The silent voice of bees
An in-depth, loving and fascinated glance at the world of bees and the projects carried out in Val Rendena to protect them.
History and NatureBack in 1962, American biologist and zoologist Rachel Carson wrote the book Silent Spring, which was a real gamechanger in the world of international environmentalism. Since then, although rivers of words and good intentions have flooded the world, that silence, instead of being filled with the magical trills of nightingales and the chirping of crickets, has become more deafening and gloomy. Today, a few decades later, it’s clear to everyone that the diversity and abundance of insects, birds and other creatures that once populated the meadows and forests of every latitude is in decline. Carson was already aware of this even back then.
Perhaps, being distracted and enchanted by the flatteries and wonders of progress, we have chosen to live under the illusion that man can emancipate himself from nature. We thought that chemistry could be used to get rid of anything that stood in our way or was seen as harmful to the success of our species. The inevitable consequences of all this are now touching our beautifully laid tables. The vain promises have vanished, and we see the silence of nature no longer with indifferent complacency, but as a looming and disturbing threat to our survival. We are right to worry.
THE FUTURE OF BEES AND BEEKEEPERS
Pollinating insects, especially bees, play a fundamental and irreplaceable role not only in maintaining floral biodiversity, but also and above all in food production. In fact, bees help the Earth produce about 80% of the food that keeps 8 billion people alive.
But what is happening to bees?Why are their numbers dwindling by the day and why are scientists warning of their possible, even probable, rapid extinction? There are many reasons, but they all boil down to one thing: humanity’s “original sin”. We have massively interfered with the natural processes that regulate ecosystems through the massive and often indiscriminate use of pesticides, the reduction of non-man-made land, the interference with the climate, the importation of a terrible Asian parasite called Varroa Destructor through the international bee trade, the presence of increasingly invasive electromagnetic fields, and who knows how many other as yet unknown reasons. As a result, bees can no longer survive in the wild, or very few can. This means that the fate of bees and the fate of beekeepers are two sides of the same coin. If we lose the bees, we’ll lose the beekeepers too.
The value of honeyWhat can we do to help save our Italian bees? First and foremost, we need to support beekeepers so they can continue their hard daily work. Italy is actually one of the lowest consumers of honey in Europe, but it still imports tens of thousands of tonnes of honey from abroad every year. The honey on sale is often refined and of little nutritional value and, through unfair competition, is bringing the Italian beekeeping sector under severe pressure, forcing thousands of companies to close. Good honey is a precious food and a true reflection of the land where it’s made. It’s not just a sweetener. It contains minerals, proteins, vitamins, is bacteriostatic and boosts the immune system; it has an intrinsic value that cannot be underestimated. We can then help bees by becoming beekeepers or adopting a hive, planting and sowing melliferous and nectariferous plants and flowers in our gardens. We can say no to pesticides and to increasing the tolerance limits of electromagnetic pollution. We can also just learn to love bees for what they are and for all that they do.
The insect world is tiny, hardworking, tireless and must be protected.
“Una apis nulla apis”The natural world and the sciences show us that everything in the perfect balance of creation is there for a reason. Each organism plays its part in the system while trying to maintain its own integrity and counteract the natural tendency for things to fall apart. Who better than bees - a paradigmatic example of a superorganism in which the family, governed by inflexible rules, is perfectly cohesive, solid and united – can make us understand the importance of preserving and protecting this infinite, tiny, industrious and indefatigable world of insects? The ancient Latins teach us that ‘Una apis nulla apis’, that is, one bee alone is no bee at all. What will become of the bees, however many, on a barren, sterile land without insects? For us, the present inhabitants of Val Rendena, who have been generously allowed to live in an area as beautiful as it is delicate and fragile, all that remains is to try, with courage and enthusiasm, to preserve and improve what has been temporarily entrusted to us, in order to pass it on as intact as possible to future generations.
Integrated apiary and beehummingWe are also building an integrated apiary near the Centre. This is a free-standing structure where we will have several hives with hundreds of thousands of bees. Visitors will be able to watch this gorgeous insect at work in complete safety and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy, breathing in the sweet scent of honey, nectar, essential oils and resins that have a balsamic, disinfectant and fluidifying action. The buzzing sound produced by bees on the honeycomb is created by the rapid beating of their four wings at a resonance frequency of 432 Hertz. These vibrations are known as the "sound of nature". The human body constantly resonates with these natural vibrations, creating harmony and balance. Known in apitherapy as beehumming, it improves sleep quality, reduces stress levels and can help improve cognitive function, increase energy and reduce pain.
POLLEN BIOMONITORING
Another important and innovative initiative of our association was launched in May 2024 under the patronage of the Municipality of Pinzolo and Azienda per il Turismo Madonna di Campiglio, in collaboration with the Adamello Brenta Geopark. This is the first biomonitoring of pollen collected by our bees in the Val Rendena area, from Verdesina to Passo Campo Carlo Magno. Eleven stations, each consisting of two hives placed at a distance of three kilometres apart (the average range of the bees), will allow 88 pollen samples to be taken in May and July. In collaboration with the Free University of Bozen/ Bolzano and entomologist Sergio Angeli, these will be analysed for nearly 600 chemical compounds to provide a precise and unbiased environmentalreport of the area. The realisation of this ambitious and exclusive initiative was made possible thanks to the commitment and determination of Giuseppe Corradini, Councillor for the Municipality of Pinzolo, who has long supported and implemented projects in favour of biodiversity. Bees have been regarded as special creatures for millennia, not just for their invaluable role in pollination, but also for the way they function as superorganisms within the hive, of which each individual bee is an integral part in the colony’s existence and survival. The bee is the perfect example of a gentleman or gentlewoman: it’s courageous, generous, hard-working, altruistic, dedicated, respectful of rules and sincere. These are just a few of the virtues of this creature. We can all strive to be more like it.
