Bee Responsible

Environmental Citizenship Campaigns ECOs-Locais Useful Tips Initiatives Technical Advice Projects

Between Nature, Education, and Culture

Bee Responsible is an Iberian project coordinated by the Liga para a Protecção da Natureza (Portugal) and Ecocolmena (Spain). Funded by the Freudenberg Group's e2 program (e=environment + e=education), this project has a duration of two years, ending in December 2023.

This project brings together a set of strengths that reinforce its innovative and ambitious nature based on a realistic vision. The presented concept proves to be greater than the sum of its parts, especially for the additional benefits it generates by interconnecting different areas and objectives.

The project arises from collective mobilization and the stimulation of environmental citizenship, to then outline pedagogical and nature conservation objectives, stimulating critical thinking, interpreting scenarios, and presenting solutions.

With a solid technical and scientific base content - enhanced by the presence of strategic partners - the project will highlight the importance of the conservation of bees and other pollinators, using knowledge sharing in various formats, hands-on group activities, and moments of contemplation and pleasure with a strong cultural slant.

All of the activities presented have direct success metrics, particularly with regard to conservation measures, and indirect ones, as a result of developing social skills and promoting a better quality of life.

In parallel to the program of activities, pedagogical materials and resources will be designed by the participants themselves, as well as by technical teams, who will ensure that the project not only remains in everyone's memory, but can be replicated in other places and in similar contexts.

A program of stimulating activities that strengthens social bonds and creates new connections to nature

The program begins with discovering the world of pollinators through a dynamic online session that will take the first step in transferring knowledge about the topic of pollinators, the threats they face, and what will be done to address them.

After this initial meeting, the participants will be able to act for the conservation of pollinators. The core of the larger-scale conservation actions will be in the heart of the Alentejo, the Castro Verde plains, where LPN owns the Vale Gonçalinho Environmental Education Center (CEAVG) and co-manages the Castro Verde Biosphere Reserve. Actions will also be implemented in an urban context, particularly in the Vileda area of influence, in the Park Sweden, which will be framed by a multidisciplinary panel with extensive experience in this area.

The project has the participation of FLOWer Lab, a research group of recognized merit, from the University of Coimbra, in the theme of the project that will reinforce the scientific component and will accompany the action in an orchard in the West region. This action aims to clarify the importance of pollinators for the production of food that are part of our daily lives. This way of illustrating the role of pollinators will also be evident in the visit to Arrábida Natural Park which will focus on the intimate connection between insects and wild orchids, magnificent examples of our flora.