A question we often hear at Alvéole is: how does an urban beekeeping program support the environment? We love this question. It reflects a property team’s commitment to environmental sustainability and opens the door to meaningful conversation, because the answer is multifaceted. From education to data collection, urban beehives bring measurable environmental benefits to urban areas, especially in many cities where green space is limited.
Here are four key ways an urban beekeeping program supports environmental goals.
Fostering environmental awareness through education
We’ve seen it time and time again: once someone falls in love with urban bees, whether they are new beekeepers or experienced other beekeepers, they feel the need to protect them. Urban beekeepers know that bees tend to be misunderstood creatures (see why their stingers are nothing to be afraid of), so environmental education is a key part of any urban apiculture initiative.
Through workshops, beekeeper visits, and educational materials, participants soak up information about honey bee colonies, the natural process of pollination, the essential role they play in local agriculture and local food systems, the immense environmental challenges they face (including threats like colony collapse disorder and increased pesticide use) and things individuals and organizations can do to support bee health.
This awareness is especially critical when you consider that bee populations are responsible for over 75% of leading global crop production. Without them, much of the food we enjoy and depend on would disappear. Urban dwellers, many of whom may not have grown up near farms or kept bees as a hobby beekeeping activity in rural areas or the country, often gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world through these experiences. These programs also provide positive mental health benefits by connecting residents with nature.
Read: 7 things you can do to help bees and all pollinators
Creating habitat for wild bees and other pollinators
Honeybees and urban beehives often hog the attention, but a responsible urban beekeeping program should also take action to support wild bees. Wild bees are just as essential for pollination, and in some cases, even more so.
One mason bee, for instance, can pollinate up to 2,000 flowers in a single day, making them 80 to 100 times more efficient than honey bees colonies.
Because these bees are undomesticated and rely on plant materials to make their nests, they are heavily impacted by human activity, more pesticides, and loss of green spaces like city parks.
Installing a BeeHome (part of Alvéole’s urban beekeeping programs) is one way to give wild bees a boost. Made up of hollow wooden tubes, these structures offer wild bees a safe place to nest and lay their eggs, supporting native species and encouraging biodiversity in urban settings.
Read: How you can support wild bees by installing a BeeHome on your property
Increasing food sources for urban bees (so bees thrive!)
One of the most direct ways to support pollinators is to plant more flowers, and the impact of doing so in urban environments is profound. Studies in recent years have shown that community gardens and rooftop gardens can support up to 10 times more bee species than nearby city parks, thanks to greater plant diversity and better seasonal food availability.
When you partner with Alvéole, you also have the option to have us work with your landscaping team to provide consultation on the best native and bee-friendly flowers to grow on your property. Proper beehive placement and thoughtful plant choices can help bees thrive in an environment often challenged by pesticides.
Alternatively, you can take the hands-off route and cultivate a bee-friendly urban garden, installed and maintained by one of our expert urban farming partners. This creates a healthier environment for pollinators and results in more honey production from your urban beehives, benefitting both the ecosystem and your property.
Contributing to pollinator research and environmental data
A honey bee colony holds a massive amount of environmental data, data that can be used by researchers to make a difference on a global scale. For example, understanding how honey is made provides insight into bee behavior and biodiversity. At Alvéole, we work with a team of research scientists to analyze the environmental DNA (eDNA) found in our clients’ honey.
This provides key information about the quality and diversity of pollinator food resources in the city environment. This data is confidentially shared with a global network of scientists to support research on bee health, colony collapse disorder, and the impact of pesticide use. It’s just one more way that urban beekeeping benefits both local ecosystems and the broader scientific community, helping to protect the future of pollinators around the world.
