times, exhibit signs of such civility.

The Domino Effect

Today half of the world's population of honeybees have disappeared. Not only are the honeybees vanishing, but the entire interdependent chain that links animal to plant life is being disrupted. As honeybees disappear, so do many naturally grown fruits and vegetables. A sad day indeed for humans. But aside from the food they pollinate, they are also integral to the reproduction of many plants and flowers that benefit other species.

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