The Slovenia Times

Da Silva upbeat about World Honeybee Day

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Some say that this is not a big thing, Da Silva said. "But we must not underestimate small things. We speak a lot about the effects of climate change, now is the time to act. Honeybees are a good start..." he added.

Noting that the FAO was a rather technical organisation, he said the organisation would be happy to support Slovenia's efforts. "This is important not just for Slovenia, but also for the FAO, as our main goal is to eradicate hunger and this cannot be done without honeybees."

The FAO has been long underlining the role of pollen vectors, bees, other insects, bats and some bird species.

The number of bee families has been dropping all over the world, not just in China but also in the US, especially in California, and in Canada and Europe, he said.

Forests are being cut down and monoculture is reducing plant diversity, which is crucial for the survival of bees. The use of chemicals, especially pesticides, and climate change also negatively affect bees.

The process of having the UN declare 20 May World Honeybee Day is at an early stage, but Da Silva is optimistic, given the fact that the initiative enjoys the support of the Slovenian government, the FAO and numerous NGOs around the world.

Da Silva came for a visit at the invitation of Agriculture Minister Dejan Židan, who said that the World Honeybee Day project was one of Slovenia's most complex projects at the moment.

"We will discuss the issue again at the FAO agriculture committee in Rome in September, while the FAO council will debate it in December. The official decision is expected in July next year."

Da Silva held talks with Židan and President Borut Pahor this morning, before taking part in a round table debate dubbed Honeybees and Sustainable Development at Ljubljana Castle.

Židan said at the round table that the main challenges in beekeeping were preserving the genetic purity of the Carniolan honeybee and taking care of honey quality.

"Only in agriculture at the global level honey bees generate EUR 153bn in economic benefit a year, of which EUR 22bn in Europe and more than EUR 100m in Slovenia," the minister said.

Židan is convinced that Slovenia is a superpower in beekeeping, as its know-how and practice in the field is immense. "I believe that in May 2018 we will be celebrating World Honeybee Day for the first time."

Danilo Bevk of the National Biology Institute meanwhile pointed to the importance of pollinator diversity, which are the only ones who can provide reliable pollination. "Relying on honeybees alone is not enough."

"Slovenia is relatively successful in protecting the Carniolan honey bee, but when it comes to wild pollinators I have noticed that their role is frequently overlooked," he warned.

Boštjan Noč of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association welcomed the support Slovenia is receiving for its initiative to declare World Honeybee Day.

The aim is to raise once a year the awareness that the world needs honeybees and that conditions should be created to preserve honeybees and other pollinators, he said.

After the debate, Da Silva is to attend the opening of the Save the Bees exhibition. On the second day of the visit, the FAO head will attend the 14th Slovenian Beekeepers' Days in the northeastern town of Rače.

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