Work is already underway to create a food field for bees, in Luso, next to the Camping Park. The objective is to transform around 1.28 hectares with plantations of native and honey species, eradicating invasive species.
The BeeFood project, a project of the Intermunicipal Community (CIM) of the Coimbra Region, aims to create food fields not only for bees, but for all pollinating species, reclaiming spaces in the territories to plant flora that appeals to them.
In Mealhada, the food field for pollinators will be built on a slope of Serra do Bussaco, next to the Luso Municipal Camping Park, whose first cleaning and deforestation work has already begun. After cleaning and eradicating invasive species, such as acacias, melliferous species, such as strawberry trees, oaks and perennial flowers will be planted, while native species found on site will be preserved, namely cork oaks and hawthorn trees.
Beefood seeks to increase pollinators and honey production, by restoring balance to ecosystems. “This is a project that will allow us to act in several aspects: supporting the production of honey and our beekeepers, combating the velutina wasp and also preserving biodiversity and defending the native forest, with the associated component of fire risk. rural”, explains Ricardo Santos, councilor at Mealhada City Council.
By the end of the year, this innovative project will transform forest areas into food fields for bees, covering an area of more than 13.63 hectares in seven municipalities: Mealhada, Lousã, Mira, Miranda do Corvo, Penacova, Pampilhosa da Serra and Soure.
The BeeFood project represents a total investment of 63,242.34 euros, of which 50,000 euros are financed by the Environmental Fund, covering a total of 13.63 hectares. The project has the collaboration of the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra.
