“On the island of Ireland authentic populations of native Irish dark honey bees, Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm), still exist in the wild and in many beekeepers hives but they are under threat. Our native bees thrive in this changeable climate but they are facing their greatest challenge yet – hybridisation from non-native bees.The causes are the imprudent importation of non-native sub-species and the breeding of hybrid honey bees. Sadly, these bees then contribute to the shared gene pool and in the long term, jeopardise the whole island’s biodiversity and heritage by destroying the native bee in our landscape. A Conservation Area (CA) is a designated area of land where Amm is accorded special protections and where beekeepers commit to only keep native Amm. If you live on the island of Ireland and you have a care for its Biodiversity, go to www.nihbs.org and learn more about Conservation Areas in the “What we do” drop down list, then:
• Commit to a local Conservation Area, its simple
• Explain to beekeepers in your area about the importance of protecting Ireland’s native dark bee, inform and educate. Get them on board
• Go the NIHBS website and read our “ Statement Against Importing Bees to Ireland “
• Support the “Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021” by emailing your political representatives. A sample email is on the website
• Become a member of NIHBS. More info at www.nihbs.org .
There is strength in numbers.”
