Nabila Kabli

In Algeria, the threats are different depending on the bee species. The Saharan bee, which lives along the Moroccan border to the West, is most at risk from hybridization with the Tellienne bee from the North. Although a natural border exists between these two species’ habitats, Tellienne beekeepers seasonally move their colonies to the birthplace of the Saharan bee, which results in cross-breeding between the two.

Another threat is climate change. Algeria has been experiencing higher temperatures and longer drought episodes, which disturb bees. Oases across the Sahara are shrinking, green cover is becoming scarce, and as a result, bees struggle to find sufficient water ponds, moisture and green cover that are essential for their survival. They need both water and food intake in sufficient quantity to produce honey.

The other big issue is the use of pesticides. In Algeria, as in many other developing countries, the type of pesticides used are not systematically approved by the health authorities. Neonicotinoids, even DDT, a harmful chemical that has been banned since the 1980s, is still being imported from abroad and sprayed on some fields. In the 1990s, the Algerian government had to respond against a locust invasion coming from Mali, which was advancing north and threatening to completely destroy a large chunk of the country’s agricultural production. Locust control caused collateral damage to the Saharan bees.

In terms of diseases, the Varroa parasitic mite has been very problematic since the early 1980s. Treatments against Varroa, including the organic ones, are not a hundred percent effective, because Varroa is becoming resistant.

The Saharan bee is most at risk from hybridization with the Tellienne bee from the North of Algeria. INRAA and UMBB are planning to establish a Saharan bee conservatory zone in Ain Sefra, the birthplace of that bee. Initiated by UMBB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2004, that initiative is being pursued in partnership with INRAA, and financed by PRIMA/PLANT-B.

It is crucial for us to protect the Saharan bee in its natural habitat. We need to push for the adoption of a new set of legislation that would ban the seasonal transhumance of Tellienne bee colonies from the North to the Eastern border, and only allow beekeepers who have Saharan bee to access the area. Our objective is to multiply the number of Saharan bees. We are not interested in ramping up honey production per se. If the region is protected with no threats of hybridization, we will be able to multiply the colonies, and later on disseminate them across the entire Algerian desert.