International Bee Rotary Fellowship

Bees are more than just insects – they are a key part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival. These small, social wonders are responsible for pollinating more than 75 per cent of the crops that feed the world, making them essential to global food systems, biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

But bees are under threat. Habitat loss, pesticide use, disease and climate change are all contributing to dramatic declines in pollinator populations across the globe.

Recognising the critical importance of bees to both people and planet, Rotary launched the International Bee Rotary Fellowship in 2020. This global fellowship brings together Rotarians who are passionate about protecting bees and raising awareness of their vital ecological role. From backyard beekeepers to biodiversity advocates, members of the fellowship unite under a shared mission: to educate, advocate and take action for pollinator health.

The fellowship offers Rotarians a way to act locally while thinking globally. By supporting pollinators, members contribute to food security, environmental resilience and the health of future generations.”

The initiative is grounded in Rotary’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability. As bees face increasing pressures, the consequences of inaction are stark. A world without bees would face widespread disruption to food production, severe declines in biodiversity and irreversible damage to ecosystems. The Bee Fellowship offers a platform to spotlight these concerns and mobilise meaningful community-based efforts.

One of the fellowship’s key allies is the Rotary Pollinator Task Force, which focuses on community-driven strategies to improve pollinator health. These include planting pollinator-friendly gardens, advocating for pesticide-free zones, promoting native flora and delivering education programs in schools and local communities.

The fellowship also highlights the often-overlooked intelligence and social complexity of bees. Within a hive, each bee plays a unique role – whether foraging for nectar, caring for young or defending the colony. Their famed ‘waggle dance’ is a remarkable form of communication used to direct others to food sources and is just one example of their highly developed teamwork.

Complementing these efforts is Rotarians for Bees, an Australian-based initiative established under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Canterbury, Vic. This group of concerned Rotarians focuses on reversing the dangerous decline in bee and pollinator populations worldwide. Their mission is to build awareness among Rotary’s 1.2 million members and encourage action to support pollinators and their role in agriculture and horticulture.

Both native bees and introduced honey (Italian) bees give so much to humans,” says Rotarians for Bees Chair PDG Jeremy Wright AM. “We have to protect them or we threaten our own long-term survival.”

The International Bee Rotary Fellowship and Rotarians for Bees offer Rotarians a way to act locally while thinking globally. By supporting pollinators, members contribute to food security, environmental resilience and the health of future generations.

As Rotary expands its focus on the environment, initiatives like the Bee Fellowship demonstrate how small creatures can have a mighty impact – and how Rotarians, through service and fellowship, can help protect them.

For more information, visit facebook.com/InternationalBeeRotaryFellowship