BEE
ZOOM
Sector for the protection of pollinators
SECTOR .
REFERENT
According to the “Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production” report by IPBES (UN Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity, established in 2021), 16% of the world's wild pollinating insects are at risk of extinction, particularly 40% of bee and butterfly species due to climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, pathogens, pollution and invasive species.
But it is on the 20,000 different species of pollinating insects that 90% of wildflowers and 75% of food production depend as well as pollination through insects is directly responsible for between 5 and 8% of the volume of agricultural production.
Pollinators, therefore, are one among the biological indicators of environmental quality and are currently one of the most important ecological emergencies.
The Bee ZOOM project contributes to several issues/objectives at the international level:
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European Biodiversity Strategy 2030
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The new EU Pollinator Agreement, which provides for key-area mapping by 2025, to improve knowledge of the causes and consequences of declining pollinator insect populations.
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The approval of the European Natural Restoration Law (more than 80% of European habitats are in poor condition: EU countries must restore at least 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050)
This strand is closely linked to the following SDG targets that make up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
GOALS.
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Increase local pollinator populations
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Census the main taxa of wild pollinators
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Recover or renaturalize areas in poor condition that have been degraded
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Reintroduce native plants and createnesting sites
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Inform citizens about the threats that pollinators are facing and bring them closer, through educational and experiential activities, to a fascinating and indispensable but still little-known micro-world.
PROJECTS.
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Bee Zoom Piemonte
An area of about 14 thousand square meters of the Bioparco Zoom has been used as a research station to study local communities of pollinating insects to assess their health status and any environmental contamination they come in contact with in the study area, their relationship with the flora present and soil conditions in collaboration with the University of Turin (Simona Bonelli), Monica Vercelli and Umberto Maritano.
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Bee Zoom Botswana
The BEEKEEPING IN BOTSWANA project, established in 2022 in partnership with People and Wildlife Trust (PWT) and Leopard Ecology & Conservation, works with the Kaudwane community in Kweneng district, promoting wildlife conservation and education for local people. Beekeeping becomes a tool to provide training, promote sustainable exploitation of natural resources, diversify income sources and promote social reintegration.
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Life for pollinators
The project aims to counter the decline of pollinators in Europe by enhancing the role of zoos as local assets for the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity in urban and peri-urban areas. Leveraging the expertise, facilities, and communication skills of zoos, the project will test an innovative approach and provide best practices and training to census pollinators, creating a European monitoring network.
RESEARCH PROJECT.
The ZOOM Foundation is proud to participate in the project "Characterization of microbial communities in tree sap runs to develop conservation strategies for associated saproxylic hoverfly species at risk or flagship species", a highly valuable research initiative dedicated to the protection of biodiversity. The project, funded under the PNRR, was developed in collaboration with the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO) and with the technical support of entomologist Umberto Maritano. Our mission is to protect at-risk species and promote scientific knowledge and this research represents a fundamental part of our commitment to environmental conservation.
BEE ZOOM PIEDMONT PROJECT.
The census in the area of the main groups of wild pollinators (apoids, lepidopterans and hoverflies diptera) and existing botanical species will make it possible to understand the best strategies to ensure the survival of rare, threatened or protected species, both plant and pollinator insects, as they are closely interdependent.
The goal is to derive data to find solutions to encourage the establishment of stable populations of these insects responsible for the valuable pollination service and develop sustainable management solutions for grasslands.
ACTIVITIES IN PROGRESS.
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Qualitative and quantitative monitoring and census of the main categories of
pollinators outside and inside the ZOOM biopark in collaboration with the University of Turin - Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology. With the pollinator census started in 2022 Zoom and the Zoom Foundation became part of the national research project Butterfly Monitoring Scheme Italy (ITBMS), and consequently in the larger continental-scale monitoring network called European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS).
They have been surveyed so far:-
APOIDEI: 443 individuals of 22 species inside the park and 199 individuals of 20 species outside the park in the Pollinator Garden
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SYRPHIDS: 141 individuals of 22 species in the park and 51 individuals of 26 species surveyed outside
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LEPIDOTTERIA: 40 individuals of 9 species in the park and 410 individuals of 21 species outside
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Definition of useful botanical species and planting of selected local flower species and planting of: 20 tall trees, 34 medium-trunked trees, 70 shrubs, 452 herbaceous plants (among the trees, shrubs and flowers planted are: cherry trees, plum trees, field maples, oaks, linden trees, hornbeams, white willows- strawberry tree, hawthorn, rowan, privet, lavender, verbena, sage, yarrow and various aromatic plants such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, savory)
FUTURE ACTIVITIES.
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Scientific research that will continue will allow us to see if planting new shrubs and trees, will increase the number of pollinating insects.
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Creation of experimental single-essence “strips” of specific particular plants to understand whether their planting can be replicated in other areas.
STAKEHOLDERS.
PARTNER.
BEE ZOOM BOTSWANA PROJECT.
The Bee ZOOM project was created to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable beekeeping in three areas of Botswana: the Khutse Game Reserve, the village of Kaudwane, and a transition zone between the two. Through monitoring bee activity, studying honey flora and analyzing honey quality, the project aims to create a local beekeeping protocol based on scientific and sustainable criteria. In addition to research, the project actively involves the local community with training and start-up of micro-production activities, particularly for women, contributing to the protection of pollinators and the regeneration of local ecosystems. The project has received the attention of the FAO.
