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CD Rom

Mediterranean imelissopalynology

edited by Roberta Galarius and Matteo Ricciardelli D’Albore in collaboration with Giancarlo Ricciardelli D’Albore

Available soon from Bees for Development Price to be announced

This CD provides a wealth of information about the honey plants in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, their pollens, and the honey produced from them. The CD includes introductions to palynology (the science of pollens) and melissopalynology (the study of the botanical and geographical origins of honey according to its pollen content). Very useful is the Pollen Atlas: here you can select a plant species (according to Latin name, English or Italian common names). For each of over 200 species described there are botanical notes, colour illustrations plus flowering time, distribution and other information, palynological features (pictures of pollen grains and descriptions) and information about the honey produced from this species. The search facility enables you to enter the characteristics of honey (for example the colour or taste) or features of the pollen it contains, and to search for the likely botanical origin. There is also a glossary of terms, and an extensive bibliography.

A very useful and information-packed CD

Beekeeping for dummies

Howland Blackiston

2002 303 pages Paperback Available from Bees for Development Price £26.80 Code B100

Although it does not say so, this book describes beekeeping only as it is known and practised in North America. It delivers a lot of information about beekeeping in Langstroth hives, in a fresh and upbeat style, interspersed with Tennant cartoons and eight pages of colour pictures. It could be just the book to get new beekeepers motivated, if they enjoy the ‘for dummies’ style and have access to the materials described. Page 1 is a ‘cheat sheet’, intended as a tear-out checklist for quick reference during the spring start-up. Yet already on page 1 the beekeeper is encouraged to give preventative doses of the antibiotic furnagillin (against possible Nosema), pollen substitute, sugar syrup, Apistan to control Varroa, menthol to control tracheal mites, and the antibiotic terramycin to prevent foulbrood. This is hardly low-input beekeeping, and there is no mention of alternatives. There are three top ten lists: ‘Ten fun things to do with bees’ (such as making products from beeswax, planting a garden for bees and building your own hive); ‘Ten frequently asked questions about bee behaviour’; and ‘My ten favourite honey recipes’. Appendix A: ‘Helpful Resources’ lists many international websites, organisations, bee journal and magazines, but as is so often the case, the one you are reading now is not mentioned. Why is that?

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Strengthening Livelihoods: Exploring the Role of Beekeeping in Development

edited by Nicola Bradbear, Eleanor Fisher and Helen Jackson 2002 122 pages Paperback Available from Bees for Development Price £22 Code B480

A new look at apiculture as an important part of rural life worldwide. Small-scale beekeeping contributes significantly to livelihood security, yet the practice of beekeeping is underplayed in official policy and planning. This book challenges the marginalisation of beekeeping in rural development and asks whether a sustainable livelihoods approach can offer a way forward. Chapters are written by beekeeping development practitioners, development experts, and social scientists. Case studies are presented from around the world, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, The Caribbean, Central America, India, Tanzania and Zambia. A comprehensive glossary of apiculture and development terminology, and a full index make this a useful new text that can assist everyone involved with beekeeping development. Produced in a modern format with abundant illustrations, this is a highly readable and informative new contribution to the field of apicultural development.

The book was published with financial support from the DFID Livestock Production Programme