Beekeepers are called to face a climate and environmental crisis that threatens both their activities and ecosystems not only locally and nationally but globally.
Crete is in danger of losing a valuable and highly nutritious product, honey.
The beekeeping association of Rethymno “MELITTEUS” is sounding the alarm, which is organizing a conference on “Climate change and its effects on organic beekeeping”.
The event takes place with the support of the Region of Crete next Sunday, February 5 from 11 am to 5 pm in the event hall of the “Theomitor” institution – Despotiko Rethymno.
The goal of the conference is to inform beekeepers and not only, in the face of the major challenges of the climate crisis in the productive sectors and to draw up survival strategies in a rapidly changing world.
Beekeepers are called to face a climate and environmental crisis that threatens both their activities and ecosystems not only locally and nationally but globally.
The president of the association, Mrs. Christina Kouvara, tells Cretalive that the problem is very big and the industry has submitted proposals to the competent bodies to deal with it. The climate is changing, it’s something we all have understood, this also affects the bee.
Mrs. Kouvara states that until recently, spring conditions prevailed in Crete, this resulted in the bee not resting. He lived the winter as if it were spring. At the same time, we see that some flowers have bloomed very early and are expected to have “died” by June. Thus, the bee will have no way to eat and, of course, will not be able to produce honey.
Honey production is already reduced, “with climate change, as we are experiencing it, the problem is terrible, the way we go, the bee will disappear completely”, says Ms. Kouvara.
The association is in constant contact with the Ministry and the Region of Crete.
The goal is the survival of the bee and the beekeeping industry. According to scientists, if the bee disappears, then the planet has only four years to live. As the president of the association emphasizes, the bee plays a pivotal role in the food chain and fertilizes everything in nature.
As far as production is concerned, this year some beekeepers are talking about a reduction of around 40%, while last year the production was halved. At the same time, production costs have increased significantly.
The beekeepers request, among other things, that beekeepers by their main profession join the New CAP, as professionals in the primary sector, that beekeepers who have a beekeeping book per hive, (and those with special status) be subsidized by the new CAP for the pollination of bees and their contribution to agricultural production, the preservation of plant capital and more.
Furthermore, there should be financial support for the sector to preserve the livestock where, due to climate change, global warming, extreme weather events and natural and not only disasters, they are unable to maintain and keep their bee colonies healthy, which are lost by the thousands every year time.
Also, due to climate change, blooms and correspondingly honey secretions have significantly decreased resulting in correspondingly reduced beekeeping production.
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