Well-informed future generation as a factor to control the global pollinators’ decline - media literacy for ecological way of thinking

The decline of wild bees is a hazard to both agricultural products and biodiversity. Since the problem, in general, is of anthropogenic origin, society must be well-informed and educated, so that adequate actions can be taken. This is valid, particularly for the future generation. The aim of this study is to investigate 1) the knowledge of children about bees and their role in the ecosystems and 2) which information sources do children rely on, and how do they assess their credibility. An interview was conducted with 60 children aged between 6 and 12. The study reveals that knowledge of facts about bees is limited. Although 70.0% of children know that bees are “useful and necessary”, and 78.3% of children think that “plants need bees”, they generally do not understand their role in ecosystems. Therefore, education about biodiversity conservation is crucial. The challenge for researchers and educators is to present well-adapted information about bees to children, with a special focus on wild bees. Media literacy is a bridge between the children and the digital world. It can be an efficient tool to create "an ecological way of thinking for biodiversity conservation" as a part of the children‘s personal value system. Children should be prepared to filter true from fake information. In the future they must be capable of advocating a competent citizenship position for biodiversity protection in policy making.