UK Gov. Launches New Program To Save Honeybees, But No New Research Money After Budget Cuts

[hatrack]

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The new consultation aimed at protecting bees was announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It admitted honey bees face a growing number of threats from pests and diseases including varroa mite, parasitic brood mite and invasive species such as the Asian hornet which preys on honey bee colonies.

The new strategy focuses on more effective biosecurity and better husbandry by beekeepers but ministers have made clear no extra money is on offer. The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) which has 11,000 members, said the new initiative was welcome but would fail unless it was underpinned by better funding.

Chairman Martin Smith said: " Wild bees can no longer survive because of the varroa mite. They might cling on for a year or so but they eventually succumb. I personally doubt whether the honey bee will disappear completely but we could end up with vastly reduced numbers. "In Britain we are hobby beekeepers and should they stop caring and looking after them, the honey bee will disappear. "Bees more than earn their keep through pollinating crops and it should not be beyond Defra to find a relatively small amount of money to spend on investigating what is happening to bees and to find ways of minimising losses.

"There is a budget for the National Bee Unit and for inspections but only about £200,000 is left for research. We had establishments that led the world on bee diseases but they were allowed to wither on the vine and now we need them more than ever."

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/04/08/eabees108.xml