Liam Devany Apimondia 2009
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Transcript of Liam Devany Apimondia 2009
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
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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