The objectives include:
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Study the botanical composition of honey to identify the main nectar sources
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Monitor colony development and productivity in relation to nectar flow and flowering.
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Compare plant diversity between natural and man-made areas.
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Create a quality standard protocol for honey produced in Botswana.
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Promote beekeeping as a sustainable economic activity and source of income.
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nvolve and train the local community, particularly women, in apiary management.
ACTIVITIES IN PROGRESS.
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Training of a local contact person and a group of 5 village women.
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Provision of beekeeping materials and equipment: hives, overalls, gloves, smoker and lever.
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Installation of three apiaries in the selected areas (nature reserve, man-made village, intermediate area).
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Collection and analysis of honey samples and floristic data to monitor blooms and assess plant biodiversity.
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Placement of 2 electronic scales in the hives to measure environmental conditions and the health and activity conditions of bee families. Each scale measures:
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Indoor temperature
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Outdoor temperature
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Indoor humidity
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Outdoor humidity
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Bee family weight
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Sound recorder
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These data are monitored remotely by the Foundation.
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Educational and outreach activities on the importance of pollinators to ecosystems and agriculture.
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Presentation of collected data at the Apimondia Congress.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES.
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Results of the study of flora in bee honey in the three areas of Botswana for better understanding of available plant sources will enable improved local beekeeping
and production. -
Purchase of new hives and bee families for vilution of honey production.
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Creating a standard quality protocol, which does not currently exist in Botswana.
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Understanding the effects of vegetation on bee behavior.
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Assessing plant biodiversity and the effects of moderate grazing.
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Training of a local supervisor.
PARTNER.
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LIFE FOR POLLINATORS PROJECT .
On July 1, 2025, the ZOO LIFE POLLINATORS project, which ZOOM Biopark and the Foundation won, kicked off.
The focus is to consider zoos as local assets to reduce pollinator decline Europe-wide through regeneration and conservation in urban and peri-urban areas.
The project will test an innovative approach to help halt the decline of pollinators by harnessing the still under-exploited resources of zoological institutions in European cities, leveraging some of their unique features, such as:
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The management of large areas in urban and peri-urban areas.
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The availability of qualified staff with solid training in biology and conservation issues. The ability to reach a wide audience of citizens, enabling the adoption and implementation of large-scale educational, awareness and social science campaigns.
The project will also provide best practices and training of “KEEPers TO KEEP PULLINATORS,” which can also be adopted by other zoos in Europe, creating an active network of entities that can continuously monitor and return information on the health status of ecosystems and pollinators in relevant urban and peri-urban areas.
GOALS.
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Restore 927 hectares of areas in zoos by planting plants (trees, shrubs,
grasses/grasses) beneficial to pollinators. -
Establish 8 hubs (1 x zoo partners) for pollinator conservation (protocols for pollinator rearing will be developed).
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Promote harmonization of a methodology for census of pollinator populations.
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Raise awareness of about 5.5 million citizens about the problem of pollinator decline through visitors to partner zoos.
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Educate at least 25,000 students, 300 teachers and 16,000 citizens through citizen science activities with local citizens.
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Draft guidelines for municipalities, stakeholders and other zoos for the creation and management of pollinator-friendly areas.
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Involve about 1,000 representatives from municipalities and other public and private stakeholders.
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Collaborate with EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums): European Flagship Pollinator Initiative within the EAZA Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (TITAG).
RESEARCH PROJECT .
The study "Characterization of microbial communities in tree sap runs to develop conservation strategies for associated saproxylic hoverfly species at risk or flagship species" focuses on the persistent sap flows produced by trees, an extremely rare and precious microhabitat that hosts specialized communities of fungi and bacteria. This environment is vital for the survival of some species of saproxylic hoverflies, insects whose larvae develop in dead or decaying wood. The sap flows provide an ideal place for egg-laying and larval growth for some target species, which are now seriously threatened with extinction. Their protection is therefore essential to maintain the balance and functionality of forest ecosystems.
RESEARCH GOALS AND RESULTS.
The project is divided into three main goals:
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Analysis of the composition of the sap flows: the communities of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) present in the sap flows of 35 trees were investigated and characterized using DNA metabarcoding to understand the possible correlations between the tree species, the associated microbial communities, and the species of saproxylic hoverflies that use these environments as larval development sites.
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Faunistic census: a complete monitoring of the saproxylic hoverfly community associated with the sap flows was carried out, including some species of these insects classified as threatened in the IUCN European Red List. Furthermore, for the flagship species Sphiximorpha subsessilis, the marking technique was applied with the aim of quantifying for the first time the abundances of its populations as well as obtaining data on longevity and dispersal capacity.
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Environmental health assessment: sap samples were analyzed to identify any traces of pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, in order to estimate the impact of pollution on these delicate microhabitats and the insects associated with them.
The results obtained will allow for the development of innovative and standardized protocols for the protection of the target species of saproxylic hoverflies and their natural habitats, contributing in a concrete way to filling the current knowledge gaps and providing a solid scientific basis for the planning of effective strategies for the conservation of local biodiversity.