POLLINATORS FOR BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
Aware of the serious damage that the dramatic reduction in the populations of apoidea is causing and will cause to ecosystems, in November 2021 Acqua dell'Elba launched a collaboration with the World Biodiversity Association aimed at safeguarding and protecting all pollinating insects - starting with bees, but not only - which are key to the survival of the plants on which our very lives depend.
The project, which came under the management of the Acqua dell'Elba Foundation in May 2022, consists of two activities:
- On the one hand, the installation of so-called "Domus Mellifere", genuine "artificial nests" which, located in natural or inhabited areas where swarms have settled in various cavities in the past, can contribute to restoring lost populations, providing simple and natural aid to these organisms;
- On the other, the spread of the "natural beekeeping" honey bee breeding method which minimises the use of technology while adopting organic techniques and ensuring excellent efficiency in disease and pest control. The honey bee is an extraordinary pollinator which, together with other apoidea species (around 2000 species in Europe and over 1000 in Italy), ensures the conservation of plant biodiversity and therefore the survival of terrestrial ecosystems.
The project aims to create new awareness around the topic of Biodiversity protection through tangible actions. Installing and monitoring "Domus mellifera" or helping to spread the natural beekeeping technique are two timely actions for supporting the healthy and abundant growth of local vegetation. Vegetation that in turn helps to protect agricultural production, support oxygen production and prevent hydrogeological disruption.
