Last updated: October 2021
BTC, a private company that has three shopping centres in Slovenia - one in Ljubljana - has engaged in supporting Carnolian Honey bees in Ljubljana through the "Let's help the bee in the city" project. As part of this, the company has placed beehives at the BTC shopping mall, primary school and distributed plants for people around Ljubljana to put on their balconies to support urban bees. In 2014, an urban apiary with four bee families was set up on the meadow behind the Atlantis waterfront, drawing attention to the importance of preserving Carniolan lavender and bees for the environment. They also take care of young people who are enthusiastic about urban beekeeping with the project. With the competition "Bee-friendly school", a nice teaching apiary was set up for primary school children in the area of the Medvode primary school. One of the urban beehives can also be visited by prior arrangement for organized groups. The project is still ongoing encouraging citizens to plant their balconies and window boxes with honey plants and by doing so provide the city bees with sufficient forage. (1, 2 and 6)
Beehive at the Green Garden of Atlantis Water Park in BTC City
Maja Oven, retrieved 09/04/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Balcony greens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Other
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of historic traditions
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
1. Preservation of the native Carniolan honey bee and its complex, incredibly important role in nature.
2. Setting up urban beehive at BTC shopping mall in Ljubljana
3. Encouraging citizens to plant their balconies and window boxes with honey plants and by doing so provide the city bees with sufficient forage. (2)
Implementation activities
In 2014, an urban apiary with four bee families was set up on the meadow behind the Atlantis waterfront, drawing attention to the importance of preserving Carniolan lavender and bees for the environment. BTC along with the city municipality also took care of young people who are enthusiastic about urban beekeeping with the project. With the competition "Bee-friendly school", a nice teaching apiary was set up for primary school children in the area of the Medvode primary school. (6)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- 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
Initiated by the private sector, but the municipality supports it. (2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Green Capital 2016 - directly mentioned (2)
European Green Capital Award (EGCA) is a policy tool the European Commission is using to address urban sustainability challenges, which recognises and rewards local efforts to improve the environment, the economy and the quality of life in cities. 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP) underpins the EGCA as a policy tool which is directly mentioned in the documents.)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported 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. BTC city. (2014) BTC CITY LJUBLJANA’S NEW NEIGHBOURS – URBAN BEES. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
2. BTC city. (2016) The Buzz in Town. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
3. Leadbeater, Chris. (2017) "The honey obsessed country with two million people and 100,000 beekeepers". available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
4. The Slovenia Times (2014) Urban Bees Get Apiary in Ljubljana's BTC Mall. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
5. Ljubljana Municipality (2017) Let’s help the bee – plant flowers in the city. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
6. Ljubljana Municipality (n.d.) BTC - City Ljubljana. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
7. Ljubljana Municipality (2019) Ljubljana – most bee-friendly municipality in 2019. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
2. BTC city. (2016) The Buzz in Town. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
3. Leadbeater, Chris. (2017) "The honey obsessed country with two million people and 100,000 beekeepers". available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
4. The Slovenia Times (2014) Urban Bees Get Apiary in Ljubljana's BTC Mall. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
5. Ljubljana Municipality (2017) Let’s help the bee – plant flowers in the city. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
6. Ljubljana Municipality (n.d.) BTC - City Ljubljana. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
7. Ljubljana Municipality (2019) Ljubljana – most bee-friendly municipality in 2019. available at Source link. accessed on 6th November, 2020.
Ljubljana Municipality
https://www.ljubljana.si/en/news/lets-help-the-bee-plant-flowers-in-the-city/