Beekeeping in Germany on the decline

"After the Krefeld study on insect decline, everyone wanted to save the bees," says Fischer. The study, which appeared in 2017, was based on long-term investigations by volunteer entomologists and documented drastic declines in populations. Surveys in 63 German protected areas between 1989 and 2016 found a 76 percent drop in flying insect biomass. So many people started beekeeping. "But then they realized it is demanding. Having animals also means having a responsibility," says Fischer. There are pests that need to be controlled, such as the Varroa mite. Also, the money for the necessary initial investments is no longer as readily available. "You need to budget 1,500 to 2,000 euros for equipment and bees," says Fischer. There is funding available for this. 3,300 beekeepers in the northeast In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the number of beekeepers is stable at around 3,300, according to Fischer. "There are a few less sometimes, a few more sometimes," he says. Some stop, others start. ...