Bees for Development Journal Edition 71 - June 2004

ENTS

EPL

;

She x

LS eTif Peta HES Fa

aC

Le

jen wig

Pe Se ~

OBE

Ng gene

aie

wi

f

netwhy

fi in

vids

wu

wen

day

aT

th

a

sett apd

f

By

K

aa pay

ee

2m

oe

os

Bees for Development Journal

fied

Development

Peav

77

This Journal aims to bring you alternative views of world apiculture. This edition is being put together from Tobago, where am working with Gladstone Solomon and Tobago Apiculture Society towards development of their beekeeping industry. At a meeting of beekeepers here yesterday, several voiced their concern that bee stocks are dwindling, for reasons unknown.

Every visitor can see that vegetation is disappearing from this Caribbean island, as increasing wealth and more tourists bring demand for new buildings and roads. Beginner beekeepers are finding it hard to get started there are not the numbers of bee colonies that there used to be.

Far away from here in Northern Europe, beekeepers are also losing their bees. This edition brings a disturbing article by Bérje Svensson, Silent Spring in Northern Europe, in which he describes losses of honeybee colonies during the last three years. The reason is unknown, although Bérje proposes possible explanations. What is certain is that honeybee populations are dying. In Europe honeybees are indigenous insects, part of the ecosystem and vital for the maintenance of biodiversity. If honeybees are being killed by toxic factors in the environment, then other insects are being killed also, with unknown consequences for all the birds, plants, fish and mammals whose existences are interrelated.

Without beekeepers, would anyone notice the loss of honeybees? Certainly other species of bees and other insects have been allowed to become rare or extinct. Beekeepers, by maintaining honeybee populations, are performing a vital role in maintaining biodiversity. It is time to view beekeepers and their bees as ‘biodiversity maintenance workers’ rather than just mere honey producers. Farmers in industrialised countries receive payments for conservation work: sometimes these amount to payments to leave their land alone.

As honeybee populations are reduced, and as beekeeping becomes harder because of environmental degradation and increasing bee diseases and predators, people may need more incentive to keep honeybee colonies.

Perhaps they should be paid for doing so? Beekeepers need to unite and lobby for greater recognition of the vital role and hard work of bees and their keepers!

Niwla Bradheav Inside Information Editor Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator Helen Jackson BSc

Bees for Development Helping people fo strengthen their livelihoods and to fight poverty by means

of beekeeping Subscription For one year (four editions) BfD Journal costs UK20 (€30, US$30) including airmail delivery.

If you are financially able to do so, you must pay the annual subscription.

Discounts are available for multiple subscriptions of ten or more.

You can subscribe at our website store, and make the choice to download copies of BfD Journal.

Copyright If you reproduce items from BfD Journal, please acknowledge the Journal, provide our contact details in full, and send us a copy of

the item.

Sponsorship We gratefully acknowledge support from all the individuals, beekeeping associations, groups and companies that support us.

Bees for Development Trust (UK registered Charity Number 1078803) raises funds to provide information to beekeepers in developing countries. For readers living in remote areas and with few resources, BfD Journal may be their only source of beekeeping advice, news and information.

Financial support to sponsor subscriptions is needed: please assist if you can.

You can make a donation to the Trust: by -

credit card through our secure website by cheque or CAF cheque by bank transfer Bank details: Bees for Development Trust (Account 00085299 Code 40-52-40) at

Readers in developing countries may pay their subscriptions by Beeswax Barter or Candle Currency. Details on page 16 of BIDJ 67 and News and Announcements at

CafCash

www.beesfordevelopment.org/forums.shtml.

If you cannot pay your subscription, then write fo us and we will do our best to help.

Gift Aid donations: we can send a form, or please download one at www.beesfordevelopment.org/trust

Ltd

J

TRS

LW

+

aie

¥

Bares tar

|

e®

ame

srt

Poi«

in this issue...

Inside information

2

Silent spring in Northern Europe

3

7th AAA Conference

5

Letters

7

Notice Board

7,15

Zoom in on Syria

8

News from Namibia

10

Project news from ICIMOD

1]

News around the World

12

Book Shelf

14

Look and Learn Ahead

15

Cover picture: The Chon Family and The University of the Philippines, Los Baftos' Bee Program's display explaining the value of bees at the AAA Conference held in February.

More about the Conference on page 6.

Bees for Development Post

Troy, Monmouth

NP25 4AB, UK Phone Fax

+44 (0)16007 13648 +44 (0}16007 16167

E-mail info@beesfordevelopment.org Web www.beesfordevelopment.org

an

care atte:

Mee

Silent Spring in Northern Europe?

Bérje Svensson, Sala, Sweden

Individual bees are very delicate organisms existing within the strong and resistant body of their colony, inside its carefully protected cavity. Honeybees have been surviving this way since long before man first stepped on earth (Free et al., 1982). An individual bee will freeze to death within minutes in the climate of Sweden where have been keeping bees for 28 years.

Colonies of bees have survived my mismanagement, infestation with wax moth, queenlessness, wet insulation, or even being tipped over during a cold winter storm. Some of my colonies always survived and managed to multiply when the spring sun shone and brought flowers and nutritious food back into the life cycle again. Winter losses never ever exceeded 15% - until last |

year.

Unwelcome experience Winter 2002-2003 was a totally new experience for me and for thousands of my colleagues in countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Germany. lost 50 colonies out of 70!

Only 20 survived. One neighbour lost 95 out of 120, someone else 24 of 25 and so on. |

Some colonies died even in December. found colonies that had just stopped living. They had given up life without any sign of struggle. They were dead without visible reason. They had plenty of good sugar feed. Pollen stores were available. The queen was sitting dead in the middle of the cluster. Other colonies tried to survive but gradually dwindled away with less and less bees and finally gave up before the warm weather could help them to |

recover.

had a terrible job to clean up all the dirty comb and contaminated hives. The combs had to be brushed off before being melted in water so that the sugar remains could be |

separated from the pure wax. It is always a depressing job disposing of dead bees knowing their important task for maintaining good pollination in our neighbourhood.

Immediate survey Our National Beekeepers’ Federation, SBR, reacted without delay and organised an instant survey within a random sample of 2,520 beekeepers (Kristiansen, 2003}. From the 1,654 responses we can conclude that the colony losses in my county were about 36%. The national average was ‘only' 20%.

A similar survey of 6,072 German beekeepers

came up with an

average of 29% winter losses during the same winter (Otten, 2003). The Swedish survey could not make any conclusions about any particular cause of the winter deaths but rather speculated that the event was a combination of unfavourable circumstances during the season 2002.

However there are several observations that can rule out some of the theories proposed: 1.

Both experienced and less experienced beekeepers had

problems.

2. The death toll was high in areas where the Varroa parasite has not yet arrived.

3. The death tol! was high in areas where other diseases such as foulbrood, sacbrood, chalkbrood or nosema are

rarely seen.

4. The death toll was high also for colonies in very well insulated hives.

5. The winter death was very low in the forest areas of northern Sweden but at the same time very high in the farmland area in northern Finland.

