Texas Ranks 18th in New National Bee Conservation Report

TEXAS (TXAN 24) — A new national report from BestMadHoney places Texas 18th among the 50 states for bee conservation efforts, highlighting both strengths and shortcomings in the Lone Star State’s approach to supporting pollinators.

Texas scored 53.57 out of 100 in the Bee Conservation Index, with the state earning a Platinum-level sponsorship from the American Beekeeping Federation and boasting 22 Bee Campus USA affiliates. However, Texas currently has no Bee City USA affiliates, and only 1.73% of its land is used for rural and wildlife purposes — one of the lowest percentages nationwide.

Another area of concern is the colony loss rate, which stands at 61.28%, higher than the national average of 55.69%. Despite this, Texans appear highly engaged, with 66.29 bee-related searches per 100,000 people, indicating growing public interest in conservation.

Leading the national rankings were Oregon (1st), Vermont (2nd), and Washington (3rd) — states that combine high affiliate counts, robust land use for wildlife, and strong community education programs. Mississippi ranked last.

“This report highlights the crucial role local communities and institutions play in supporting pollinator health,” said Sanjay Kalfe, CEO of BestMadHoney.

As pollinators continue to face environmental stress, efforts at the state and local level may be key to reversing the trend — and Texas has room to grow.

Source: BestMadHoney