Pollinator plan being developed to protect Ulster bee population

EMBARGOED TO 0001 FRIDAY MAY 24

Undated handout photo issued by Plantlife of
a honeybee covered in pollen after collecting pollen from a lilac Malva Flower. Gardeners are being asked to count the flowers in their lawns to help draw up a picture of how they can provide important food for pollinators. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday May 24, 2019. See PA story ENVIRONMENT Lawns. Photo credit should read: Paula French/iStockphoto/Plantlife/PA Wire

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — EMBARGOED TO 0001 FRIDAY MAY 24 Undated handout photo issued by Plantlife of a honeybee covered in pollen after collecting pollen from a lilac Malva Flower. Gardeners are being asked to count the flowers in their lawns to help draw up a picture of how they can provide important food for pollinators. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday May 24, 2019. See PA story ENVIRONMENT Lawns. Photo credit should read: Paula French/iStockphoto/Plantlife/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

The decline of bees was a subject of a recent written question put to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs by Mr Patsy McGlone (SDLP, Mid Ulster).

Mr McGlone had asked the minister what measures were being taken and would be taken by his department to arrest the decline in the bee population.

Mr Poots replied: “The department provides guidance to landowners on the maintenance of habitats to support the bee and wider pollinator population.

“Official controls are implemented by the department which includes monitoring honeybee apiaries and bee imports to detect the presence of harmful pests.

“An online database (Databees) has been introduced by the department in 2018 to encourage voluntary registration of bee keepers to improve effectiveness of bee health and controls.

“The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) facilitates preliminary courses for new entrants to beekeeping.”

Mr Poots concluded: “The department is currently contributing to the on-going work of a coalition of interest groups aimed at the development of a pollinator plan covering the years 2021 to 2025. This will inform future policy considerations of this department regarding its role in supporting a healthy bee population.”