“We have to let the bees be bees”: How can we help Australia’s smallest livestock animal thrive in a changing world?

Three-quarters of what humans eat are dependent on the pollination of bees, including almonds, avocados, blueberries, apples and pumpkins.

Matthew Sims
August 28, 2025

Drought conditions last Spring and Summer impacted a range of agriculture producers across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. On a smaller scale, a local beekeeper says the changing climate and weather meant only two of his 16 apiaries produced honey in the 2024/25 season.

Local beekeeper Laszlo Kun, who stepped away from his day job in 2020 to launch his business, Beesfriend, told the Eastern Melburnian the stress put on bees by the drought meant the hives struggled to access extra nutrients.

Kun said the main way to protect local and global bee populations was to allow them to build their own resistance to the changing climate, as well as threats like the Varroa mite. With increasing habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, a number of species are facing the risk of extinction.

“We need a long-term game plan,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.

“We have to let the bees be bees.”

Currently, one of the pests made more virulent in warmer climates is the small hive beetle, which can disturb hives by fermenting the honey and leaving frames full of maggots.

“In cooler climates, the small hive beetle is not causing as much damage,” said Kun.

“If it’s warming up and it’s very humid, the small hive beetle population is drastically increasing.”

Platypuses have learned to adapt to climate change. Can they survive microplastics polluting their waterways?

Hair ties and fishing lines are among the items that wrap around platypuses in Victoria’s waterways.

Hotter weather raising the temperature on local bee populations

As Australia’s climate continues to change, bushfires and extreme heatwaves will become more frequent and severe, and the increasing prevalence of bushfires will also impact local wood-nesting bee populations and their habitats. The Climate Council reports the ongoing burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas as key instigators of this extreme weather.

Higher temperatures will also impact the country’s flowers, and could lead blooming seasons to occur weeks or months earlier than expected. In 2024, Victorian botanist and beekeeper Doctor Anna Carrucan told the ABC the hotter weather will “affect how well trees flower and therefore how much pollen and nectar they provide for insect foragers or even if certain plant varieties and landscapes persist.”

In the Dandenongs, there are plenty of eucalypts, but fewer than 100 koalas. What happened?

The AKF has estimated there were as few as 49,000 koalas across Australia, down from about 600,000 in the early 1900s.

Biodiversity is the key

Inverterbrates Australia managing director, Associate Professor Kate Umbers, said one to three species are becoming extinct each week because of a combination of pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, natural resource extraction and climate change .

“Almost 1000 Australian invertebrates are now at risk of extinction,” she said.

According to the Australian Native Plants Society, more than 60 species of Australian plants are believed to have become extinct – and many more are at risk.

The Commonwealth's Endangered Species Program (ESP) funds recovery projects aimed at studying and conserving threatened species and their habitats, including plants.

On a more local level, tips to protect native plants include reducing the use of harmful pesticides, volunteering for local biodiversity groups and planting native trees in your local area.