Letters

FUTURE FOR THE EUROPEAN BLACK BEE?

We fear that time is running out for the European black bee Most geographical sub-races are already lost, and the rest are too few or might be affected by other races In Scandinavia we do not even know what races we have.

All European countries signed the Rio Convention of 1992, and are obliged to make efforts to preserve genetic resources threatened by extinction As we have experienced however, governments are not very eager to take responsibility, as long as money is involved, and prefer to leave this all to private interests and idealism This, as well as scientific reasons, makes it urgent to focus on the situation for the European Black Bee in general, as well as for the sub-races (Apis mellifera mellifera, lehzeni, silvarum and others)

Representatives from Denmark, Finland Norway and Sweden assembled in October 1994 to discuss the matter Connected with this meeting resolution was made to the Ministers of Agriculture the Nordic countries To form an all European network for the purpose of improving conditions for the Black Bee would be great advantage, also for the possibility of structuring the trade In Norway we now need political attention more than anything else Is anybody concerned about the Black Bee?

Please write and tell the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture