Students from Birkirkara and Safi Primary schools were the first participants in the public consultation which is set to declare the Maltese honeybee as Malta’s national insect.
The public consultation was launched at the Buskett Educational Hub, where students were showcased the importance of bees through various activities including a digital puppet show and a presentation on the Maltese honeybee and its importance as a pollinator.
The proposed amendments to the current legislation which were launched for public consultation, take into consideration operational concerns raised by beekeepers and streamlines permitting processes between two regulators, the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA) and the Department of Agriculture, avoiding additional burdens for beekeepers. The proposed amendments also give additional protection to the endemic Maltese honeybee.
During a discussion with the primary students, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour Miriam Dalli explained the importance of declaring the Maltese honeybee as a national insect.
“Beyond its significance as a pollinator to our ecosystems, the honeybee symbolises our commitment to biodiversity and the environment. Let us cherish and protect this invaluable insect, recognising its vital role in sustaining life on our planet,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.
ERA’s Director for Environment and Resources, Darrin Stevens noted that, “These events are very encouraging as one can clearly see the passion children have for nature. Today we continued ERA’s efforts with respect to conservation efforts in both the terrestrial and the species field. Through this public consultation we can further provide protection to an important species which has an important role in biodiversity protection.”
The public is being urged to submit their feedback regarding this consultation via https://era.org.mt/declaration-of-the-maltese-honey-bee-as-a-national-species/.
