Rwanda to Celebrate World Bee Day for the First Time in Gishwati-Mukura Biosphere Reserve

By The Inspirer Reporter.

Rutsiro District, Rwanda – May 20, 2025— Rwanda will officially join the rest of the world in celebrating World Bee Day, spotlighting the vital role of bees and other pollinators in sustaining food security and biodiversity.

The national celebration will take place on to May 20, 2025 in the Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Biosphere Reserve (GMNPBR), located in the Western Province’s Rutsiro District.

Organized by the Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO (CNRU), in partnership with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO C2C Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management (CoEB), and UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa, the three-day event will serve as both a celebration and an opportunity to assess progress on sustainable beekeeping efforts.

This year’s World Bee Day theme, “Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All,” underscores the indispensable contributions of pollinators to agrifood systems, biodiversity, and the planet’s ecosystems.

Empowering Women Beekeepers through “Women for Bees” Project

At the heart of the event will be a showcase of achievements from the UNESCO-Guerlain “Women for Bees” project, which has been empowering women in the Gishwati-Mukura Biosphere Reserve since 2021. The initiative trains women in sustainable beekeeping techniques, helping them build environmentally conscious livelihoods while strengthening pollinator protection.

“This project is about more than honey,” said a representative from CNRU. “It’s about empowering local women to become stewards of biodiversity, ambassadors for sustainable development, and leaders in climate resilience.”

The women involved in the program receive technical training, knowledge exchange, and ongoing support to develop their beekeeping businesses. They also join a growing international network of women beekeepers across UNESCO’s global biosphere reserves.

Pollinators: Unsung Heroes of Food and Ecosystem Health

Bees and other pollinators are crucial to the reproduction of over 75 percent of the world’s food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Pollination not only increases crop yields but also improves the quality and diversity of food.

However, pollinators face severe threats due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and unsustainable farming practices. Their declining populations put food security, nutrition, and ecosystem health at risk.

“Bees are more than just pollinators—they are indicators of environmental health,” noted a UNESCO biodiversity expert. “Monitoring their populations gives us important insights into the state of our ecosystems and the impacts of climate change.”

A National Call to Action

Rwanda’s participation in World Bee Day signals a growing national commitment to environmental sustainability and the protection of biodiversity. The Gishwati-Mukura celebration will bring together scientists, policymakers, local communities, and international partners to exchange knowledge, promote ecological practices, and advocate for pollinator-friendly policies.

All participants’ costs for the event will be covered by the CNRU. A detailed agenda and concept note are expected to be released shortly.

As Rwanda marks its inaugural World Bee Day, the call is clear: by protecting bees and their habitats, we are investing in a healthier, more sustainable future—for people and the planet alike.