STEFANIE CHRISTMANN
Senior Scientist, Farming with Alternative Pollinator
Conserve pollinator diversity to enhance the climate change resilience in an economically self-sustaining way (without rewards for farmers and sponsored events). For this purpose we introduces the Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) approach in 7 countries, Morocco is the benchmark country. FAP includes a cross-sector policy mix.
Our Blogs
The global discussion on the value of pollinators is focused on agriculture, on the production of stimulants, vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices etc. Increasingly, the value of pollinators for biodiversity is discussed, in particular that e.g. bird populations depending also on pollinators as prey can suffer from pollinator decline. However, we humans depend in many more aspects on pollinators. When we will notice the real consequences of pollinator loss on other ecosystem services and human wellbeing, it will be too late. We should also anticipate potential consequences to avoid counterproductive human responses.
The value of pollinators for peace
In 1993, the United Nations (UN) decided to create an International Day for Biological Diversity. In 2000, the UN decided to dedicate 22 May to biological diversity. This year, 22 May highlights agrobiodiversity and its importance for nutrition and human health.
Moroccan farmers learn to recognize the diversity and value of wild pollinators and natural enemies in their fields
Morocco is already known to be one of the richest countries of the Mediterranean Basin for its terrestrial biodiversity. However, its bee diversity remains poorly documented despite the importance of these insects as major pollinators of many crops and wild plants. Our project helps filling this gap of knowledge and shall contribute to the conservation of Moroccan bees.
Morocco, a Mediterranean hotspot of bee diversity
‘Farming with Alternative Pollinators’ is a sustainable and low-cost strategy that conserves biodiversity while increasing productivity.
New partnership protects wild bees and increases farmer incomes
Pollinator protection is a prerequisite for biodiversity protection in terrestrial areas. Morocco, the benchmark country of the IKI project “Conservation of Pollinator Diversity for Enhanced Climate Change Resilience” took a major step ahead to develop a pathway for pollinator protection in Morocco and other count.
Morocco joined the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators
Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) is a knowledge-based approach requiring minimum investment by farmers. Therefore, many different ways of communication are used to train and inform farmers, e.g. film, PDF files to be sent to smart phones, Farmer Field Schools, social media, public TV, brochures etc. Audiovisuell information plays an important role in particular for illiterate farmers.
Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) – short film introduction in English and Arabic