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Wild bees monitoring confirms success of biodiversity measures of Pro Planet Apple Project

  • Published on November 1, 2018
More biodiversity friendly management of apple and other fruits plantations is one of the seven pilot initiatives within the Sustainable Food Systems programme's core initiative to Measure, valuate and communicate biodiversity

Since 2010, about 100 orchard farmers in Lake Constance Region, the cooperative Obst vom Bodensee, German food retailer REWE Group and Lake Constance Foundation are working together to improve the biodiversity performance with a special focus on wild bees and other pollinating insects. 250 hectares of flowering meadows plus other habitats were created and 2.500 supporting structures for insects, birds and bats installed. Farmers changed some of their most impacting farming practises.

Since the beginning a monitoring system focussing on wild bees was implemented. The results in 2018 are very positive: 117 wild bee species were identified, among them 25 species that are classified as threatened or endangered. At the monitoring points, a high number of individuals per population as well as up to 34 different species could be counted. In some locations, the number of species doubled. In 2015, the roll out of the Pro Planet Apple Initiative started, covering today 13 fruit production regions in Germany and involving more than 250 farmers.

It is a positive example on how sound sourcing requirements of food companies accompanied by technical and financial support for farmers can make a positive contribution to biodiversity protection.

For more information contact Patrick Trötschler.

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