Bees need live beehives in national parks as the weather warms and dries up

Queensland Beekeepers Association Secretary of State Jo Martin said the warming and drying up state of the state’s climate – highlighted by bushfires and droughts – meant a change urgent was needed.

“The ongoing climate change and increased isolated precipitation are impacting the capacity of our beekeeping industry,” Ms. Martin said.

“Over the past 100 years and after prolonged droughts and bushfires, beekeepers’ access to
the apiary sites in the national parks have been the key to the survival of the industry.

“These Queensland National Park sites produce world-class honey and provide a short-term safe haven for bee colonies.”

But even the bees need help, which is why the tenure of their park has been extended, she said.

“They need to be strengthened and conditioned before providing essential pollination services to the growing horticultural sector in the state.

“The extension of the permit period for national parks ensures that beekeepers can access the
nutritional resources needed to feed their honey bee colonies.

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the decision had to be made quickly as few alternative hive sites had been found and the Queensland horticultural industry faced pollination issues.

“Beekeeping services are a mainstay of Queensland’s multi-billion dollar fruit and vegetable growing industry, with pollination services playing a vital role in harvesting each season,” Furner said.

He said changes to the Queensland Nature Conservation Act would be introduced in the Queensland Parliament this month to allow bees to renew their colonies in national parks.

Until 1999, beekeeping work was mainly carried out in state forests and forest reserves, but the Queensland Forest Agreement of 1999 transformed some state forests into national parks.