The mockery of the crazy climate puts bees at risk:they woke up thinking it was spring

The anomalous heat of recent days has awakened the bees, but they now risk dying if they remain outside the hives when temperatures drop again

ROME – “The temperatures well above normal and the repeated sunny days of this anomalous February they fool 50 billion bees present on the national territory who woke up early for the fake spring".This is what emerges from Coldiretti monitoring on the effects of a hot winter afterwards a 2023 which recorded a 14% drop in rainfall less and a temperature 1.14 degrees higher than the historical average for the period 1991-2020.
“Temperatures of up to 20 degrees, from Aosta to Palermo, cause the bees to leave the hives but – underlines Coldiretti – they risk freezing to death if caught outside the hives when temperatures drop as the sun goes down.Furthermore – continues Coldiretti – the substantial one lack of blooms, causes energy to be consumed, without there being any harvests, with the further problem of drought and the consequent water shortage.Thus the producers – specifies Coldiretti – are forced to intervene with sugary nutrition, to support bee families, who risk significant losses."

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HONEY PRODUCTION IS IN DANGER BUT NOT ONLY

“Honey production is in danger after the 2023 harvest in Italy is estimated at around 15 million kilos, among the poorest of the decade crushed by extreme events resulting from the progressive tropicalization of the climate. However, the role of bees goes far beyond the production of honey with three out of four food crops (75%) dependent to some extent for yield and quality onpollination by bees, including apples, pears, strawberries, cherries, watermelons and melons.On average a single bee – specifies Coldiretti – generally visits around 7000 flowers a day and it takes four million floral explorations to produce one kilogram of honey“.

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THE HEALTH OF BEES AS A WARNING KNOB FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

“The situation of our local bees – continues Coldiretti – therefore represents an indicator of the state of health of the environment but also an alarm bell of any critical issues and difficulties in the environment.In fact, the unseasonal heat – underlines Coldiretti – encourages early awakening in all plants, including plants early blooms as for the mimosas, more than a month earlier than the date of March 8, with the danger of exposing the crops to the damage of a predictable, subsequent, strong drop in temperatures with the consequent loss of crops.What is also worrying – continues Coldiretti – is the drought which puts the sowing of cereals, legumes and vegetables at risk but also the fodder in the pastures which is in sharp decline.The lack of water also causes repercussions on costs for businesses which have also increased due to the rise in fodder prices, while in Puglia drought and sirocco winds with high humidity levels have also reduced artichoke production by 60% while in Sicily and Sardinia there are reports of difficulties in the development of fruit and vegetables with oranges or salads unable to grow adequately due to the lack of water".

THE WATER THAT IS MISSING, FROM THE MARCHE TO SARDINIA

“There is – specifies Coldiretti – a scarcity of snow in various sectors of the Alpine arc and on a large part of the Apennine ridge and a water stress situation which increases but as you go southwards with its peak in the islands, which is certainly not normal in the month of January.In the invasions of the Sardinia region there was January 1st 21% less water compared to the same period of the previous year while in those of Sicily in January 2024 the deficit is 13% compared to the previous year according to Coldiretti analyzes on data from the Regional Hydrographic Departments.And the situation of the is also worrying basins of Puglia with over 119 million cubic meters less compared to last year according to the Anbi which also highlights critical issues in central Italy.From Abruzzo where there is no snow to Lazio where the lakes remain in critical conditions just as the condition of the Tiber river is serious, from Umbria where Lake Trasimeno remains 18 centimeters lower than the minimum "vital" level to the Marche River levels are falling Potenza, Esino, Sentino, Tronto and Nera and there is no snow on the mountains but - Coldiretti notes - the condition of the rivers in Tuscany is also worsening according to the Anbi Observatory".

“Italian agriculture is the economic activity that more than any other experiences the consequences of climate change on a daily basis but it is also the sector most committed to combating it” states Coldiretti in underlining that “climate change imposes a new challenge for businesses agricultural workers who must interpret the news reported by meteorology and the effects on crop cycles, water management and land safety".An objective that requires a commitment from the institutions to accompany innovation from agriculture 4.0 with drones, robots and satellites up to the new green non-GMO genetics but we also need - concludes Coldiretti - investments for the maintenance, saving, recovery and regulation of water with a widespread system of small reservoirs that can collect excess water and then distribute it when needed".