SEOUL, March 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Five Korean government ministries are joining forces to protect honeybees from the impact of climate change.
The Rural Development Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Korea Forest Service, and the Korea Meteorological Administration are collaborating to combat the alarming decline in honeybee populations.
Recent weather changes have caused the flowering period of acacia trees, which account for 70 percent of honey production, to shorten, leading to a decrease in honey production.
As a result, there is an urgent need to develop new nectar sources, protect bees, and preserve ecosystems.
The business agreement is aimed at finding ways for the five ministries to secure new nectar sources and increase productivity in the beekeeping industry.
The honeybee decline, which has been a serious problem in recent years, is expected to worsen this year. Last year, 17.6 billion honeybees disappeared, and more than 20 billion are expected to vanish this year.
The decline in honeybees is a worrying sign of climate change that could lead to a decrease in crop production and threaten the foundation of the agricultural sector.
According to the Beekeeping Association, more than 880,000 beehives were damaged at 10,546 bee farms as of Nov. 30 last year.
Beekeepers are particularly concerned about climate change as the queen bee spawns early in the warm winter weather, and the active honeybees die without being able to return home.
In other words, honeybee damage is increasing due to the infiltration of baby bees in the process of caterpillars becoming cocoons because of early spawning.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
