"For most of the past century, honeybees were a rarity in urban settings. But urban beekeeping has been on the rise over the past two decades, with consequences we’re only just beginning to understand.
In 2006, honeybees began dying in large numbers because of a mysterious illness that became known as colony collapse disorder. Many people rallied to help; countless cities, including New York, Minneapolis, Denver and Los Angeles, legalized urban beekeeping. Urban hives sprung up in backyards, on balconies and on office rooftops. Notre Dame cathedral, Madison Square Garden and Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco all have their own hives.
The honeybees came in, and native pollinators started disappearing. Now even some urban beekeepers are sounding the alarm. Urban environments have a surprising number of flowering plants — but not enough for a hive on every corner."
Source : By Tove Danovich, April 13, 2023
(Tove Danovich is a writer in Portland, Ore., and the author of “Under the Henfluence: Inside the World of Backyard Chickens and the People Who Love Them.”)
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