Stronger cooperation agreed between the Krka National Park and the Beekeepers of Šibenik-Knin Country

The Director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park, Nella Slavica, along with associates and presidents of the beekeeping associations, “Pčela” of Šibenik and “Drača” of Knin, held a working meeting on the topic of improving cooperation with beekeepers in the wider area of ​​the Krka National Park, with an emphasis on finding a model according to which local beekeepers will be able to bring their hives into the protected area

It was agreed that, after defining the conditions and methods of “foraging”, beekeepers will be allowed to bring beehives into the area of ​​the Krka National Park. This will allow the preservation of the Park’s natural features ​​to be harmonized with the support of the Krka National Park for the local community.

“The importance of preserving bee colonies and the role of beekeepers in this is increasingly emphasized in the context of biodiversity protection. As key pollinators, bees enable the reproduction of many plant species, thereby directly contributing to food security and ecosystem health. In addition, bee products – honey, propolis, wax, pollen, and royal jelly – have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties. Our goal is for the Park to be a partner with the local community in projects that promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and the development of entrepreneurship and organic production. Beekeeping is extremely important, not only for the local community, but also for the entire ecosystem, hence I believe that with united forces together we will maintain and preserve this important activity for the future. That is why I am particularly pleased that the next Green Eye festival, which combines art, education, and activism, will be dedicated to beekeeping and biodiversity preservation,” emphasized Nella Slavica, director of the Krka National Park.

The Green Eye festival additionally connects the natural and cultural dimensions of the Park, opening space for an even stronger promotion of sustainability and cooperation with the local population. Through joint activities, the Park confirms its role as a partner to the local community, with an emphasis on preserving natural values ​​and encouraging sustainable development, and with the initiative of foraging in the Park, we go one step further.

“The inclusion of beekeepers in foraging initiatives in protected areas is of great importance, so we are very pleased with the fact that new opportunities are opening for the development of beekeeping in synergy with nature preservation. We will be happy to participate in the Green Eye festival, to support it, but also to share the knowledge and experience gained through many years of beekeeping and numerous educational programs. This will be an opportunity to further emphasize the role of bees in sustainable development and involve local beekeepers in discussions and the exchange of experiences,” said the president of the Šibenik Beekeeping Association “Pčela“, Željko Peran.

In order to strengthen local beekeeping, the Krka National Park has been organizing lectures, workshops, and educational meetings for beekeepers for years, and, for example, several professional lectures and meetings with local residents have been held to date, covering topics such as the Challenges of Modern Beekeeping, Prevention of Bee Colony Diseases, Beekeeping Technologies, and Breeding Queen Bees. Workshops have also been organized in apiaries, along with free honey analyses, and in cooperation with the Open University of Knin, a training program for beekeeping jobs and an ecological beekeeping program were implemented, which was successfully completed by seventeen participants. Thanks to regular training, beekeepers can network, run hives more safely, take care of preserving the health of bees, and improve the quality of their products.