Without bees we’re in a bit of trouble – actually, a lot of trouble. Yes, there are other earthlings that pollinate, like wasps, ants and even March flies, but no buzzy body does it better than bees and if we lose them, we’re cactus.
The good news is that The Colony Bees Association (CB) is launching Pollinate Country – a direct action ‘rewilding’ campaign to preserve pollinator habitat in the Northern Rivers.
Pollinate Country bridges ecological health with community wellbeing through bees. A registered charity, CB says that their rewilding program conserves the 1,700 native bee species, endemic plants, agricultural crops and overall biodiversity of the Bundjalung nation through pollination and pollinator preservation.
The association believes that by protecting pollinators, we contribute to the land’s capacity for self-renewal. Doing so also cultivates essential food and nutrients for all animals by enhancing the health and vitality of bees in the area.
The area studied is an exceptionally important and diverse landscape with particularly high biodiversity evident in the subtropical, warm temperate rainforests and palm forests, swamp sclerophyll forests, tall open Eucalypt forests, woodlands, mallees, freshwater wetlands and diverse other structural forms and ecological associations noted.
High biodiversity
The flora here is of regional, state and national significance and has highly significant biological and geophysical function and the association’s primary objective is to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Pollinators are an intrinsic part of the biosphere and their health can reflect the overall health of an ecosystem. There are a number of different types of insect pollinators that live in the Northern Rivers, including bees, wasps, ants, flies, moths and butterflies, all of which need protection to ensure a healthy environment.
An ancient ecological bond
Spencer Alexander White, founder and Director of The Colony Bees Association, says that there is an ancient ecological bond that humans share with bees and plants. ‘It’s a timeless unity of co-creation and co-evolution’.
‘We aim to collaborate with families, schools, community groups, councils, relevant departments, and Indigenous land councils to conserve the health of pollinator species and habitats.’
CB is partnering with landholders with high floral diversity – and chemical free land – to create 189 bee conservation sites. Each bee sanctuary will provide a nesting cavity using natural beekeeping principles. This network of bee sanctuaries will improve the geographical diversity of pollinators and provide an engaging opportunity for the community to observe and learn with native bees on their property.
Pollinate Country will monitor wild free-living colonies, protect pollinator habitat and biodiversity and cultivate healthy bee populations.
This is important work and it’s not hard for you to join the cause. To register for Pollinate Country or volunteer with The Colony Bees Association, email: [email protected].
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