6. The death toll was high both in areas affected by the radioactive Cesium137 downfall from the Chernobyl accident as well as in non-affected areas.

More bad news So we are many beekeepers who have hoped until now that the scientists are correct: that it was an extremely bad year of a kind that appears once in a while. But is it really like that? The sun is now warming up the hive bodies and the snow is rapidly melting away. The first Crocus flowers are beginning to provide pollen and Salix will soon follow. A first summary of my remaining colonies is again a catastrophe!!! Only 17 colonies surviving out of 30!!! And some of the survivors are very weak and may not make it another 2-3 weeks. My phone is ringing.

Beekeeper friends are reporting: 7 of 8 dead, all but 2 dead, more than 50% dead and so on. It ts too early to see if this is as serious a problem as last year, but this time am not going to wait before raising my voice. |

Possible explanations We have to find resources and support to find out what is happening to our bee environment. What are the possible explanations? How can researchers join hands to determine how to overcome these problems? To start the discussion would like to present a fist of possible explanations that can be thinned out or extended with contributions by those who have a better view.

Please join the debate with your own observations or theories. |

Bérje Svensson

71

1. The European Commission has decided to allow use of a number of doubtful pesticides. Some of these were banned in Sweden for many years: 2,4-D, Amitrole, Bromoxynil,

Linuron, Mecoprop, Paraquat, Propineb and Thiram.

Many of these are extremely hazardous to humans but the objections from our government chemistry authority had no effect on the decision makers in Brussels. These pesticides are mainly herbicides and fungicides and most likely we will not find one of them that is used all over the affected region.

6. Pesticides in sugar cultivation or industrial manipulation of white sugar may be another problem for bee colonies. Use ot the above mentioned systemic seed dressers on sugar beet seed (point 5) or insecticides on sugar cane fields can be a hidden problem. Also new techniques for extraction or bleaching of white sugar may cause a possible hazard to bees. An increasing trade with sugar products has also been noted.

Extensive use of desiccants (Glyfosat, Rambo, Roundup) for total extermination of weeds instead of mechanical cultivation. The total usage of these herbicides has increased four years in a row. This is remarkable since the increase of Glyfosat products took place at the same time as the acreage of ecological farming also increased. This must imply that the intensity of Glyfosat usage has increased on the farmland that is still cultivated with chemicals. Several Glyfosat products are also registered for use by gardeners.

2. The European Commission has authorised a large number of new pesticides for an even larger number of different uses without adequate hazard testing. The new generation of pesticides can be generalised as: i) low dosage, ii) long persistence, iti) systemic action, iv) difficult to detect in laboratory tests. The Swedish government authority is also complaining in their annual report (KI, 2003) that it is difficult to keep track of the different pesticides due to many changes of ownership within the private sector.

3. The aphid pests (Megilethes spp} on oil-seed rape have developed resistance to the most popular pyrethroid pesticides. Therefore the chemistry authority again approved use of the extremely bee poisonous insecticide Fenitrothion (Sumithion or Folithion) from year 2001. This pesticide was banned more than 20 years ago due to its enormous risks for bees, other insects and aquatic life.

4. The use of insecticides increased in Sweden 2001-2002 by 250%. A possible reason is that the warm summers (global warming?) caused heavy growth of aphid colonies in many

grain crops.

5. A new range of pesticides has entered the market during the last five years. These are all based on the active ingredient Imidakloprid, a chemical that affects the digestive neurosystem of insects. Popularly we can say that insects that come into contact with these products lose their appetite and stop being harmful to crops. These insecticides have long persistence and a systemic effect. It is therefore possible that the harmful effect will occur over a long period and only gradually in a bee colony that is slowly during winter consuming its stored reserves of plant material. The treated seed will for instance germinate in August 2004, the plant will flower in June 2005 and bees will collect and store contaminated nectar and pollen that can cause indistinct symptoms during the winter 2006, one and a half years later!

Here is a list of Imidakloprid products being registered in Sweden: -

-

Chinook for seed dressing of oil-seed rape seed.

Gaucho and Montur for seed dressing of sugar beet seed.

-

Prestige for dressing of potatoes before planting.

-

Confidor for treatment through irrigation water in green houses (ornamental plants, tomatoes, cucumber and sweet pepper).

Merit Forest for treatment of forest plants against insect attacks.

-

-

Some products are also registered for use in homes as dip sticks for indoor plants.

Commercial representatives also confirm that these products have been tried as seed dressing on wheat and cats. They are however not willing to disclose to what extent farmers are using seed treated with these chemicals. In France Imidakloprid pesticides have been banned for use on sunflower crops after heavy protests from beekeeper groups.

8. Increasing downfall from burning of household waste material as an energy resource. A new government fee on dumping of waste products has created an enormous interest for using household waste as an important energy resource. Large municipal heat and power plants have been converted from charcoal and crude oil to household waste and other biomass sources. The disadvantage with this quick change is that the cleaning techniques for many dangerous organic substances in the smoke are still rudimentary. In some cases we do not even know what to look for. The amounts of downfall may be very small but still extremely hazardous fo human and other life from the very stable organic substances that come with the smoke from waste burning. Examples of such substances are PCB, Toxafen,

Dioxin, halogenated flame retardants, nonylphenol, organic tin compounds, phthalates and secondary residues of all

these products. do not claim that have any proof for any of the above theories. What is of paramount importance is that we try to find out the cause for the winter deaths of honeybee colonies during the last two years. Will my bees survive another winter like this?

Or will we meet a silent spring next year? |

If

|

bees cannot survive can we?

References Free, J.B. ed. (1982) Honeybee Biology, Central Association of Bee-keepers Publications, Ashford, UK. .

Kemiinspektionen (2003) Sold quantities of pesticides 2002, KI, Stockholm, Sweden.

Kristiansen,

P

(2003) Vinterférlusterna 2002/2003, Bitidningen

(7-8), 13-14.

Otten, C. (2003) Daten und Fakten zu den Vélkerférlusten, ADIZ 37 (8/2003), 6-8.

STOP PRESS From the author - May 2004

We are beginning to see the full size of the problem now.

In my county it seems like more than 50% of colonies died this winter.

The media is beginning to take notice now, but some of the news is old, as far back as 1999 from France!

L

Bees for Development Journal

Bees for Development Journal

ASIAN APICULTURAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES In February the 7th Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) Conference was hosted by the University of the Philippines, Los Bafios. 215 participants from 20 countries met in the beautiful, tropical forest environment of University of the Philippines Los Bafos College, at the foot of Mount Makiling, 60 km south of Manila. The five-day Conference consisted of four days of lectures, posters and practical workshops, and one day of technical visits. Thirty-seven papers were presented. Speakers included top scientists presenting their current research on the biology of Asian honeybees, experienced practitioners describing aspects of apiculture underway throughout the region, as well as students describing their research projects.

The technical tours included visits to one large-scale commercial Apis mellifera beekeeping company, and one smaller scale Apis cerana apiary.

