The Environmental Impact of Beekeeping

Christopher “Chris” Babcock, MD, DMD, specializes in oral and maxillofacial procedures including dental implants other oral surgeries. Outside his work in the dental field, Dr. Christopher C. Babcock raises horses and bees at his home in Louisville, Kentucky.

Over the past 100 years, the use of pesticides and the decimation of some flower species have caused the bee population to steadily decline. To combat this trend, many gardeners have taken on small-scale beekeeping. Maintaining a hive has considerable benefits for the local environment. For example, bees are highly-effective at pollinating fruit-bearing plants and contributing to a larger crop harvest.

Further, bees ensure the propagation of indigenous wildflowers and plants, which supports biodiversity. This helps preserve the local ecosystem, as animals and insects that rely on consuming bees and the plants they pollinate for sustenance will have enough to eat. Since preserving the natural ecosystem also maintains a balance between prey and predators, bees can indirectly keep the population of common garden pests under control and eliminate or reduce the need for harsh pesticides.