Lower Austria: Home of the bees - save biodiversity!

Lower Austria: Home of the bees - save biodiversity!

Niederösterreich, Österreich - On May 20, 2025, the bee day is celebrated worldwide, a good occasion to point out the importance of bees for biodiversity and agriculture. In Lower Austria, which has high ecological diversity with around 600 wild bee species, this day plays a special role. As reports noen.at, the region is a retreat for many threatened bee treasures. Herbert Greisberger, Managing Director of the Energy and Environment Agency Lower Austria, underlines the importance of this diversity for the ecological balance.

An outstanding species is the blue -black wooden bee, which with its height of up to 28 mm is the largest domestic wild bee. It nested in dead wood solitary and puts on its broods in gears, which can be up to 40 cm long. Her characteristic humming is reminiscent of the sound of a beetle and symptoms of stitches are extremely rare. This information comes from nabu.de, which also indicate that the bee is often confused with bumblebees, but is characterized by their shiny-black shiny and the blue-coloring wings.

challenges for bee population

Despite their importance, bees and other insects face increasing threats. The decline in biological diversity, as explained by the [bmel.de] (https://www.bmel.de/de/themen/Landwirtschaft/arten Vielfalt/insekten-biological- Vielfalt.html), is a serious challenge. The reasons for this include the sealing of areas, the use of pesticides, light pollution and the effects of climate change. The living conditions of the blue -black wooden bee are also at risk because dead wood is often removed from the landscape.

agriculture is dependent on the pollinators to ensure the yields sustainably. In Lower Austria, around 5,000 beekeepers look after around 40,000 bee colonies, whose pollination performance generates agricultural values of around 66 million euros. More than 1,500 hectares of flower strips have been created by the “We for Bees” campaign since 2019, and farmers and hunters have another 3,000 hectares of flowering areas. These measures are crucial to improve the habitat and food basis for bees.

initiatives to protect the bees

In the context of protection programs, both traditional beekeeping practices and modern landscape planning are combined. For example, schools receive “bee boxes” that offer students an insight into the life of bee colonies. Community premiums for insect -friendly front gardens motivate the population to actively contribute to promoting biodiversity. Practical tips to support wild bees include planting domestic shrubs and creating “wild corners” as well as leaving dead wood.

May 20 not only commemorates the world's day of the bee, but also recognizes Anton Janša, an important pioneer of modern beekeeping. At a time when the biodiversity crisis is becoming increasingly threatening, awareness and commitment to protect the bees and other pollinators is more important than ever.