Dr Cleofas Cervancia and her Organising Committee prepared a worthwhile and enjoyable event for participants. A great achievement was to have the book of all papers, the Proceedings, published before the Conference this allowed excellent understanding and debate about the work being

presented.

During the week AAA held its AGM and made plans for the next two years (see BIDJ 66 for Asian representatives}. The next AAA Conference will take place in Perth, Australia, in March 2006.

Workshop participants learn about gratting larvae

—g\% “Sap oss

Conference Day 3 included a visit to llog Maria Honeybee Farms. Joel and Boleng Magsaysay manage 800 Apis mellifera honeybee colonies and harvest honey, pollen, propolis and royal jelly. From these are made a wide range of secondary products. The Bee Farm also offers contract pollination services and sells bees, beekeeping equipment and supplies.

7th

AAA Conference Sponsors

University of the Philippines, Los Bafos Beenet Philippines Foundation FFTC - Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region VITA Europe Lid

Thanks to Vita Europe Lid whose sponsorship enabled Dr Nicola Bradbear to participate in the AAA Conference

Established in 1992, AAA encourages exchange of information between beekeepers and bee scientists in Asia.

BID Journal is proud to be the official Newsletter of AAA.

an important skill for queen searing

71

Bees for Development Journal

71

AAA

SNR

we

Bees tor Devahwpment

si

“My

&

Mrs Boleng Magsaysay describes the soap drying process used at llog Maria Honeybee Farms. The Company makes 12 different types of soap, beeswax candles, shampoos and natural remedies

'

Resolutions of the 7th AAA

Conference 1.

Gaps in existing knowledge of Asian bees should be identified by documenting observations on bee biology, behaviour and other information related to bees.

2. The importance of the contribution of non-Apis species, including stingless bees, bumblebees and others to pollination, man's well being, and the maintenance of ecological balance, must be given due recognition. This includes funding for research towards the improvement of management skills in utilising non-Apis species in crop pollination, among other areas.

3. More data on pollinators and bee plants must be collected to give a fuller picture of bee behaviour, as well as to shed light on ecological relationships, and provide an indicator of environmental changes and trends.

4. The conservation of indigenous bees should be actively promoted, both through the protection of their natural environment and by culturing of such species, a practice which will contribute to the maintenance of these species while benefiting man. Stricter policies on deforestation should be implemented.

5. An integrated approach to the management of bee pests and diseases should be supported, incorporating chemical, ecological and other approaches, making for a holistic and ultimately more effective strategy.

6. Research on genetic and molecular aspects of bees should be given emphasis, not only as basic research, but for its contribution to the elucidation of the taxonomy and evolutionary status of Asian bees - an area which has seen many recent developments and revisions.

7. In order to maximise the impact of research and development on apicuiture in the continent, existing technologies should be made freely available and modified to suit the needs of different countries. Traditional practices should be recognised and complemented with new ones.

it Mr Joel Magsaysay explains how colonies are ioaded on to trailers for undertaking crop pollination contract services.

This could be done through government agencies, the private sector (including existing national industry networks), or through the Internet, where they might be accessed through a centralised website.

8. The development of apitherapy should be encouraged through the dissemination of information to both the medical community and the general public, even as more research is conducted in this area to establish a firm scientific basis for this discipline.

9. Those involved in bee science and apiculture should be more aggressive in submitting relevant proposals to funding agencies, like the FAO, to promote research in the field as well as to increase awareness on the part of the agencies and the general public of the importance of bee science and

technology.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION In BfDJ67 we published Simple ways to manage stingless bees, (pages 3-5}. The article featured the farm of Mr Rodolfo Palconitin who is well known for raising Trigona sp and Apis cerana and as a long-term co-operator with the University of the Philippines, Los Baftos Bee Program. On page 5 of the Journal the picture features Mr Palconitin's daughter Flor.

Bees for Development Journal

LETTERS

Letters Background for readers joining us here: In BIDJ66 and 67, Pam Gregory discussed the need, when making top-bar hives for African races of Apis mellifera, to have accurately cut top-bars usually of 32 mm. In BIDJ69 Bernhard Clauss emphasised the need for accuracy with top-bars, but advocated 33 mm. In BfDJ70 André Romet described the method used successfully in Cameroon of cutting top-bars 22 mm and using a plastic sheet to cover. Here is Pam's response to André.

Dear Friends was interested to read André's letter about top-bars and enjoyed the beautiful photographs of well drawn out combs on neatly made top-bars that show just how obliging bees can be when they are given the right care. lam sure that BIDJ readers understand that there are many ways of doing the same thing in beekeeping. The overriding principle of both the top-bar techniques described (32 mm or 22 mm plus 10 mm spacing) is that the bees need the correct spacing if they are to build their comb in the desired manner. Getting the spacing right is the key to persuading the bees to build a single comb under a single top-bar, essential for successful top-bar beekeeping. Achieving this is an interesting problem for the beekeeper.

Top-bars cut to 32 mm serve several functions. Firstly, the spacing Is automatically maintained so there is no chance of the top-bars being pushed too close together during the comb building phase resulting in combs being built across several top-bars. Secondly, the top-bars form a complete cover across |

the top of the hive. This means that when the hive is opened only a few topbars at a time are removed, thus restricting the chance for the bees to come upwards out of the hive. Thirdly, they form an additional roof covering that acts as another line of defence against pests and water leakage. Simple measuring tools such as a nine volt battery or a coke bottle top can be used to help cut the top-bars to the right size. have seen excellent top-bars made from bamboo and raffia palm materials. If they are a bit wobbly, propolis fills up any spaces. Gentle handling and careful smoking when moving the top-bars apart reduces any upset to the bees. However, tapping the top-bars hard to find out where the combs start is guaranteed to annoy the bees. |

The method André suggests is a pertectly functional and acceptable alternative, although have to confess to being perplexed as to why it should be simple to cut a 22 mm top-bar while being difficult to cut 32 mm top-bar. |

spacers many UK beekeepers use to space frames. Interestingly, top-bars at 22 mm are exactly the same size as UK manufactured frame tops.

Finally, although the bee space principle applies to both Apis mellifera and Apis cerana, there are significant differences between races and subspecies of both these bees. This means that centre to centre comb spacing can vary from 28 mm for some subspecies of Apis cerana to 35 or even 37 mm for Apis mellifera ligustica (the Italian bee). By and large African races of Apis mellifera honeybees are smaller than European races of Apis mellifera and so the bee space is smaller hence the use of 32 or 33 mm top-bars.

This is also the reason why hive specifications may vary slightly from place to place. It is always best to adopt the local specification as long as it is based on sound science and accurate measurement.

