Protecting Australia’s Bees: Our Promise to Give Back

At Hive & Harmony, our name reflects not just our craftsmanship, but our deep respect for balance—between people, nature and enterprise. Bees are at the heart of that balance. They pollinate nearly one-third of the food we eat, sustain native ecosystems, and symbolise the very harmony we strive to create. Yet across Australia and around the world, bee populations are facing unprecedented challenges.

The Challenges Facing Australia’s Bees

In recent years Australia’s bee colonies have endured a perfect storm of pressures:

Habitat loss & changing foraging landscapes — Urban expansion, land clearing and loss of native flowering plants reduce the diversity of forage and nesting sites bees depend on.

Climate change — Shifting bloom seasons, more frequent droughts and heatwaves have made foraging more difficult, and stressed bee populations.

Biosecurity threats & pests — Australia has been alerted to the risk of exotic pests such as Varroa destructor mites, which pose a major threat to honey bees if they become established. Also, established pests and diseases continue to challenge beekeepers and wild pollinators alike.

Native bee vulnerability — Australia has over 1,700 native bee species, many of which are solitary or highly specialised in their flora needs. They are particularly vulnerable when native plants disappear or invasive species dominate.

Interaction between managed honey bees and wild pollinators — High densities of managed honey bees can out-compete or interfere with native bee species, particularly in urban or patchy habitats; experts recommend balanced approaches to all pollinators.

Policy, awareness & community connection — While much has been achieved, the scale of change needed in plantings, pesticide use, land management and citizen awareness remains large.

The Heroes of Australian Bee Conservation

Here is a look at the leading Australian organisations and programs committed to conserving bees and building pollinator-resilient landscapes:

The Wheen Bee Foundation — A national registered charity funding bee-health research, public education and major initiatives such as the Australian Pollination Strategy.
Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA) — A national membership body promoting conservation and sustainable management of Australia’s native bees through branches, workshops and resources.

Aussie Bee / Australian Native Bee Research Centre — Established in 1997, this long-running hub provides accessible information on native bee species and practical guidance for gardeners, landholders and communities.
Save the Bees Australia — A social-enterprise style initiative promoting community education, habitat restoration and advocacy around pesticide reform and native bee protection.

Save Our Bees Australia — A locally rooted organisation providing swarm rescue, awareness and education focused around Sydney and nationally.

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) — The national peak body for the honey-bee industry, coordinating biosecurity, policy response and industry programmes such as the Bee Pest Blitz.

Plant Health Australia (PHA) via its BeeAware program — The BeeAware website is a key national hub for honey-bee biosecurity and pollination services information

AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program — Funds research, development and extension across the pollination space, increasing resilience of both managed and wild pollinators.

Billion Bees — A community-driven initiative working to repopulate and conserve stingless native bees, including habitat restoration after bushfires.

University of Sydney BEE Lab — A prominent research group advancing bee genetics, ecology and conservation with national reach and impact.

Their work is critical — and it deserves more than applause; it deserves support.

Our Commitment: 10% for the Bees

That’s why, as part of our mission to build a business of Harmony, we are committed to demonstrating leadership through action, and announce as an ongoing commitment to this cause, Hive & Harmony will dedicate 10% of our profits to organisations protecting and conserving Australian bees.

Our success is only meaningful when it contributes to something larger—-to the buzzing hum that keeps life on Earth in motion. Each product we create and every customer who supports us, helps sustain this mission. Together, we can transform commercial success into environmental stewardship.

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