Dear All,
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, as we are all aware, is a secure seed bank on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago. Pressing on this line of preservation thinking, I propose Global Pollinators Sanctuaries (GPS) in each country—Noah’s Ark of bee and other species reserves—away from all beekeepers, commercial or non-commercial, treatment or non-treatment, novice or expert. The bigger and the more GPS’s, the better. I say “in each country” to preserve the diversified gene pool, unique to each region of the globe.
More specifically, how about turning our National Parks in US as GPS’s in such a way that within certain miles of GPS, say fifty miles, no one should keep honeybees to minimize cross contamination of the genetics, granted we cannot stop occasional swarms moving into these areas? When we establish such sanctuaries, and assuming they will thrive (the big ass), or at least they will have a fighting chance, not only will we have self-evolved stocks but also a backup resource—just in case.
Just a thought, woke up at 2:00 in the morning, thinking about my bees.
Yoon, a Bee Haver
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