The special Cypriot honeybee, which is very important for the island's nature and farms, is in danger. People need to protect it, but a plan to help has waited for government approval for nearly a year. This delay makes beekeepers and nature lovers worried about less pollination and smaller harvests.
Last year, beekeepers gave a plan to create a special place to breed the local queen bees. This plan aims to help the falling numbers of Cypriot honeybees and keep them healthy. The Ministry of Agriculture has not yet given a final answer. The beekeepers want to use land in Athalassa, Nicosia, for this important project.
The Cypriot honeybee faces many problems. Imported bees are a big issue because they can harm the local bees. Also, long dry periods mean less food for bees and make them sick. There is not enough government help, which makes the future of this bee uncertain. If this bee disappears, it will harm the environment and the economy.
The planned breeding centre will help make and give healthy local queen bees to beekeepers. This will help the Cypriot honeybee grow stronger. It could also be part of a bigger centre for beekeeping. Beekeepers say this centre is needed for learning and saving old beekeeping ways. However, the delay is because of difficult paperwork and the need for a long-term plan.
Lysandros Lyssandridis from the Agriculture Department said they want to build the centre. He said, "The intention is to allocate a specific building owned by the agriculture ministry." However, he also said that the beekeepers need to finish their application. He added, "The process depends on the readiness of the association to submit a complete application."
The delay in helping the honeybee is a big worry. If action is not taken soon, the special Cypriot honeybee could be lost. This would be bad for the island's nature and its farms. The beekeepers' plan is a good first step. However, the government must act quickly to make it happen.