A common question we get at Alvéole is: how does an urban beekeeping program benefit the environment? We love this question because it shows a property team’s dedication to environmental sustainability and because the answer is that it benefits the environment in many different ways. In fact, there are many benefits to introducing urban beehives into the urban environment.
Here are the top environmental benefits of bringing a nature-based, responsible urban beekeeping program to your building.
SPREADING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
We’ve seen it time and time again: once someone falls in love with urban bees, 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 food systems, the immense environmental challenges they face, and things individuals and organizations can do to support them.
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. City dwellers, who may not have grown up keeping bees, often gain a deeper appreciation for nature through these experiences.
Read: 7 things you can do to help bees and all pollinators
SUPPORTING HABITAT FOR WILD BEES
Honeybees have a habit of hogging 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 and loss of green spaces in cities. 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
GROWING MORE FOOD FOR ALL POLLINATORS
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 have shown that community gardens and rooftop gardens can support up to 10 times more bee species than nearby 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 hive placement and thoughtful plant choices can make a real difference.
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.
CONTRIBUTING DATA TO POLLINATOR PROTECTION RESEARCH
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. 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 pollinator health and protection. It’s just one more way that urban beekeeping benefits both local ecosystems and the broader scientific community.
