World Bee Day – Planting Trees for Pollinators and Beekeepers

World Bee Day – Planting Trees for Pollinators and Beekeepers

The loss of forests globally is happening at an alarming rate, and Zimbabwe is no exception. This loss is occurring at a time when climate change is an undeniable reality. It calls for a shift in mindset to address the challenges we face.

Bees, other pollinators, and trees are essential partners in sustaining life. As we approach World Bee Day on 20 May, I would like to share an update on the work we have been doing here in Zimbabwe with the support of Bees for Development.

Our tree nursery in Nyazura is located in the Makoni District of Manicaland Province.

Our nursery activities include soil collection and sieving, pot filling, seed collection and storage, seed sowing and germination, watering, pricking out, weeding, root pruning, hardening off, and grading seedlings according to size, health, and root development. We also prepare seedlings for transport to planting sites. The nursery has a holding capacity of 60,000 seedlings.

Dr Robert Mutisi

We grow trees both in containers and directly in the ground. Container-grown trees are easier to handle and transport. Seedlings from seedbeds are transplanted into pots, and pricking out is carried out where multiple plants have germinated together.

Our focus is on indigenous, multipurpose tree species that benefit people, the environment, and bees. We also raise a small number of orchard, ornamental, and exotic species that are both multipurpose and bee-friendly.

We use a planting medium made from a mixture of soil, sand, and humus. To reduce costs and promote sustainability, we repurpose discarded plastic containers collected from local beerhalls, cutting each into two pots. These are durable, reusable, and contribute to waste reduction through practical reuse.

The nursery is managed by two people who work there daily, with an additional three joining when needed. The women involved are trained beekeepers who understand the value of the trees they raise and their importance to bees and the wider environment.

Different indigenous tree species ready to be planted

Vitex Payos (Chocolate Berry) plants ready for transplanting

To date, we have planted 20,000 tree seedlings grown in the nursery. We carefully match tree species to planting sites, following species–site suitability principles. For example, Syzygium cordatum (water berry) is planted in wetland areas, guided by existing indicator species to identify suitable conditions.

When seedlings are ready for transplanting, they are carefully selected, loaded onto trucks, and transported to planting sites. The nursery team ensures only high-quality seedlings are chosen, as this is critical to success. At the planting sites, seedlings are handled with care, transported using wheelbarrows, wooden trays, and buckets, and planted. Pots are then collected and reused for the next planting season.

We are pleased to share the impact this initiative is having on both bees and communities. For bees, we have diversified and expanded sources of nectar, strengthened natural habitats, and supported more resilient ecosystems. Planting bee-friendly trees and conserving forests are key beekeeping practices that contribute to climate change mitigation. These efforts also help stabilise soil, improve microclimates, and provide year-round forage.

For communities, the impact has been equally significant. People are coming together to plant and care for trees, gaining a deeper understanding of their value. The nursery provides an important source of income for women engaged in this work. Tree planting has also enabled communities to place beehives in forest areas and benefit from non-timber forest products such as herbs, edible caterpillars, wild fruits, and mushrooms—while actively protecting the forest. Encouragingly, some previously degraded areas are now beginning to regenerate.

In line with the World Bee Day theme, “Bee Together for People and the Planet – a partnership that sustains us all,” I would like to share this reflection:

“We need to seriously consider the role of the bee across ecosystems, biodiversity, and human life. Only then can we fully understand how best to protect bees and other pollinators, today, tomorrow, and into the future, from the threats they face.”

— Dr Robert Mutisi

You can support our work in Zimbabwe and around the world by making either a one off or a regular donation – just click the button below:

Dr Mutisi demonstrating how to plant with Nyazura group members