Bees helping remote Pacific communities in fight against climate change
In one of the worlds most vulnerable places to rising sea levels and other extreme weather events, tens of thousands of honeybees are helping to restore protective ecosystems and rebuild families incomes in their fight against the climate crisis. The tiny, buzzing climate champions are transported from the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, into remote island communities in Malaita Province , some 12 hours away by boat. The Solomons has the worlds second-highest risk of disasters like floods, cyclones and sea-level rise, research by the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) found. IFHV is a Europe-based academic institution that studies humanitarian crises. READ MORE: * Technology reveals hidden world of endangered subantarctic penguin species * Killer seaweed invasion is 'an environmental disaster on the scale of the Rena' * Fighting the good fight for varroa resistance in bees * Hive of activities has Southland Bee Society field and gala day buzzing The bee campaign is part of the Sustainable Community Climate Resilience programme through the International Union for Conservation of Nature-based Solutions. The project was launched by Save the Children and Mai-Maasina Green Belt, a tribal-based group in the Solomons, with support from Australias government and the World Wildlife Fund. With around two-thirds of residents living within 1km of the countrys coastline, communities are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events, Save the Childrens Paul Green said. He said there were also impacts on crops and food security across villages like in Malaita Province. A major concern is food security the impact of rising sea-levels, saltwater intrusion into crops, contamination of fresh water, and extreme weather patterns consequences of the climate crisis on food production and quality, which can be devastating for childrens lives, development and wellbeing. Following the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic , many people returned from the urban centres placing even greater pressure on food and water sources in local villages. Despite contributing very little to global carbon emissions, Solomon Islands is on the front line of the climate crisis and the way of life that has sustained communities here for centuries is under threat. Its no easy task shipping thousands of honeybees into remote communities, but we must be innovative in our attempts to support communities who are most at risk. Green said local farmers, women and youth were trained on how to care for the bees. He said they also learned how to diversify their income from farming and environmentally harmful practices like logging, to producing honey they could sell at the local markets. In turn, the bees also pollinate the vital mangroves which store carbon, produce food and act as natural buffers to cyclones and storms and protect coastal areas, along with wildlife and food sources such as fish and crabs. So far, 74 people have completed training on beekeeping, nurturing and honey production with 10 participants selected to look after the bee start-up kits, which include hive boxes, suits, smoker and tools. Farmer Alison, 43, was among those who completed the programme. The mother of six lost her home during bad weather : A strong wind blew down all the houses in our area. When our house collapsed, everything was blown away, all the walls and windows. The floor was the only part of the house that remained. It can rain for a week, and this kills our crops. I worry about what my kids are going to eat. Alison said her 4-year-old daughter Lucy also participated in the beekeeping course to learn more about bees, climate change and childrens rights. The climate crisis is a child's rights crisis and in order to put childrens rights at the heart of climate action , we must ensure that they are able to actively participate in projects that impact them. Alison had never seen bees before, but by the end of the training she hoped to become a trainer. The first time I saw honeybees coming out of the box, I was very frightened. I wanted to run away, I did not want to stand close. I wanted to watch from a distance. I love beekeeping now, and I know if I do it well, I can earn money for my family, Alison said.