Pam Gregory

a

However, the accompanying picture gives the clue as to why this is not normally the recommended technique. The biggest problem lies in the spacers, which have to be an exact measure to keep the topbars apart at the correct distance. This adds an extra difficulty in measuring, making and using the hive. have experimented with al! sorts of spacing methods and invariably found them unsatisfactory. Plastic or very thin metal as shown in the picture is ideal but |

wilery Full range beekeeping equipment suppliers jars, packaging, filling

machines

world-wide export

requires sophisticated fabrication and/or materials that are less likely to be available than carpenters. The spacers shown look very much like the castellated Somers

NOTICE BOARD CONGRATULATIONS Traidcraft the UK based organisation celebrating 25 years of fighting poverty through fair trade. See: www.traidcraft.org.uk BEE BOOKS NEW AND OLD The Weaven, Little Dewchurch, Hereford HR2 6PP UK, for your new and secondhand books. Telephone +44 (0)1432 840529 or www.honeyshop.co.uk BEE CRAFT A full colour monthly beekeeping magazine for beginners and experts alike covering all aspects of beekeeping in the UK and Ireland. FREE SAMPLE COPY on request, 18.00 (UK), €36

4

(Ireland), US$51 (USA) for 12 issues (all other currencies on request). Credit cards accepted. Contact: www.bee-craft.com ULUDAG BEE JOURNAL Publication of Uludag Beekeeping Association, quarterly in Turkish (with English titles and summaries of articles).

Beekeeping news, practical beekeeping, and research articles - a link between Turkish beekeeping and the world.

Contact: www.uludagaricilik.org BfD Journal offers a great opportunity to contact thousands of readers in over 100 countries. Quarter page advertisemenis full page 200; Notice Board items 65; 0.50 per word. Other sizes available.

Enclosures also accepted.

(Charges subject to VAT

in

EC countries}

Swienty A/S, Hortoftvej 16, 6400 Sonderborg, Denmark Phone +45 74 48 69 69 Fax +45 74 48 80 01 e-mail: sales@swienty.com

www.swienty.com

71

sree

emo

ome

tLLe

ZOOM IN

vA)

Zoom in to

SY] )

\

Gilles Fert, France

Syria is a dream place for those interested in beekeeping. Syria has a specifi race of honeybees, large melliferous areas, and traditions that have remaine unchanged from long ago- all these contribute to a desert land buzzing with Geographical situation Syria is situated in the heart of the Middle East; it is mountainous country crossed by the Euphrates River coming down from the Turkish mountains in the North.

Desert covers 60% of the country's surface area. The fertile Euphrates Valley produces cotton and sunflower seeds, and Syria's coastline stretches 180 km along the Mediterranean, giving the country an important commercial outlet.

This coastal area is the most important area for Citrus, grapes, olives and many other fruits. The well developed irrigation system of the valley is admired by agronomists the world over. a

The Euphrates Valley is the birthplace of farming: 12,000 years ago humans settled in the fertile crescent and developed the first sowing and harvesting techniques. Just like farming, the technique for breeding honeybees in terracotta hives was first developed in this part of the world.

Some traditional apiaries made of horizonial hives still exist. In the desert areas of the Eastern part of the couniry, hives are made of interlaced plant material covered with mud. However, increasingly the cork tree trunk hives and the terracotta hives are now replaced by simple wooden boxes one metre long

Density: 83 inhabitants/kin?

Area: 184,000 km?

Capital: Damascus Main towns: Homs, Aleppo, Hama Average monthly salary: 120 Euros Main language: Arabic and 15 cm wide. These are always placed horizontally and piled up to constitute apiaries of over fifty colonies. In these hives the honeybees make small honeycombs better able to resist strong heat. In the region of Maaloula - near the Lebanese border - the colonies are placed in niches inside house walls: sometimes there are up to a hundred hives per house, thus protected from high temperatures.

Indigenous honeybees Syria belongs to one of those countries lucky enough to still have an indigenous species and race of honeybee: Apis mellifera syriaca. These are found everywhere in the country as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and the northern part of Iraq. These yellow-coloured bees look like Italian honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica), but are slightly smaller and with the last two tergites grey. The bees are very gentle in the eastern and southern parts of the country where the race has remained genetically pure. In addition, they are well adapted to their habitat and are resistant to droughts, unlike foreign bees which never survive more than one season. It is only on the Mediterranean coastline that the bees are highly crossbred with Italian and Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica) bees, illegally imported by beekeepers. This, unfortunately, produces an aggressive breed which needs to be fed with sugar syrup during the winter season. This is the reason why most Syrian beekeepers wish to go back to the original indigenous bees and would like to start selecting a breed to be as productive as the foreign bees.

A beekeeper from the Al Lathquiyeh Region

,

Bees for Development Journal

ZOOM IN

The local beekeepers have observed three ecotypes of bees. These observations have been confirmed by Dr Hicham Al Rouz's studies on the subject. The first ecotype Sayafi (sabre), builds honeycombs that run parallel to the walls of traditional hives. The second ecotype Ghanami (sheep) builds combs perpendicular to the walls. The third ecotype Kamari (moon) builds in an arc.

Mr Said al Attar has observed that when a colony of local bees was transferred from a Sayafi type of hive to Ghanami type of hive, the normally peaceful bees would become very aggressive. a

Alora

The main honey flows are from anise, Citrus, cotton, Eucalyptus globulus, Euphorbia spp, fruit trees (almond, apple), heathers Erica and Calluna, mountain herbs (Cistus, rosemary, thistles and thyme) and sunflowers.

Syrian beekeeping There are 365,000 hives and the official honey production figure is 1,750 tonnes a year. Movable-frame Langstroth hives account for 80% of hives; the rest are local styles. Beekeepers can live off their production when they own at least 100 hives. Migratory beekeeping produces an average of 20-25 kg of honey. Compared to the international market prices, the local honey selling price is high - from 7 Euros/kg for cotton or sunflower honey to 24 Euros/kg for thyme honey. This honey is sold in specialised shops and in the numerous soukhs of big cities. A significant volume is used to make glacés fruits, but contrary to the Maghreb countries, honey is hardly used to make pastries. According to the first writings of Abu Hamid al Ghazzali and Abu Kaim al Jausieh, honey has always been regarded as a supreme medicine in Syria. Some fine honeys such as thyme honey are exported to the Gulf countries but this only represents 30 tonnes a year.

No treatments The special feature of Syria is the low use by farmers of pesticides because they cannot afford their high costs. The large fields of cotton that are grown on the banks of the Euphrates therefore allow

migratory beekeeping: this is quite an amazing fact as cotton is usually one of the most chemically treated plants.

The same thing applies to the hillsides of the volcanoes in the eastern region of Stuweida where the numerous orchards of apple trees produce totally ‘organic’ apples. To guarantee better pollination of

crops, the government is encouraging beekeeping projects and for the past 10 years has been giving five year loans for hive purchase. Five workshops with a production capacity of 10,000 hives a year have been created. The cost of buying a hive is the same as selling 3 kg of honey. About 100 experts in beekeeping teach new apiculture methods in 20 specialised centres. They breed bees and sell swarms for 30 Euros and stocked hives for 50 Euros. These 20 centres can have up to 300 trainees a year. The aim of the government is to eventually have 500,000 colonies spread out on the crops in order to guarantee good pollination and to help 15,000

young beekeepers to start in apiculture, in a country where unemployment reaches over 30%. The government has the ambitious project of afforesting the mountain areas with Acacia and Eucalyptus trees and these new areas of melliferous plants would increase the migratory beekeepers’ season.

