How Important is a Bee?

How important is a Bee?
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How important is a Bee?
Krulwich (2013) writes a thought-provoking and hilarious article about bees. The author examines the perspectives of biologists and economics on the value of bees and other species. This paper explains the issues and conclusions of the author and answers two questions relating to the article.
The article begins with the story of bees failing to show up for annual pollination in the apple-growing Maoxian County in Central China. The farmers resorted to human pollinators to spread pollen. The author contrasts the reactions of biologists and economists to the action of using human labor for pollination. While biologists considered it a negative consequence of failing to protect the bees, economists found out that it did not hurt the production of apple. That farmers were better off with human pollinators than with bees.
From an economic perspective, the action results in employment and improved purchasing power. The Maoxian case makes it possible to imagine a world without bees. What other species can humans live without? However, the ecosystem services of species are immeasurable. It is impossible to tell the value the species will have for future generations. The efforts of conservation groups in the last six decades have not borne fruits given that species keep declining. With the population of humans soaring at the rate of 1 billion every 13 years, there is a need for a change in approach to perhaps a “people-friendly” one. The shift in conversations among conservation groups is essential to finding a way forward.
The pollination done by bees is an example of ecosystem services or environmental e...