22 May World Bee Day 2023
Saturday 20 May is celebrated the World Bee Day, an event established in 2017 by the United Nations on a proposal from Slovenia, a country very attentive to the welfare of bees.
May 20 was chosen for the annual day as it coincides with the date of birth of Anton Janša (May 20, 1734 – September 13, 1773), Slovenian breeder and beekeeper, one of the most important European figures who contributed to the development of modern beekeeping.
The theme of World Bee Day 2023 is: “Health of bees and the ecosystem”. This theme represents an important opportunity to remind the crucial role of bees and to encourage people to implement concrete actions for their protection and for the protection of biodiversity; in fact, pollinators play a fundamental role in the reproduction of many plant species and without them, the biodiversity of our planet would be at serious risk, and also the production of food.
The health of bees is closely linked to the health of the ecosystem and for this reason the destruction of habitats, pollution from pesticides, climate change, the spread of invasive alien species, parasites and pathogens compromise their survival.
World Bee Day wants to attract the attention of the world’s population on the possible extinction of these fundamental insects and to encourage people to contribute significantly to the solution of problems related to their health, on which the survival of crops, the diversity of ecosystems, food security and human well-being also depend.
Each of us can contribute to the protection of bees and biodiversity.
Among the numerous WBA activities dedicated to the world of pollinators:
Standard Biodiversity Friend® Beekeeping
WBA promotes sustainable beekeeping through the voluntary Biodiversity Friend® Beekeeping standard. It is a voluntary certification protocol designed with a specific orientation for European and Mediterranean beekeeping, developed according to the basic principles of the Charter of San Michele all’Adige to guarantee the protection of biodiversity in beekeeping.
The principles of the standard are respect for the biology of the bee and its genetics, the use of sustainable and low environmental impact beekeeping practices and the enhancement of the work of the beekeeper who undertakes to pursue 10 actions that the WBA considers to be:
Domus Mellifera Project
Furthermore, WBA actively contributes to the protection of bees, through the diffusion of artificial nests called Domus Mellifera, which represent a suitable refuge for hosting and protecting wild honey bee colonies.
As part of the Domus Mellifera project, WBA has started many collaborations, including one with Taller delle Terre, a non-profit organization whose objective is the diffusion of a new environmental and social value in the territories.
Taller delle Terre has developed the TIME-hive Arena card game to introduce children to the world of bees and to help protect them in real life. For every 26 decks distributed, Taller delle Terre collects the necessary funds to donate and position a Domus mellifera.
Arnia Top Bar 100% PEFC
The Arnia Top Bar model was born as part of the “Bees for Biodiversity” project developed by WBA onlus and immediately shared with Bioapi and the Edmund Mach Foundation.
The current version makes use, in its modifications and improvements, of the collaboration between Paolo Fontana and Denis Legni of the Legni Falegnameria, the first company in Italy to obtain PEFC certification for its “legniperapi” production of beehives and beekeeping equipment.
The top bar hive favors the natural behavior of bees that nest in hollow spaces, in fact, in addition to rebuilding a natural hollow environment, it does not require the use of waxy sheets and leaves the bees free to form the honeycomb on the triangular bars. Furthermore, the horizontally developed top bar hive with mobile honeycombs allows the beekeeper to check the progress of the hive, diagnose the presence of parasites, and collect the honey without affecting the balance of the colony.
Discover the new WBA bar top hive here!
The top bar hive is made by Legni per Api, a carpenter’s shop born with the aim of creating nests for bees and beehives aiming at a greater balance between the well-being of the hive and the satisfaction of the beekeeper.
Editorial activity
Through the editorial activity of the WBA Project publishing house, WBA is committed to the dissemination of volumes of great scientific value and of strategic importance for bringing the public and young people closer to the natural sciences.
Among the publications related to the world of bees we recommend:
You can find all the publications on our SHOP.
HYMENOPTERA APOIDEA Project of the Tuscan Archipelago (Tuscany, Italy)
In order to implement effective conservation measures WBA, through its Tuscan Archipelago section with headquarters at the NatLab (Portoferraio, Elba Island), in collaboration with the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, the University of Florence, Department of Biology and the Milano Bicocca University, Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, carried out scientific research in a project aimed at studying Apoidea present in the Tuscan archipelago. Current knowledge about the archipelago’s entomofauna was rather fragmentary and was largely based on historical data. The recent work carried out by WBA members has made possible to increase the information on the Hymenoptera fauna for the Island of Elba. A genetic analysis of the collected samples led to the creation of a list of 201 taxa (197 species and 4 subspecies). Furthermore, for all the identified species, where possible, an IUCN categorization has been provided according to the national and European lists, also indicating the main information on biology and phenology. Apis mellifera, Bombus spp and other Apoidea were therefore found to be very present in the Tuscan archipelago.
API&BENESSERE Group
Through the Api&Benessere Group, WBA promotes the dissemination and knowledge of the bioactive properties of beehive products, as well as apitherapy as a path aimed at the well-being of humans, animals and the environment.
Accademia di Apiterapia
The WBA Api&Benessere Group promoted the creation, in 2021, of the Apitherapy Academy, to offer courses, seminars, conferences and conventions on everything that bees can represent, from well-being, to the environment, to culture.
Accademia di Apiterapia is a point of reference for apitherapy and for subjects related to the well-being of man, the environment and animals mediated by bees, in a holistic key.