Approaches to successful integration of bees into the urban environment as part of local food initiatives

Liam DevanyPhD Researcher

University of Glamorgan

GLAMORGAN UK

APIMONDIA 2009 MONTPELIERINTRO

GLAMORGAN UK

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CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS OVER TIME

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS OVER TIME

Increased Temperature & Precipitation

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LIAM DEVANY POPULATION / TRANSPORT COSTS

POPULATION / TRANSPORT COSTS Developing Nations Fuel / Transport Costs

Some Typical Supermarket Food Miles

Green Beans 3,600 miles from Kenya

Apples 4,700 miles from the USA

Onions 12,000 miles from Australia

Carrots - 51,000 miles from South Africa Richer economies demand

more food

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LIAM DEVANY FUEL CROPS / CLIMATE

FUEL CROPS & CLIMATEResponsible for 30% loss of crops per year currently

Biofuel Acreage Climate Change

Food vs Fuel Yield Reductions By 2010, 30% corn and 23% soybeans will be fuel

Yields fall 3-5% every 1ºF increase Average temp. rise 1.8ºF by 2030

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LIAM DEVANY PEAK OIL EFFECTS

PEAK OIL - SHARP SUDDEN DECLINE!

95% of the food we eat in UK is oil-dependent 81% of our food came from outside the UK last year

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LIAM DEVANY CURRENT UK AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

MONOCROPPING HABITAT DESTRUCTION

CURRENT UK AGRICULTURAL PRACTICESLARGE-SCALE PESTICIDE SPRAYING

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LIAM DEVANY IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATION IN FOOD CHAIN

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATION IN FOOD CHAIN

Bees are responsible for 80% of our food via pollination

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LIAM DEVANY CHANGE FOOD POLICY

CHANGE FOOD POLICY Energy Intensive vs. Low Energy Methods

• Reduce frozen and packaged food consumption drastically

• Manufactured groceries replaced by local production

• As much food as possible to be grown locally

• Food transportation reduced to 100 miles or less

• Organic food eliminates pesticides, herbicides & fertilisers

• Adopt Agrarian over Industrial agriculture

• 15-25% of workforce will be required for food production

• Labour intensive farming better for soil and more productive

• 5:1 total energy reduction

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LIAM DEVANY CHANGE FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE

• Introduction of widescale urban apiculture

• Show people how to farm food in an urban environment.

• Reduce diet related problems, increase exercise.

• Reduce the environmental impact of food in London.

• Increase the affordability of healthy, sustainable food in London to make it accessible to all.

• Reduce the amount of food waste and increase composting.

• Utilise food waste as a fertiliser to divert from landfill.

• Utilise Rainwater to conserve on mains water supplies.

CHANGE FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE

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COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION MODEL

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION MODEL

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LIAM DEVANY BUMBLE BEES=HONEY

Media Equates Bumble Bees with HoneyWrong associations are established at an early age

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MEDIA INFLUENCE = CONFUSION

MEDIA INFLUENCE=CONFUSION

HONEY BEE?

WASP?

Public has difficulty distinguishing honey bees from wasps

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AFRICAN KILLER BEE’S STINGS = DEATH

MEDIA INFLUENCE=FEAR

MEDIA INFLUENCE = FEAR

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PROBLEMS WITH URBAN INTEGRATIONFEAR = ANGER

FEAR=ANGER

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PROBLEMS WITH URBAN INTEGRATIONLEADING TO DIRECT VANDALISM OF INDIVIDUAL HIVES

VANDALISM OF HIVES

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INFORM YOUR COMMUNITY

DOOR POST NEIGHBOURS

INFORM YOUR COMMUNITY

MEET & EXPLAIN APICULTURE

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COMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONDISCUSS POTENTIAL HIVE SITES

DISCUSS POTENTIAL HIVE SITES

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ENLISTING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERSMANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK

ENLISTING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

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RIVER ISLAND EFFECT

RIVER ISLAND EFFECT

ASSISTS IN EARLY BLOOMS & HONEY YIELDS?

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LIAM DEVANY ALL VACANT SPACE UTILISED

ALL VACANT SPACE UTILISED

Recycle any containers for growing Nectar rich plants

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PLACING INDIVIDUAL HIVES

Garage & Patio Roofs City Parks & Allotments

PLACING IDIVIDUAL HIVES

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INTEGRATING URBAN APIARIESPart of a sustainable biodiversity plan

Greening Cities Converting flat roofs

INTEGRATING URBAN APIARIES

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CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A SITE

Protected from

public by fence

Sheltered from elements by large trees

Easy bee visibility of hive entrances

Surrounding environment lacks prime pollinators

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A SITE

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REQUIREMENTS OF STRUCTURE

HUMANS Small footprint for 16 hives Integrated Pest Management Easy maintenance of each hive Adjustable outer entrances Minimum use of materials Anti vandal doors Disabled access ramp Solar powered lighting Rainwater Harvesting

REQUIREMENTS OF STRUCTURE - humans

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REQUIREMENTS OF STRUCTURE

BEES Each hive sealed on the inside Thermal retention and dryness Large landing strips Double layer element protection Easy bee escape when hives are opened Easy identification of hives by through shape & colour Access to water source for drinking – rain barrels

REQUIREMENTS OF STRUCTURE - bees

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CREATION OF A BIODIVERSITY ENGINE

CREATION OF A BIODIVERSITY ENGINE

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HORIZONTAL HIVES - Easiest access for all ages

HIVE COMPONENTS Separate crown boards cover the

brood (entrance) and honey chamber to minimise disturbance

Full mesh floor for varroa drop-through & ventilation

Easy disassembly - using dowel rods All frames Langstroth Brood x 20 Made of White Pine Sliding trays with gel sheets to catch

hive debris and count varroa

HORIZONTAL HIVE – EASIEST ACCESS

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INDIVIDUAL HIVE IDENTIFICATION

Adjustable Hive Entrance

Hive Entrance Colours & Shapes

INDIVIDUAL HIVE IDENTIFICATION

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THREE YEAR FIELD TEST CONCLUSIONS 20 frames brood size were filled in each horizontal hive Honey yields were double outside hives in same location Internal temperatures 15º F warmer inside structure Ambient moisture reduced by 35% in internal hives Structure retained full weatherproof integrity Bees drank rainwater from barrel by addition of water lillies Observable bee recognition of separate colonies Biodiversity Park audit showed 25% species increase in 3 years Vandalism - none Bee Exits failed in skylight – adjustable ones installed Solar panel did not provide enough internal lighting

THREE YEAR FIELD TEST CONCLUSIONS

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A NEW GENERATION OF BEEKEEPERSTRAINING COVERS AGES 10 – 18 YEARS

A NEW GENERATION OF BEEKEEPERS

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LIAM DEVANY A SENSE OF PURPOSE

A SENSE OF PURPOSE

Youth have positive roles

Genders have equal status

Children learn young

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTACKNOWLEDGING ACHIEVEMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGING ACHIEVEMENTS

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LOCAL HIVE PRODUCE

LOCAL HIVE PRODUCE

HONEY

CUT COMB

MEADS CANDLES

POLISHESPOLLENPROPOLIS

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LIAM DEVANY SALES = INCENTIVISATION

SALES = INCENTIVISATION

Local Community Events

Minimum Transport Costs

Wider area Farmer’s Markets

Cheaper Prices

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LIAM DEVANY COMMUNITY ROOF APICULTURE

COMMUNITY ROOF APICULTURE

A Green Oasis on our Urban Rooftops