Bielefeld, Germany
City population: 326277
Duration: 2002 – 2002
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Protected Area
Last updated: October 2021

In 2002, the facilities of the Bielefeld Botanic Garden was expanded with a small apiary for local bees. The apiary was opened on the 90th anniversary of the Botanical Garden and since then in its 5 beehives accommodate the bees living in the garden. The facility is a place for breeding of bees to support their pollination activities and thus their role in food production while the apiary also offers visitors the chance to get an insight into the life and work of a beehive. Through various environmental educational programs, visitors and school children can learn about the importance of bees and the process of honey making. Beekeeping stations were also installed in other surrounding areas such as cemeteries, old dumps, fenced rainwater retention basins. (1,2,3,4)

Apiary in Botanical Garden Bielefeld
Source: http://www.botanischer-garten-bielefeld.de/tierwelten/

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Botanical gardens
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable consumption
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Project objectives

1. To increase the interest of citizens in the Bielefeld Botanical Garden (1). 2. To increase the environmental knowledge of visitors about bees and their role in the ecosystem (1). 3. To improve school children's understanding of biodiversity, beekeeping and honey production (2). 4. To foster bees living in the Botanical Garden and support their pollinating activities of agricultural products (3, 5).

Implementation activities

1. 5 beehives installed hosting approximately 250 000 bees living in the Botanical Garden in 2002 (1). 2. Building of a viewing terrace, shielded by glass to allow visitors to have a closer look at the beehives. (1). 3. Workshops and environmental education programs around bees including observation, tasting, smelling and trying of bee products (4) .

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore valued species

Main beneficiaries

  • Non-government organisation/Civil Society
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Non-government organisation/civil society
  • Private sector/corporate actor/company

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was developed at the initiative of the NGO "Friends of the Bielefeld Botanical Graden" (Freunde des Botanischen Gartens Bielefeld) with financial support from private governmental bodies and actors in the public sector such as the Langnese company and private donors. (1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No
... a national policy or strategy? No
... a local policy or strategy? No

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment
  • Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Direct funding or subsidy
  • Donations

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
  • Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
  • Private sector (businesses, financial institution)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased number of species present
  • Increased protection of threatened species
  • Enhanced support of pollination

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Education
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

No

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No

References

1. Bielefeld. (2017) Bienenhaus. Accessed August 18, 2020, Source link.
2. GRÜNE Bielefeld. (2015). Imkern in Der Stadt Ist Vielfältig. Accessed August 18, 2020, Source link.
3. Bielefeld. (2017). Bienen. Accessed August 18, 2020, Source link.
4. Bielefelder-Naturschule. Bienenhaus Botanischer Garten Bielefeld. Accessed August 18, 2020, Source link
5. Universitat Bielefeld. (2014). Umwelt- und Klimaschutzpreis für Initiative an der Universität Bielefeld. Accessed August 18, 2020 Source link