P.small insects endowed with extraordinary power, bees are essential for biodiversity: for this reason, the 20th of May is celebrated World bee day. Just think, as you remember Isprathe Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Researchthat bees are responsible for about 70% of the pollination of all living plant species on the planet and guarantee about the 35% of global food production.
Bees, the threat of extinction
Yet their existence has been threatened for too long: an increasing number of pollinator species around the world, of which bees are the most representative slice, are on the verge of extinction. This was revealed by the “Thematic evaluation report on pollinators, pollination and food production”, published in February 2016 by Il ‘IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). The causes behind the increased mortality of bees are various and many attributable to human action: massive use of chemical pesticides, destruction of natural habitats, pollutionspread of new ones parasites And climate changes.
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World Bee Day, because it matters
For this reason, the World Day of Bees, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2017, is increasingly important to raise awareness of the importance of these insects for the life of the Planet. It is no coincidence that among the objectives for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs – agreed by the member states of the United Nations for 2030 al number 15 there is to stop the loss of biodiversity.
Initiatives in favor of bees
In fact, over the last few years, the disappearance of bees in our country has been between a hundred and a thousand times greater than what has been observed in the past, as revealed by one EFSA studyEuropean Food Safety Authority of 2008. Thus, in conjunction with the World Bee Day, there is no shortage of initiatives that want to raise awareness on the issue, bring the drama that is taking place to the attention of citizens and put a stop to it, because having respect for these special insects means having care of our future.
Keep the bees alive: adopt a hive of Papagna Honey
With the project “From Bee to You” of the Apulian companies Papagna honeys It is possible to contribute to keeping a bee family alive and healthy simply by adopting a hive and receiving in exchange the honey produced by the adopted bees directly at home. Perfect design to choose to celebrate World Bee Day. The bees inside the hive – which individually can host up to 90 thousand – produce honey if, and only if, they are healthy. Honey Papagna beekeepers, who practice the so-called nomadism, transport the hives following the rhythm of nature. They go in search of the best blooms, in the 120 thousand hectares of uncontaminated areas of Gargano National Park. To embrace the cause and contribute toadoption of a hive for a period of four or 8 months just go to the company’s website. Upon purchase, the first box and then the others, for a total of three and four packs of fine products from the adopted hives.
Aparto, the honey that is “born” on the roofs of a university in Milan
At the base of the sustainable project of Aparto there is the idea that to change the future it is essential to start from the new generations. The manager of university residences has decided to positively impact the environment and the community by creating the first university residence for biodiversity. Milan Juvenala few steps from Bocconi University, thanks to the collaboration with Apicolturaurbana.it, will have an apiary on the roof consisting of two hives that will become the home of 120,000 Italian bees. With the forecast of a production of up to 20 kilos of fresh honey and an average of 60 million pollinated flowers per day.
The revolutionary idea doesn’t just lead beekeeping in urban environments. Thanks to the partnership with ApepakAparto has developed a packaging for innovative and organic food, made of cotton and beeswax, to replace film, plastic, aluminum and polystyrene containers. All residents of Milan Giovenale are expected to receive a food storage kit which, if used correctly, will save the use of approximately 180,000 meters of plastic for food in a year.
World bee day with 3Bee: how to adopt a “technological” hive
Teach children so that the little ones bring their knowledge to the “grown-ups”. In the new project “3Bee education“Of 3Bee, the startup born in 2017 with the aim of protecting bees with technology, are offered to teachers activities and workshops to bring the little ones closer to the world of these insects so precious for the entire ecosystem. Thanks to the “3 Bee ecucation” course, the child will thus be able to tell the importance of bees and biodiversity in a simple way, also transmitting to the family the fundamental values and topics covered in class.
Adopt a remote hive
The next step will be to adopt or give away a beehive from a distance. To obtain the personalized adoption certificate and the credentials to access the 3Bee app, where you can constantly monitor the bees of the adopted hive, just search for the “adopt a hive” project on the 3Bee website.
Furthermore, at the time of choice, depending on the environment in which the bees are settled, it is possible to select the type of flowering to pollinate. And therefore the honey to produce, choosing from over 40 varieties. Through 3Bee technology, equipped with bio-mimetic sensors installed in the hive, which allow you to better plan the activity and optimize its management, each adoption allows you to protect from 1000 to 10 thousand bees and produce up to 5 kilos of honey.
A bracelet for bees, the new capsule collection by Oppo
Linked to 3Bee’s project to adopt a remote beehive to safeguard the species, Oppo’s artistic initiative will drive fashion enthusiasts crazy. Oppo has indeed launched on the occasion of World Bee Day, I SWEARone collection of bracelets handmade by designer Giulia Rossetti, which features bees and beads to combine with the latest OPPO Watch Free. Creations enhanced through technology, which want to reflect on the importance of protecting bees.
We protect bees
Oppo did not limit itself to the creation of a capsule collection that is available in the online store in two color variants green and orange, respectively for Watch Free Black and Watch Free Gold. He took part in the corporate social responsibility project “Pollinate the Planet” by 3Bee, adopting a remote hive for a year. In this way will ensure the protection of 300,000 beesthe pollination of 300 million flowers and a honey production of 150 kilos per year.
Helping the bees with crochet: the WWF and Gomitolorosa project
Even with crochet it is possible to support the commitment to the environment and biodiversity. In recent months the volunteers de The Thread That Joinsknitting enthusiasts of the association Gomitolorosa they have made over three thousand hexagons, which resemble the shape of the hive cells. Hundreds of industrious bees have turned into wonderful crib coversvery elegant walking bags and very comfortable decorative cushions.
All objects that on May 20 will be donated to WWF Italy to support the campaign’s activities “Bee Safe“. On the occasion of World Bee Day, Gomitolorosa, WWF and Green City Italia have organized activities, workshops and initiatives dedicated to the protection of these insects.
In particular, in the headquarters of WWF Lombardia, inside the Pippa Bacca Gardens, there will be workshops on the theme “bees and nature” which will involve many elementary school children, in addition to crochet and sewing workshops for adults organized by Gomitolorosa.
The latter is a non-profit organization that promotes lanaterapia, that is knitting in Italian hospitals as a tool to reduce anxiety in patients, especially oncologists. In recent months, its volunteers have taken to the field to help the bees.
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