Syrian beekeepers meet the same kind of problems as other beekeepers around the Mediterranean Basin. Varroa is fought with either acetic acid or Bayvarol. The presence of bee-eaters (Merops apiaster and Merops superciliosus) is a real problem, and the beekeepers sometimes have to move apiaries. In the southern region of Suweida and in the border region with Iraq, jackal attacks on hives can cause damage comparable to those made by badgers in East Africa. With regard to the high number of wasps, problems occur only with the imported bees and their hybrids, and they do not affect the indigenous Syrian honeybees which are perfectly adapted to their environment and can get rid of the wasps.

SOME FIGURES Hives

365,000 Beekeepers 15,000 including 5,000 professional Honey Production - 1,750 tonnes/year Retail price - 7 to 24 Euros/kg

Royal jelly Production Retail price

300 kg/year

-

2 Euros/gram

Langstroth-type hives 80% Stocked hive: 50 Euros €)] = US$ 1.214

regard to Syria, this constructive exchange is the fruit of the work of both Mr Said al Attar from Syria and Mr Robert Yvrard the French Chairman of Apiculteurs sans Frontiéres. Their mission ranges from the popularisation of basic beekeeping techniques - such as the production of honey in traditional hives to the breeding of queen honeybees and the teaching of instrumental insemination. The aim is to develop and make the most of the region's beekeeping resources while at the same time respecting local customs. It also aims to help with the selection of the indigenous honeybees to avoid any dependence on importations.

More information The Syrian Bee Centre, BP 5719 Damascus, Syria Apiculteurs sans Frontiéres Ferme apicole de Simiaud F-38460 Crémieu, France

Queen honeybees and royal jelly Some beekeepers are specialised in the breeding of queen honeybees and in royal jelly production. The technical level of these new kinds of exploitations is remarkable. About 300 kg of royal jelly are produced with a retail price of 2 Euros/gram in the local market. Apis

mellifera syriaca honeybees are particularly well adapted to this production and quickly fill the plastic queen cups.

Apiculteurs sans Frontiéres People involved in Apiculfeurs sans Frontiéres have been working in Syria for the past five years. These volunteers have given their time and shared their knowledge in apiculture in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Syria. With

Apis mellifera syniaca

HAVE WE ZOOMED IN ON YOUR COUNTRY? Send us some information if you would like your country to feature here.

9

71

Bees for Development Journal

71

NEWS FRO M NAMIBIA New bee stamps Roland Graf zu Bentheim had a surprise for Friends of the Bees, Windhoek at their January meeting with the launch of new stamps featuring the honeybees of Namibia. The artist of the stamps, Anja Denker, attended the meeting.

The first day covers feature South African honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata working on Cleome hirta (pretty lady) and Acacia mellifera. The N$3.15 stamp shows Clerodendron uncinatum (cat's claw), the N$2.70 features the daisy Didelta spinosa, the 'mail paid' stamp depicts Senecio arenarius, the postcard stamps show Claviflora birch aloe, and the standard mail stamp features the sickle bush Dichrostachys cinerea africana. The stamps are even ‘date stamped' with an excellent frank depicting a bee.

For more information contact

philately@nampost.com.na

Do your bees

make propolis?

BeeVital

they do we would like to test it and possibly buy it from you James Fearnley of BeeVital is a

If

leading world authority on the nature of propolis and its medicinal properties.

He is author of

Bee Propolis: Natural Healing from the Hive

Price 7.99 plus P&P If you are interested in finding out if your propolis is suitable for medicinal use and would maybe like to sell it then please send a sample (50g) to:

P NAM

The Honeybee of Namibia

Varn

Friends of the Bees Friends of the Bees was founded by Roland Graf zu Bentheim in January 2003. Their targets are to protect the bees in Namibia and to increase the number of swarms and colonies, hence increasing pollination potential for the whole country.

At the group's first anniversary meeting Mr Zu Bentheim reported that there are still too many swarms of bees being destroyed, either by poisoning or burning, and that through negligence and carelessness too many people are losing their lives.

Suggestions for the future -

To establish a Namibian Honeybee Association.

To establish separate associations in towns all over Namibia to help people with

any problems associated with bees.

-

To instigate legislation to protect bees from extinction.

- To demonstrate the working of the colony to help people gain an insight into the

world of the bee. train at least 1000 beekeepers each with 3-5 colonies.

- To encourage farmers, land owners, guest farms and lodges to keep hives on their property.

- To harvest only pure honey.

- To hold the first Namibian Bee Show in 2005.

- To

These suggestions will help the bee industry open a new space in the economy: employment will be created and at the same time healthy living will be promoted.

Friends of the Bees Newsletter, March 2004 tr

|

standard mail

BeeVital Brereton Lodge, Goathiand, Whitby, North Yorkshire,

YO22 5JR UK OR CONTACT US DIRECTLY

NAMIBIA

Tel: +44 (0)1947 896037 Fax: +44 (0)1947 896482 Mob: +44 (0)7980 624988 NaturesLab@aol.com

t42b NAME

Thanks to Karsten

f

regel of the Garman Development Service for sending the stamps and first day covers

10

ICIMOD

Bees for Development Journal

717

PROJECT NEWS Information from @remep ICIMOD's Indigenous Honeybee Programme Extends to Afghanistan Faroog Ahmad and Uma Partap Here we bring you another article with news about the work of the Austrian Government funded beekeeping project at ICIMOD in Kathmandu, Nepal. In BfD70 we discussed scaling up the use of beekeeping as a component in rural support programmes throughout the region. Here we describe recent efforts to extend the programme to Afghanistan.

There is an enormous demand for locally produced honey; the average local market price is US$4 per kg.

- lt seems that the Varroa mite has not yet been found in Afghanistan, but American foulbrood (AFB), European foulbrood (EFB), and Tropilaelaps mite are common and badly affect the beekeeping industry.

Afghanistan has always been a member of ICIMOD, but formal relations between ICIMOD and the country were only recently re-established with the newly-formed transitional Government of Afghanistan. In early 2004 an ICIMOD mission led by the Director General visited Afghanistan both to cement the relationship and to enable ICIMOD staff to observe the local situation. The delegation discussed potential areas for collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MAAH). The Ministry showed great interest in beekeeping, pollination, and horticulture as well as other areas of ICIMOD's activities.

-

ICIMOD was asked to help support capacity building for Afghan beekeepers. The Asian Development Bank also requested ICIMOD to assist in developing a bee programme as an alternative source of income for poor farmers, and the Agha Khan Development Network is interested in including an indigenous honeybee programme in their areas of activity.

