Heat, drought, and fires: 80 million fewer bees in Sardinia this summer.
Nests are compromised, entire colonies are dying. Honey producers are raising the alarm about the industry.
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Climate change, intense heat, drought, and fires, along with the usual parasites and pesticides, are decimating bees in Sardinia. Losses of around 80 million insects were reported last summer alone. This is the great plight of beekeeping on the island, a sector that employs over 200 farmers and has been clamoring for years to be recognized as a strategic sector: "We have long been proposing that beekeeping be considered not just an agricultural activity, but a strategic element for the balance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the entire regional production system, through the essential pollination service provided by bees," explains Davide Brisi di Sennariolo, president of ApiPro Sardegna, which represents half of Sardinia's professional beekeepers.
The problems
The heat is a real disaster for bees: the wax in their combs melts, their nests are damaged, and entire colonies die. In addition to honey, bees are the main pollinating insects, ensuring the reproduction of approximately 75% of plant species and contributing to a large portion of global food production and ecosystem conservation.
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