The importance of bees in biodiversity and its contribution to food security and nutrition
20 from May of 2018, Libreville – On World Day of Bees, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations emphasized the importance of pollinators for biodiversity conservation, thus drawing attention to the need to conserve this species, also enhance its role in food security and nutrition.
In 20 December 2017, the United Nations (HIM) passed a resolution to celebrate the World Day of the Bees on 20 May. The goal is to promote awareness of the population on the essential role played by bees and other pollinators. Bees and other pollinators are widely recognized for their role and contribution to food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, environmental health and ecosystems, enhancement of biodiversity and other aspects of sustainable development. However, and around the world, increasingly pollinator species have been disappearing due to various factors, most of which are of human origin.
“Pollination is a fundamental process in natural terrestrial ecosystems and managed by Man. It is an essential contributor to the production of foods and establishes a direct link between natural ecosystems and agricultural production systems "explained Irina Buttoud, employee of FAO for Central Africa responsible for forests. Besides, “the vast majority of flower with plant species does not produce seeds if animal pollinators not carry pollen from stamens to the stigmas of flowers. Without this service, many interdependent species and many processes operating within the same ecosystem would disappear”, he added.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) welcomed this decision will help promote international initiatives and collective action for the protection of bees and their habitats, increasing its density and diversity, and sustainable development of beekeeping.
The role of bees in food and nutrition security and the fight against poverty
Bees play an important role in the overall food chain. According to the Intergovernmental Platform of Scientific Policy on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the value of the ecological and economic services provided by bees matches 577 billion US dollars. Besides, a third of world food production depends directly on their pollination activity and bees are, between pollinators, those that perform the pollination more effectively. Through plant pollination, bees favor agricultural production to ensure food security, and through its high nutritional value products (mel, Royal jelly, pollen, etc.), nutrition security of the population.
According to Irina Buttoud, “beekeeping or creation of bees is an economic activity with low environmental impact. Requiring low investment, it can provide substantial yields and enhance food safety and nutrition of the rural population, highly dependent on forest products for their livelihoods, but currently, honey in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and other countries of the subregion, remains a treasure with potential under-exploited”.
Gabon, FAO in partnership with the Agency for Execution of Activities of the Forestry and Wood (AEAFFB) supported the training process in beekeeping communities organized within the community forests within the project "Support Beekeeping in Community Forests in Gabon”.
50 selected beekeepers were trained in post-harvest techniques, packaging and processing of bee products. Particular attention was given to the quality and hygiene standards during harvesting and packaging of honey. Fifteen of these beekeepers were also trained in techniques for the development of other by-products of the hive (beeswax and propolis). To limit the use of imported inputs that are expensive and difficult to access for community structures, production capacities of certain inputs were developed beekeeping. Seven carpenters and tailors were trained on top of hives breeding techniques (Kenyan model), hives and beekeeping. Other equipment and supplies bee (installation, monitoring, harvesting and packaging) not available in Gabon were imported from Rwanda and distributed in pilot sites : 8 minis honey production centers were well-equipped, including 28 demonstration hives with a total of 107 hives in operation. The annual production capacity is estimated at these hives 2 tons of honey (average, 250 per kg production of mini-centers) is 100 kg wax.
Equatorial Guinea, through the project “supporting the development of beekeeping in rural areas”, FAO has trained women and young people to best practices in beekeeping and production hives. The main objective was to demonstrate, through pilot activities, it is possible to develop apiculture as a revenue generating activity in rural areas, particularly in the mainland and the island of Bikoko. Total, over thirty beekeepers were trained and eighty hives were installed in the region and allowed the increase honey production in the municipalities of Moka and Nsor.
These initiatives have sought an effect of spreading and promoting gradual, training the first generation of beekeepers. The project experience in the domestication of native bees that are part of biodiversity shows that economic development can be compatible with the preservation of biodiversity. The almost zero use of chemical pesticides in various rural areas of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea made it possible to provide an organic honey sub-sector and its derivatives, which are very popular in local and international markets. if I, Beekeeping is an activity capable of promoting a positive environmental impact, it stimulates pollination and, therefore, productivity of forest ecosystems (and agricultural) surrounding.
Besides, We celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May. This will be an opportunity to highlight the achievements of its objectives at national and global. Hélder Muteia, Coordinator of the FAO Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa, “despite the growing awareness of biodiversity as a hidden friend, long ignored and neglected, most of its benefits have not been studied, known or recognized. With this systematic loss of biodiversity, the biosphere is weakening and also more fragile are the various ecosystems that feed life, food production, oxygenation of atmospheric air, carbon balance, etc. Therefore, it is urgent to face the biodiversity as a source of life and resilience ". As a result, “It is necessary to prevent the loss of natural resources that sustain life on the planet. Combat global warming and climate change, but also take more specific measures such as combating deforestation, wildfires, poaching, illegal and illegal fishing, the use of pollutants and agrochemicals, sea water pollution by plastics and contamination”, He stressed.
Credit Original text: http://www.fao.org/sao-tome-e-principe/noticias/detail-events/en/c/1133316/
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