Programme Implementation Strategy A strategy is now being developed to implement an indigenous honeybee programme in Afghanistan. The first step will be a national consultation to assess the state and capacity of beekeeping in the country. The information gathered will be used to develop a proposal which will be submitted to ICIMOD

Dr Faroog Ahmad, Co-ordinator of ICIMOD's Indigenous Honeybee Programme, had an opportunity to meet with the MAAH beekeeping group headed by Mr Saeed Khan. The group has ten members of staff and maintains 150 bee colonies in

and other donors for funding. The activities are likely to focus on capacity building, with Afghan participants being trained in Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan. A functional apiary of Apis cerana will be established under the auspices of the MAAH as a demonstration and research facility.

Jalalabad.

Discussions centred on pollination issues and the associated decline in productivity of horticultural crops in Afghanistan, and possible extension of the ICIMOD programme to the couniry.

Afghanistan has a strong tradition of horticulture, but there are indications that farmers are facing fruit set problems in almonds and other fruit crops resulting from a lack of pollinators; bees can play a vital role in pollinating these flowers. This issue needs to be raised with the various donor communities involved in agricultural development. Increased awareness will help ensure that the problem is redressed, not exacerbated, and will benefit agriculture and farmers struggling to rebuild their farms.

Further, a national workshop for Afghan beekeepers will be organised to support networking and information exchange within the country, and to help in developing a conducive policy environment for the propagation of beekeeping and managed pollination.

ICIMOD is the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an international organisation devoted to the development of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

Read more about ICIMOD at www.icimod.org.np.

The main points of the discussion are summarised below: - The bee group in Afghanistan is very interested in developing an active programme on beekeeping with indigenous species in partnership with ICIMOD. Afghan farmers maintain an estimated 30,000 Apis cerana colonies in south-eastern districts of Afghanistan, but during the conflict colonies were destroyed. The bees are kept in logs and wall hives, and contribute considerably to the village economies and especially the livelihoods of poorer farmers.

Afghan beekeepers are actively involved in managed migration of Apis mellifera bees between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some 30,000 colonies per year are migrated for honey production.

Honey production from Apis mellifera averages between 20 and 50 kg per colony, and from Apis cerana up to 8 kg of honey per colony.

Apis dorsata bees naturally migrate between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and produce enormous quantities of honey in the Jalalabad area, much of which is collected by honey hunters.

Most of the honey is consumed within Afghanistan; some is exported through Pakistan and Iran to markets in the Gulf.

ICIMOD publications available from Bees for Development The Himalayan cliff bee Apis laboriosa and the honey hunters of Kaski Faroog Ahmad, Surendra Raj Joshi and Min Bahadur Gurung Understanding more about Apis laboriosa and its exploitation.

2003 52 pages 16.80 (€25.20) Code A175 Bee flora of the Hindu Kush Himalayas: Inventory and

management Uma Partap Bee flora and useful background information about beekeeping in the region, plus melissopalynology 1997 297 pages 20.70 (€31) Code P150 Warning signals from the Apple Valleys of the Hindu Kush

Himalayas

Uma Partap and Tej Partap Productivity concerns, pollination problems and the problems faced by mountain people 2002 Book 16.80 Code P160 Video 27.80 Code VID22

For ways to pay and to order see www.beesfordevelopment.org

1]

Bees for Development Journal

71

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD ARGENTINA Buzzing market

Honey producers in Argentina are getting a new buzz from their export markets.

Now that the sting of Argentina's worst economic crisis is past, farm exporters of everything from soybeans to honey are

enjoying a boom.

The sweet smell of export success is what honey producers in the La Elisa ranch in Capital Sarziento, about 150 km north of Buenos Aires hope will be their economic bonanza.

This year, Argentina's 25,000 honey producers have sent 87,000 tonnes abroad which is a 69% increase compared to last year, to markets as far away as Europe and the USA. Florence Hornsby Top-bet fuve swere

CAMEROON Beekeeping in Berudep You could be forgiven for thinking that the B in BERUDEP stands for beekeeping, because we have become synonymous for honey! Even if someone in the area cannot tell you about the other health, rehabilitation and agricultural projects with which we are involved, they will know that there is honey harvesting and beekeeping training going on. BERUDEP has several outlets for their honey, stretching far from their headquarters in Boyo Division. A new honey shop in Limbe is preparing for opening and Cameroon's second honey show was organised by BERUDEP and the beekeeping department of Mount Cameroon Project in October 2003.

Honey's health benefits and natural good taste are the reason for the growing market and interest in keeping bees.

BERUDEP promotes beekeeping for diverse reasons such as income generation, health and environmental protection: we like to see Cameroon becoming the playground of bees!

Beekeeping fits well with BERUDEP's primary concern of poverty alleviation

introduced by BERUDEP in 1990

BERUDEP's interest in bees started when the Director was in the USA studying community development. Having a family history with honeybees, Simon Ngwainmbi remembered his father going out honey hunting and this led to a desire to increase the number of farmers harvesting honey. Simon made it a reality and BERUDEP began in 1990.

Bees for Development played a role in BERUDEP's success as it was through an article about BERUDEP in 1997 that led fo a contact and subsequent relationship with Bees Abroad, another UK-based organisation. Bees Abroad has helped BERUDEP establish the bee department as a self-sustainable enterprise, and many successful beekeepers owe their start in the industry to this relationship.

Brian Durk has visited Cameroon several times to survey the beekeeping activities, experience the differences between the two countries’ methods, and to share his knowledge of bees.

Beekeeping was adopted as one of our main activities because it fits well with BERUDEFP's primary concern: rural poverty alleviation. It was seen as the motivation needed for the local people to protect their forests from damaging fires and the destructive felling of fuel wood for cooking, and of timber for building.

Training in beekeeping ensures independence for those who learn and practise the art of keeping bees and gives a future guarantee against the poverty so common in the rural areas of Cameroon.

Beekeeping has always been a way of life for the people of Cameroon's North West. The main difference is that women - who were previously excluded. from honey hunting - now own and run successful colonies. Modern equipment is on the rise and with the introduction of good smokers the incidence of accidental 12

fires caused by beekeeping is decreasing.

Simon Ngwainmbi introduced top-bar hives to farmers in 1990 and has been using them ever since. The top-bar hive has been well received and new techniques are being put into practice immediately after training sessions. All hives - from local style to top-bar - are being used by BERUDEP farmers, and the training methods taught for the harvesting of honey and the materials produced by BERUDEP ensure top-quality, clean honey. The dissemination of the health benefits of honey has been very successful and along with all BERUDEP medicinal plant training courses, comes information about the nutrients contained ‘naturally in honey. Honey popularity in Cameroon ensures that demand for honey always exceeds supply.

BERUDEP training within Boyo Division has been in ail villages. The courses range from basic, to training of trainers.

There is also training in by-products for those who want to sell body creams, shoe polishes and wax products like candles and soap. There is a permanent training location in Belo at the training room in the headquarters, and courses takes place during school holidays. Outside of Boyo Division, training has gone far and wide, and BERUDEFP's philosophy of training the most competent of students as trainers ensures that the work and knowledge continues to spread. The idea that those who benefit from BERUDEP's training can go on to help the rest of their village and surrounding villages means that BERUDEP can geographically serve a large region and see their results multiply beyond their own capacity. As the Director always says "Knowledge is for sharing" and beekeeping is a valuable skill worth sharing.

