Bio-diversity

In R. Macedonia, the production of bee products (honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, etc..) is accomplished through breeding of more than 109769 bee colonies. Modern methods of honey bee breeding, in order to increase production, imposes the need for regular replacement of old and depleted queens with new and productive. This substitution is unplanned and uncontroled, were Macedonian beekeepers often purchase young queens from non-native genetic material. This primarily refers to the procurement of young queens that are not derived from native Macedonian population (Apis mellifera macedonica) of honey bees (Uzunov at al., 2009). A large number of Macedonian beekeepers are purchasing queens derived from Slovenian or Kranjskata (Apis mellifera carnica) and Italian (Apis mellifera ligustica) population of honey bees. This uncontrolled import from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, often is initiated and carried through easily available online offer. This activity is greatest risk factor for genetic erosion of autochthonous Macedonian honey bee population. Despite the legal commitment (Law on Animal Husbandry, Fig. Gazette No.7 of 01/15/2008) and strategic governmental policy, for protection of A.m.macedonica as native subspecies, there are still limited number of activities in this field. In recent years, several initial actions are implemented in terms of awareness raising and breeding of indigenous Macedonian population. In fact, there is only one registered capacity for production of bee genetic material (Apicentar from Skopje) from A.m.macedonica. However, population size is small, limited and at risk of inbreeding. Additionally, the project realized the GEF Training center for growing Mariovska bee and production of organic bee products," created a basis for improving and expanding activities in the direction of protection of the Macedonian honeybee, raising public awareness and education of farmers of bees. The main goal of this project is the preservation of the native population of honey bees (Apis mellifera macedonica) in the Republic of Macedonia through the establishment of registered capacity for honey bee queen production. Additionaly, raise of public awareness and knowledge of the beekeepers is secondary objective of this project. Beekeeping association Eko-pcela, through this project will provide training for Macedonian beekeepers and will raise public awareness for protection of the native population of honey bees in the country. Promotional activities will be implemented in cooperation with the Union of Beekeeping Associations of Macedonia (SPZM), which represents 17 local associations of bee breeders from across the country.

Macedonia