Why bees?

WORRIED FOR BEES. Over the last few decades, bees have been in rapid, dramatic decline due to complex factors which are not entirely understood. They are probably linked to intensive farming (use of certain insecticides, monocultures, habitat conversion) and the spread of new diseases.

Since bees pollinate over 80% of the Earth's flowering plants, including almost all fruit and vegetables, steps have to be taken to raise awareness about the need to protect bees: their decline could have an unprecedented impact on the Earth’s ecosystems.

URBAN BEEKEEPING. Honey bee-keeping has similarly declined in Europe over the last few decades and is nowadays maintained to a great degree by small-scale, amateur beekeepers.

It is important to encourage and promote bee-keeping in the countryside as well as in cities in order to boost dwindling bee populations, increase urban biodiversity and raise awareness about the importance and plight of bees.

Urban bee-keeping is on the increase world-wide, as cities provide refuges supporting fragile bee populations. Paradoxically, nowadays urban bees seem to be doing better than bees in the countryside.

They are healthier and even produce more honey, gathering pollen and nectar from flowering plants in city parks, gardens and balconies.