Acronym
CarpathianBee
NUMBER
PBU2/0941/18
Project type
Micro-project
STATUS
Completed
THEMATIC OBJECTIVE
HERITAGE
PRIORITY
1.2 Promotion and preservation of natural heritage
PARTNERSHIP
PL-UA
LEAD BENEFICIARY
Non-government organization Association of Beekeeper "Carpathian eco-apiary" (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine)
BENEFICIARY
Kolochava Village Council (Zakarpattya Oblast, Ukraine)
Association of self-governments "Euroregion Carpathians - Ukraine" (Lviv Oblast, Ukraine)
Association for Development and Promotion of Podkarpacie "Pro Carpathia" (Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland)
A small greyish bee, often seen buzzing around Carpathian flowers in the summer is a true explorer. Native to these areas, Carpathian bee or Karpatka is currently bred as far as the Caucasian Mountains. This little hero is hard-working, peaceful and resilient to weather adversities. Its honey is one of the typical local products of this area. Unfortunately, climate change, pesticide use and cross-breeding have reduced the number of purebred Carpathian bees by nearly 40%.
The CarpathianBee project team believes that this amazing creature is a part of the local natural heritage and must be protected along with beekeeping traditions. To achieve this, a number of activities have been conducted. Scientific and monitoring expeditions to high-altitude apiaries in Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions made it possible to study the breed composition and determine the level of variability of the breed in different seasons. Additionally, nucleus beehives and queen rearing system have been purchased in the purely populated area of Velykyi Rozhyn village. Moreover, two open-air events in Smodna and Kolochava, as well as the Carpathian Honey Festival in Kolochava presented and promoted the history of beekeeping in the Carpathians. In Poland, the workshop on beeswax candle making was organized. Two permanent open-air exhibitions "Carpathian apiary in the historical context - from hollow to "smart bee-hive" in the village of Smodna near Kosiv and in the village of Kolochava have been created, which became popular tourist attractions. In addition, five new tourist trails have been created on both sides of the border, connecting the main beekeeping locations. The project was promoted through extensive media campaign.
The main results of the project include joint solutions for tourism, building awareness, and promotion of regional identity. These efforts contribute to the preservation of the Carpathian bee and beekeeping traditions, while enhancing the ecological awareness of the Ukrainian-Polish borderland. Tourists now have a new attraction and can take home an authentic Carpathian souvenir.
EQUIPMENT
Thanks to the project, 30 embryo (mother) hives and specialized equipment for rearing bees were purchased. They allowed about 30 local beekeepers to become actively involved in the work of preserving and developing the Carpathian bee species.
Equipment for the outdoor exhibition was purchased. The 12 old hives placed in the exhibition area were renovated. Several different types of hives were purchased to show the beekeeping traditions in different regions of the Carpathians. It was purchased and installed on the basis of one of the "smart hive". It allows obtaining honey directly from the hive without external interference with the livelihoods of the bee colony. Protective suits were purchased for those visitors who are afraid of close contact with bees.
INFORMATION AND CULTURAL CENTER - PERMANENT OUTDOOR EXHIBITION
The centers were established in Smodna on the territory of the Hutsulshchyna National Park in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and in Kolochava in the Zakarpattya Oblast.
CARPATHIAN HONEY FESTIVAL
The festival drew attention to the problem of preserving the original breed of Carpathian bees, promoted beekeeping, local honey and other bee products. Beekeeping traditions of various communes of the Carpathian region were presented as part of the festival.
BEESWAX CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOP
The workshops took place in Ustrzyki Dolne and the village of Łodyna. Participants in the Bieszczady apiary heard about Old Polish beekeeping, watched a show of the hive and all equipment used by a beekeeper, and an overview of the bee colony. They discussed the functions of the apiary, the beekeeper's tasks and the life cycle of bees and their role in the natural environment. On the second day, they smelt beeswax candles.
CARPATHIAN HONEY TRAIL
Five tourist routes were created as part of the project. They cover the main tourist destinations associated with the history and presence of beekeeping:
3. Rzeszów (PL)
PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE
A promotional brochure published in three languages entitled "Beekeeping in the Polish-Ukrainian borderland" contains texts on the history of beekeeping in the Polish-Ukrainian borderland, the current situation in this field, the Carpathian bee, activities aimed at recreating this unique breed and maps of the five Carpathian honey routes.
"Beekeeping in the Polish-Ukrainian borderland"
CARPATHIAN NEWSLETTER
A special issue of the magazine devoted to beekeeping in the Carpathians was prepared and printed.
Newsletter (PL and UA version)
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