Last updated: October 2021
A city-wide initiative for the protection of bees developed by the BUND Bremen together with a number of local NGOs, local government and the citizens of Bremen. The project involved the planting of trees and wildflowers that will serve as a food for pollinators in different parts of the city as well as the provision of additional nesting places for the bees. It aims to protect the endangered bee species, increase biodiversity and beautify the city with the new plantings (Ref. 2, 3).
http://archiv.bund-bremen.net/themen_und_projekte/naturschutz/artenschutz/bremen_summt/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
Half of 150 wild bee species in Bremen are on the highly endangered species list. The project aims to contribute to the protection of as many endangered species as possible (Ref. 2).
Goals of the intervention:
1) To promote the urban replacement habitat for wild and honeybees in Bremen;
2) To introduce protective measures for bees and preserve biodiversity - stabilizing or even resettling some species;
3) To ensure survival of multiple wild plants that serve as food for pollinators;
4) To create more nesting spaces for the bees;
5) To develop optimal care concepts for flowering efforts;
6) To develop new structures that will make it easier for volunteers and sponsors to join the wild bees' protection efforts;
7) To beautify the city with wildflowers (Ref. 2, 3).
Implementation activities
Planting around 100 bee-friendly trees on private land that will serve as a valuable habitat for the bees (chestnuts, whitethorns, maples and linden trees); Planting wildflowers in the city (public space, private gardens, railway tracks) that will serve as food for pollinators; Developing public campaigns to promote the bee protection efforts (Ref. 2, 3). "Such a project can of course neither compensate for the loss of habitat in the countryside nor save wild bee species acutely threatened with extinction. But it can at least help to stabilize populations of some endangered wild bee species and, by the way, beautify the cityscape with wildflowers" (Ref. 2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was developed by the BUND Bremen together with Umweltbetrieb Bremen (UBB) and is supported by a number of local NGOs, local government and the citizens of Bremen (Ref. 2, 3).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project "Bremen buzzes" is a local initiative that fits into the National Biodiversity Strategy ('National Biodiversitätsstrategie) (Ref. 2).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project falls under the city program "Environmental and nature conservation projects" and is supported by it (Ref. 1). The project is also complementary to another initiative of the BUND Bremen "Bremen blooms", which focuses solely on wildflowers plantings in the city (Ref. 3).)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. City website (n.d.). 'Promotion of environmental projects' ('Förderung von Umweltprojekten'). Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
2. Department for Environment, Building and Transport (2015). 'Overview of the work carried out by the Department for Environment, Building and Transport in 2015, projects in the field of environment and environmental protection', ('Übersicht über die vom Senator für Umwelt, Bau und Verkehr im Jahre 2015 geförderten Projekte im Bereich Umwelt- und Naturschutz'). (Document attached).
3. BUND Bremen (n.d.). "Bremen summt". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 20, 2020).
2. Department for Environment, Building and Transport (2015). 'Overview of the work carried out by the Department for Environment, Building and Transport in 2015, projects in the field of environment and environmental protection', ('Übersicht über die vom Senator für Umwelt, Bau und Verkehr im Jahre 2015 geförderten Projekte im Bereich Umwelt- und Naturschutz'). (Document attached).
3. BUND Bremen (n.d.). "Bremen summt". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 20, 2020).