Belgium Faces Alarming Honey Bee and Wild Bee Declines Amid Rising Environmental Pressures
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Belgium has recorded a sharp rise in honey bee mortality during the winter of 2024–2025, with the capital Brussels reporting the highest losses in the country. According to new data released by Ghent University’s Honeybee Valley institute, the national average decline in honey bee colonies reached 22.5%, surpassing the expected seasonal loss of 10%.
The findings, based on a nationwide survey involving 710 beekeepers and compiled in collaboration with the COLOSS non-profit, revealed that approximately 1,679 bee colonies were lost during the winter months. Brussels—despite having the fewest colonies at the start of the season—suffered the most severe decline, with 44% of its colonies lost. East Flanders followed closely with a 35.9% loss, while Limburg recorded a 33.5% decline.
“This 23% figure is too high. While fluctuations are not unusual in recent years, this exceeds what we would consider a normal winter decline,” said Ellen Danneels from Honeybee Valley.
The contributing factors behind the continued decline in honey bee populations include the parasitic varroa mite, increasing stress from invasive Asian hornets, food scarcity, pesticide use, and modern beekeeping practices, according to researchers.
But honey bees are not alone in facing mounting ecological pressure. The first-ever ‘Red List’ of endangered wild bees in Flanders was unveiled this week, providing a comprehensive risk assessment for 340 wild bee species.
The report found that around 10% of wild bees in Flanders have entirely disappeared—showing no sign of regional populations in over a decade—while 30% are currently threatened, including 14% classified as critically endangered.
“These trends are not unique to Belgium,” said Jens D’Haeseleer, co-author of the list and researcher at Natuurpunt Studie. “In the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany, the situation is very similar. Roughly 40 to 50% of wild bee species in northwestern Europe are either gone or declining.”
D’Haeseleer warned that the decline of wild bees could have a serious impact on ecosystems and agriculture, as wild bees are among the most effective pollinators of wild plants and crops.
One major driver of wild bee habitat loss is nitrogen pollution, largely attributed to agriculture and vehicle emissions. This causes excessive vegetation growth, which reduces open soil nesting sites for many bee species. Climate change is also affecting the distribution and survival of wild bee populations, with some species disappearing and others migrating, potentially disrupting pollination systems.
Despite the troubling statistics, D’Haeseleer remains cautiously optimistic. “There’s still hope,” he said. “Each species has its own story—it’s not just one big sad story. We can still make a difference.”
He urged Belgian authorities to take the first step by legally protecting the most threatened species and called on the public to support conservation efforts by cultivating bee-friendly gardens. “These bees don’t see borders,” he said, highlighting the need for coordinated action across Europe.
The Flemish Red List was compiled through the joint efforts of Natuurpunt Studie, Aculea, the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
