SAVE THE BEES

Help us protect the precious keystone species responsible for pollinating 1 in 3 bites of food and 80% of the world’s flowering plants.

ADVANCING FOOD SECURITY

We support urban farmers and gardeners who grow produce for food insecure communities by providing training, supplies, and pollinator habitat.

EDUCATION

We believe education is a pathway to community and ecological resilience. Through training programs, events, and classroom tools, we support a growing community of educational stewards dedicated to saving the bees.

BEE HABITAT AND POLLINATOR CORRIDORS

Habitat loss is a major threat to countless bees and pollinators. We collaborate with community, municipal, and corporate partners to  reimagine urban, underserved, and industrial landscapes as safe pollinator havens.

BEE GARDENS AT THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

We have partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to install native pollinator gardens at several key sites. Learn about the mindset shift, maintenance practices, and spaces that are part of this groundbreaking collaboration.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS

Learn more about bee life and ways you can help Save the Bees. Join us for free pollinator walks, “Hive Dives,” habitat tours and more during our in-person and online events.

CROWDFUNDING TO SAVE THE BEES

Show your support by engaging your network of friends, family, and like-minded and professional communities with our peer-2-peer online fundraising platform.

Protecting Bees, Building Habitat, and Strengthening Communities Together

A Community-Driven Approach to Pollinator Conservation

Bees lie at the heart of our survival. They pollinate 1 in 3 bites of food we eat and 80% of the world’s flowering plants. These precious pollinators are essential to the health and prosperity of countless ecosystems.

However, bees are in peril. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than half of North America’s 4,000 native bee species are in decline, with 1 in 4 species at risk of extinction. This is due to a range of factors including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and pests and disease.

For more than 10 years, The Bee Conservancy has partnered with community groups, schools, foundations, and corporate teams to inspire environmental stewardship, build and distribute bee habitats, and empower people from all walks of life to become advocates in their communities. Our programs reach thousands of people across the country each year and promote environmental equity and a more inclusive and diverse sustainability movement.

4000

Bee Species on Planet Earth

And only about 8 of them are honey bees! About 70% of bees live underground, while the remainder live in cavities and holes.

1 in 4

Species Are at Risk of Extinction

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than half of North America’s 4,000 native bee species are in decline, with 1 in 4 species at risk of extinction.

1 in 3

Bites of Food Pollinated by Bees

Bees are an essential part of our agriculture, pollinating many fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Their health directly impacts food security.

 

Creating Habitat for Bees and Pollinators

Land development, pesticide use, and the prevalence of invasive, non-native, and genetically modified plants are just some of the factors that degrade food and shelter for bees.

Our habitat development work focuses on creating perennial, pollinator-friendly, native plant gardens in a range of urban and industrial landscapes. This vital work not only provides essential food, shelter, and nesting sites for bees, but also bolsters biodiversity, transforms land management practices, and arms growers with sustainable strategies.

The 9-11 Memorial Garden at Port Newark, with steel from the World Trade Center. Planted with perennial natives.

Bee-lieve in the Power of Bees

Though World Bee Day is officially May 20, The Bee Conservancy celebrates these precious pollinators every day.

Peek inside our annual festival at our Bee Sanctuary on Governors Island (NYC) to learn about the diversity of bees and their impact on our lives and ecosystems.

Solitary Native Bee stanced on the side of a tree