Michelia Ward, BERUDEP Administrator

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

MALAWI Beekeeping started in Nyika National Park in 1986 under the sponsorship of the German

Government. The Beekeeping Association of Malawi (BAM) was formed and things worked very nicely until the late 1990s when the German Government pulled out its sponsorship.

Since then honey production has dropped tremendously due to lack of market, and lack of people skilled in handling beekeeping activities.

In Nyika National Park it is possible to produce one of the best honeys in the world. Due to the reasons stated above most farmers have been discouraged and they no longer practise beekeeping. In view of this write to ask if you can assist me to revamp the beekeeping industry in the Park. Especially for the communities surrounding the Park - am employed by the Government to do beekeeping extension work with these communities. thoroughly enjoy reading BFDJ - it has really boosted my morale. |

|

|

Paston Simkoko, Rumphi - contact Mr Simkoko via Bees for Development

TANZANIA News from Niiro We are doing research on Beekeeping for Poverty Reduction, and Markets and Marketing of Bee Products. We have started this in Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions, and we are planning to continue with this research in other parts of the country. We are also doing research under the Beekeeping Development Project, which is funded by NORAD and co-ordinated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. In the financial year 2004/2005, we plan to organise a stakeholder workshop to identify research needs for bees and beekeeping in the

famous for maize production in the country and include Rukwa, Ruvuma, Mbeya and lringa. The Stakeholders Meeting was held in Mbeya in August 2003 and a committee was formed to move forward with beekeeping development.

Percival Lwoga, Iringa

UGANDA Honey exports to the EU Uganda will start exporting honey to the UK in October according to Maria Odido, Chair of the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation.

"The International Organic Certifiers say that Uganda already conforms to 65% but we have not yet gone through the criteria of international control system for traceability. Once we meet this then we shall be able to export," said Ms Odido.

She was speaking at a meeting in Kampala in March with the Norwegian delegation interested in importing organic honey from Uganda at the Uganda Export Promotions Board offices.

Ms Odido said that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards are working towards forming o Uganda National Honey Standard to conform to EU requirements.

The certification clearance is to cost US$40,000, which has already been donated by the Shell Foundation (US$32,000} and the National

Bees for Development Journal

Agricultural Advisory Services {US$5,000). The certification will involve classification of honey according to flavour, colour, and taste.

Most of Uganda's honey exports go to the regional market in Democratic Republic of Congo Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Small quantities are indirectly exported to the UK by RECO.

Ms Ellen Gjeruldsen, an import adviser of the Federation of Norwegian Commercial and Service Enterprises, said that they are interested in the importation of ready products, which are organically certified.

"We urgently need organically certified ready products, which we are going to put in our groceries," she said.

"We need help in the certification of our exporters" said Ms Florence Kata, Executive Director of Uganda Export Promotions Board. She warned exporters to be careful of fake certification bodies lest they lose money and face the challenge of balancing between quantity and quality. "It is no longer about quantity alone but quality, double your effort to meet the international standards," Ms Kata said. A 45-person Norwegian delegation has been in the country looking for investment

opportunities.

Dorothy Nakaweesi, The Monitor (Kampala) 23 March 2004 ,

country.

Angela Mwakatobe, Acting Director, Njiro Wildlife Research Centre

Arusha Meeting According to the meeting held in February 2003 (BfDJ68, page 12) sponsored by Heifer International, the results are promising for the Southern Highlands Zone. A strategic meeting outlined the outcome of the Arusha resolutions and it was agreed that a meeting of stakeholders should be convened to include: beekeepers; buyers of bee products; manufacturers of beekeeping equipment; Non-Governmental Organisations, Community Based Organisations and Faith Based Organisations; exporters of bee products and extension officers.

Participants attending the meeting were from the Big Four Provinces and Dar-esSalaam. The Big Four Provinces are

ZAMBIA Since received a sponsored subscription to BfDJ have enjoyed it and appreciate your concern for beekeeping development. With your support was able to write a project proposal. In late 2003 my proposal was accepted by the International Labour Organisation in Lusaka and a small project called Kasempa Community Beekeeping Project has been initiated with 15 beekeeping groups and an initial seed capital of K15,200,000 (US$3,500}. This was meant to jump start a process of beekeeping with top-bar hives. am sure the project will succeed as the groups are well organised. Moses Mulenga, Kasempa |

|

|

|

13

71

Bees for Development Journal

71

BOOKSHELF

Book Shelf A scanning electron microscopy atlas of the Africanized "killer" honey bee

Charles Abramson and Italo de Souza Aquino 2002 155 pages 28.80 (€43.20) Code AQOO |

Text in English and Portuguese

This long titled publication is subtitled A selection of photographs for the general public.

The authors have over 100 electron microscope photographs of bees collected over several years from bees of the Laboratério Apicola hives at the Universidade Federal da Paraiba, Brazil. The introductory chapter describes the importance of honeybees for studies of learning and memory, offers a short history of the Africanised honeybee, and explains morphological and behavioural differences between European and Africanised honeybees. There are four other chapters showing photographs of workers, drones, Africanised queen bees, and the stinging apparatus of the worker bee. The photographs have been selected for their interest to the general public and the technical explanations kept to a minimum to make this book appealing to beekeepers and researchers alike.

The honeybee inside out Celia

F

Davies 2004 150 pages 22.50

(€33.75) Code D300

Celia Davies provides information about the anatomy and physiology of honeybees in a clear and concise format. This is achieved with eight chapters illustrated with colour photographs, and diagrams drawn by the author from her own dissection work, providing a realistic impression of the parts being described. Chapters cover external bodywork, internal workings, control systems, breeding, growing up, keeping it

together, colony reproduction and inside and outside influences. Phonetic spellings in the glossary and the appendix assist the reader in getting on with the jargon of terminology. Based on the British Beekeepers' Association examination modules this highly informative book will be of value to both beekeepers and students.

For love of insects Thomas Eisner 2004 448 pages Hardback 20.50

(€30.80) Code E050

The introductory chapters to this book tell us that one million species of insects, spiders, millipedes and other arthropods have been discovered to date, and given a scientific name. Yet fewer than 1000 have been studied in any depth. Viewed on a grand scale, insects have not only achieved a great deal, but have succeeded in one major respect where humans have failed: they are practitioners of sustainable development.

They do not merely exploit plants, they also pollinate them, thus providing a secure future for themselves and their plant partners.

IS EASY Through our website store - With the form printed in our Books to Buy catalogue - Or send by e-mail, fax or post.

Payment details in BIDJ70 page 14.

ORDERING -

Thomas Eisner was fascinated by insects from the moment he could walk. This book is the story of his work on the insect world observed and described down to its tiniest astonishing detail. Eisner's research has added significantly to our understanding of chemical communication, but his most important contributions have been in exploring the defence mechanisms used by insects: beetles that eject defensive sprays as hot as boiling water, caterpillars disguising themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies, termites emitting a viscous glue to rally fellow soldiers, and many more. Bees are mentioned purely for their relationship to ants and wasps. However reading this book with its descriptions of ingenious experiments and excellent photographs is time well spent.

Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP25 4AB, UK Phone: +44 (0)16007 13648 E-mail: store@beesfordevelopment.org Web: www.beestordevelopment.org 14

LOOK AHEAD, LEARN AHEAD, NOTICE BOARD

LOOK AHEAD

Bees for Development Journal

ARGENTINA World Symposium on Beekeepers Cooperatives and Associations 2-5 September 2004, Mendoza

ITALY European Conference of Apidology EurBee Pollination and the Pollinator Imperative 19-23 September 2004, Udine Further details: www.uniud.it/eurbee/

Further details:

MOLDOVA

santacruz@redapicolachile.cl AUSTRALIA 8th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 20-24 March 2006, Perth Further details: kfewster@tinet.net.au

Symposium: World trends in modern technologies of the keeping, reproduction and prophylaxis of bees 19-20 August, 2004, Chisinau Further details: erevenco@acsa.md

.

BRAZIL 8th International Conference on Tropical

Apiculture 6th Brazilian Bee Research Meeting 6-10 September 2004, Ribeiro Preto Further details: www.rge.fmrp.usp.br/abelhudo/

COLOMBIA XI Encuentro Colombiano de Apicultura XI Colombian Beekeeping Meeting

7-9 November 2004, Kobague (Tolima) Further details: gsalaman@ut.edu.co

CUBA 1st Latinoamerican Beekeeping Meeting 1st Cuban Beekeeping Congress

7-9 September 2004. Habana Further details: eeapi@ceniai.inf.cu DENMARK &th Sicamm International Conference: Conservation of Apis mellifera mellifera 10-12 September 2004, Lzesa Further details: dbt@biavl.dk IRELAND

(7th Iberianlatinamerican and 1st

Paraguayan Beekeeping Congress) 23-26 September 2004, Asuncién Further details: www.7conapi.com

TANZANIA Beekeeping Workshop at the 2nd Worldwide Symposium on Gender and Forestry 1-10 August 2004, Mweka, Kilimanjaro Further details: merete.furuberg@hedmarkf,kommune.no

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Ath Caribbean Beekeeping Congress November 2004, Trinidad Further details: to be announced

UK National Honey Show 21-23 October 2004; RAF Hendon, London Further details: see page 16

VIETNAM APIMONDIA SYMPOSIUM Issues concerning developing countries’ international trade in honey 23-28 November 2004, Hanoi Further details: see page 16

APIMONDIA International Apicultural Congress 21-26 August 2005, Dublin XXxXIX

Further details:

www.apimendia2005.com

NOTICE

PARAGUAY 7th Congreso Iberolatinoamericano y 1st Congreso Paraguayo de Apicultura

LEARN AHEAD IRELAND Irish Beekeepers' Summer Course 26-31 July 2004, Gormanston Further details: eosbee@indigo.ie

KENYA Beekeeping training course 22-28 August 2004, Molo Further details: baraka@africaonline.co.ke

UK Advanced Bee Husbandry Course 7-11 June 2004, York Further details: ken@basterfield.com

UK/TANZANIA Beekeeping in Rural Development Training Course Further details: Bees for Development If you want notice of your conference, workshop or meeting to be included here send details to Bees for Development Troy, Monmouth NP25 4AB UK

E-mail: info@beesfordevelopment.org Bees for Development helps projects in developing countries with copies of BfD Journal and other publications for use at training courses and workshops. We must receive your request three months ahead of the meeting date with an indication of the number of participants. Organisations with some funding resources available can order a Workshop Box: 50 for 25 participants (includes surface mail delivery). For more information visit our website store.

BOARD. |

See also foot of page 7

PROJECT SUPPORT FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

most important conditions needed to guarantee quality of life, the initiative points out that the original Nobel prizes have been subject to change over time, allowing the institution to adapt to changing views, while preserving its original intention of awarding people who through their work improve the lives of mankind. The Initiative will continue seeking support through the coming year. See: www.sustainable-prize.net/

Nations, supports beekeeping projects in developing countries.

For projects with budgets under US$10,000, beekeepers' groups and associations may apply for smail project funding from the TeleFood Special Fund. Request documents should include a brief description of the project's objectives, the proposed food production or income-generating activities, the work plan, the number of participants, a detailed list of inputs with cost estimates and the reporting arrangements. Submit your request to the office of FAO or UNDP in your country.

Applications for projects with budgets over US$10,000 must be submitted through a Government Ministry. See:

AGRICULTURE FOR PEACE International Foundation for Science (IFS) and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies issue a call for proposals for research on the theme of ‘Agriculture for Peace’.

Applications must be received by IFS by 30 June 2004. An eligible candidate is a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country, 45 years of age or younger, a holder of at minimum an MA degree (or equivalent), at the beginning of her/his research career. Restrictions: researchers that currently have an IFS Research grant. It is not possible to submit applications for both an Agriculture for Peace Fellowship and a standard IFS Research grant.

See: www.ifs.se/Special_ Programmes/AgPeace.htm

www.fao.org

NEW NOBEL PRIZE Over one million people and organisations from 106 countries have signed on to the call for Nobel Prize on sustainable development. These signatures were posted online on 10 December, the day the official Nobel award ceremonies took place. Emphasizing that sustainable development is one of the a

15

71

°

NATIONAL HONEY SHOW

TH

21-23 October 2004 Royal Air Force Museum, Graham Park Way, Hendon, London, UK

The largest honey show in the world Ticket for one day 5 per person Children free - 5% discount for traders . . .

- Free car and coach parking or a five minute . . walk from Colindale station Schedules available from The Honorary General Secretary Rev H F Capener 1 Baldric Road Folkestone, Kent

CT20 2NR, UK

0

%

E-mai -mail nathon@zbee.com Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1303 254 579

ey

si

x

Oo

Registered charity 233656

www.honeyshow.co.uk

8th ASIAN APICULTURAL

ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE

SYMPOSIU

CONCERNING

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN HONEY 23-28 November 2004 Hanoi, Vietnam The objective of the Symposium

is

to

enable more producer groups in developing countries to enter the world honey market Deadline for abstracts

><a

4%

-mondia ISSUES

x

Z Nat;o,

31

20-24 March 2006 Perth

Australia Further information from kfewster@iinet.net.au and in futures issues of

BfD Journal

August 2004

receive the Second Circular contact Quyet Tam Director of the Bee Research and Development Centre Langha, Dong da

To

PICU,

Mr Dinh

x

Hanoi

Am

VIETNAM

Email dinhgqtam@nn.vnn.vn

ISSN 1477-6588

Telephone +44 (0) 16007 13648

Bees for Development

Printed on environmentally friendly paper

E-mail info@beesfordevelopment.org Web www.beestordevelopment.org

Troy, Monmouth NP25 4AB, UK

Bees for Development 2004

of