Beekeeping and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Balkans Region
Melanie Rudolf Ohio University
Table of Contents v Purpose of Booklet v Beekeeping in the Balkans Region v Preserving Traditional Culture v Rural Development (Economic benefits) v Potential Economic Opportunities v Ecological Benefits
Purpose of this Booklet
v This booklet has been created to increase knowledge about beekeeping as an alternative livelihood in the Balkans region. Its aim is to increase awareness about the potential benefits of small-‐ scale beekeeping to boost local economies and benefit rural communities. This booklet also aims to inform individuals, organizations and communities about the economic opportunity beekeeping presents in national and international markets.
Beekeeping in the Balkans Region
v The Balkans peninsula has a long history of beekeeping. The area is commonly referred to as rich bee country; the Balkans mountain range hosts a richly diverse population of herbs and flowers that produce high quality honey. Beekeeping in this region was a highly esteemed profession, with laws that forbade theft of honey and imposed rules about the quality of the product (Crane 221). Previously, beekeeping in this region was performed in the traditional skep, a woven basket hive, or a hollowed out wooden log (Crane 221). By the 1990s however, most of the beekeeping in the region was done in modern wooden hives (Crane 220). These wooden hives can be made out of many types of wood and modeled using a hive diagram. They are relatively inexpensive to build. v Beekeeping in the Balkans region has continued and remains a source of livelihood for many families. It presents a unique source of income for rural communities, beekeeping takes relatively little time when compared cattle raising or agriculture. Many products can be created from apiculture, such as honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax. These products can be sold in local markets as well as global markets. National and International grants and projects have created rural development opportunities for beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood. The creation of many new national parks in the Balkans region has instigated questions surrounding ecological development of the area. Sustainable beekeeping provides a non-‐destructive and ecologically beneficial livelihood for communities living within the nation parks. Source: Crane, E. (1999). The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting. New York: Routledge.
Preserving Traditional Culture
v Apiculture provides a unique income that maintains the traditional rural culture of the Balkans region. The rich culture of the Balkans region is an attractive aspect for visiting tourists. By promoting beekeeping as a business, the honey produced in the alpine slopes of the Balkans Mountains can be marketed as the exclusive product that it is. The capacity of rural communities knowledge of beekeeping will be preserved and grow to provide more economic value for the whole community. The traditions of rural communities will not be lost, but strengthened and sharpened for a stronger local economy.
Economic Benefits
v Beekeeping can easily be a supplemental income for farming communities. Bees provide pollination services that can increase crop production. The addition of beekeeping to a farm diversifies the income of small-‐scale farmers, which makes them more resistant to financial issues, creating a more resilient farming community. v The strengthening of rural communities makes it possible for individuals to continue to live in a traditional way without sacrificing their quality of life. By strengthening the honey production of rural communities, they will gain access to larger markets for their products. Higher quality products can be exported to the European Union for premium market prices.
Rural Development Opportunities v The European Union has been sponsoring many rural development projects in the Balkans region. This presents an economic opportunity for communities to increase beekeeping. Non-‐Governmental Organizations have also been offering grants to help rural economies. Many communities need financial support to develop honey production infrastructure, these types of organizations and programs provide funding to increase development. v Case Study 1: The Balkan Federation of Apicultural Associations is an organization that unites the beekeeping associations in the Balkans region. This association lobbies for European Union funding for beekeeping projects such as educational campaigns and scientific research. Source: APIBALCANICA -‐ Protocols and Reports. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2015.
v Case Study 2: Serbia and the European Union are funding a program called “Beekeeping-‐ Activity for the Future” in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This program is hosting the fair “Days of Honey” in Gorazde. The project is aimed at rural economic development through beekeeping and honey production. Serbia and the European Union hope this project will strength the honey market in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the exports to Serbia and the European Union. Source: The EU and Serbia support Bosnia Herzegovina's beekeeping project. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2015. v Case Study 3: Environmentally Responsible Action Group (ERA) has provided 60 beehives to local villages in Kosovo through their program, “Sustainable Beekeeping.” This program is a part of the Green Agenda, a program located in the Rugova valley in Kosovo, which is dedicated to sustainable community development. There are four working groups within the Green Agenda, Ecological Agriculture, Natural Culture and Heritage, Environmental Protection, and Rural and Sustainable Development. Source: ERA-‐ Green Agenda. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2015.
Ecological Benefits
v The only way for beekeeping to be part of a sustainable livelihood is for the social, economic and ecological aspects to be included. Beekeeping provides pollination for angiosperms (flower bearing plants) such as fruit trees, but also for many forest plants. Apiculture provides a non-‐timber forest product, which may reduce the reliance on income from logging. Overcutting and clear cutting have been issues in the Balkans region for many years. By providing an alternative source of income, the forests can be managed more efficiently for greater health of the entire Balkans ecosystem.
Issues encountered:
I have encountered a few issues when finishing my project. I wish to include a diagram that explains how to build a wooden hive but I am worried for two reasons, all the plans are in English and in inches, and I believe there are already existing plans that cater to the Balkans region better than American plans. I tried to research the Balkan Federation of Apicultural Associations because this is an association that unites beekeeping associations in many Balkan countries. There is information that they contact and gain funding from the European Union, however, much of the information was in Russian and hard to understand. Furthermore, I did not see any mention of Kosovo, and I am assuming that the association does not recognize Kosovo as a country. I think this could be one way for beekeepers to gain European Union funding but I cannot be sure until I know of its involvement in these countries as well. I have tried researching the beekeeping program mentioned by Mark Rupa of CNVP but I cannot find anything online about it. I have tried to contact CNVP for more information about this project but they have not responded to my message. I do not feel comfortable including CNVP’s project without more information. Though I feel my project is almost done, I do actually want to make these booklets and make them useful. I would like to know everyone’s opinion on how to proceed.