World Bee Day 2025 - New York Observance

World Bee Day 2025 Observance in New York

Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 1.30 – 2.45 p.m. EDT

Venue: UN Garden, Beekeeping corner

 

World Bee Day offers a unique opportunity to highlight the critical role that bees and other pollinators play in our planet's ecosystems, sustainable agrifood systems, as well as global food security and nutrition, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.

Held at the UN Garden’s Beekeeping Corner, this event will acknowledge the tireless work of over 20 000 bee species and a wide array of wild pollinators — including butterflies, birds, bats, and lesser-known species —whose efforts are essential to the production of over 75 percent of crops globally (including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds) making them the lifeline of agrifood systems.

These unsung heroes are responsible for pollinating 87 of the world’s 115 leading food crops, underscoring their indispensable contribution to agriculture and nutrition. In fact, pollination increases not only the quantity, but also the quality and diversity of our food. Beyond food production, pollinators also serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health, with their behavior and population trends offering insights into the climate and ecosystems.

The event will bring together Member States, UN organizations, and civil society to raise awareness about the importance of protecting pollinators and their habitats. With support from the Bee Conservancy, and through interactive stations, expert insights, and a visit to the beekeeping corner, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the relationships that sustain life on Earth.

Following three years of efforts at the international level, the UN Member States upon initiative of Slovenia unanimously approved a UN General Assembly resolution, proclaiming 20 May as World Bee Day back in 2017. The World Bee Day raises awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.

On the occasion of the 8th World Bee Day, the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations and the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York invite you to celebrate these hard-working pollinators and the local communities behind them with us at the UN Garden!