The Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) is indigenous to Malta, as it is not found in Malta only. Meanwhile, the subspecies (race) of the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) is exclusively found in Malta, making it endemic to the Maltese archipelago.
It is evident that the characteristics of the Maltese Honey Bee are being compromised by honey bees of foreign breeds imported into our country. Since bees mate outside with minimal distinction between subspecies, this is leading to genetic mixing (hybridisation) of the Maltese Honey Bee, which had been isolated for thousands of years.
Consequently, the Maltese Honey Bee is indirectly facing extinction, gradually losing its distinctive ‘Maltese’ characteristics due to this mixing and the subsequent adaptation challenges it faces in local habitats and climate.
The concept of evolutionary survival of the fittest is significantly disrupted to the detriment of the subspecies, which forms part of the Maltese natural heritage and the local apicultural sector. When a species evolves into a subspecies, biodiversity increases, potentially marking the first step in the creation of a new species. The key to this mixing process lies in the importation of foreign bees, posing a serious risk of extinction to this endemic subspecies in our country. Additionally, in the context of climate change, protecting local subspecies is crucial. The potential for a harsher climate in the near future underscores the importance of conserving the endemic subspecies.
Conserving and breeding the local bee population is advantageous and crucial. The Maltese subspecies holds intrinsic value due to its endemic nature, and for sustainable beekeeping in the future, it needs to be preserved.
About Us
The primary objective of the Foundation is to formulate and implement an action plan for the conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, overseeing its coordination and execution. The Foundation is exclusively dedicated to addressing issues concerning the Maltese Honey Bee. Our efforts will be focused on achieving the following objectives, which are aligned with the overarching goal.
(a) To raise awareness about the significance of the Maltese Honey Bee for our country’s natural environment (ecology) and the apiculture sector, as well as its broader impact on agriculture.
(b) To emphasize that the Maltese Honey Bee constitutes a vital component of Malta’s natural heritage, warranting comprehensive conservation efforts.
(c) To promote knowledge, breeding, and research pertaining to the Maltese endemic bee.
(d) To unite and coordinate various entities, individuals, and non-governmental organisations with an interest in the conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.
(e) To exert pressure for the development of a comprehensive plan ensuring the holistic protection of the Maltese Honey Bee.
Founders
Abner Joe Buttigieg (Co-Founder) & Dylan Farrugia (Co-Founder)
Administrators
Dylan Farrugia (President), Abner Joe Buttigieg (Secretary) & Neil Cutajar (Treasurer)
Statute
Follow Us
IL-KOSTITUZZJONI TAL-FONDAZZJONI GĦALL-KONSERVAZZJONI TAN-NAĦLA MALTIJA
Il-Konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija
Fost ir-reġjuni li l-ispeċi tan-Naħla tal-Għasel (Apis mellifera) hi indiġena insibu dak Mediterranju. Fil-gżejjer Maltin, insibu tgħammar is-sottospeċi (razza) tan-Naħla Għasel Maltija (Apis mellifera ruttneri) li tinsab biss fl-arċipelagu Malti, fatt li jagħmilha endemika għal dawn il-gżejjer. Huwa ċar li l-karaterristiċi tan-Naħla Maltija qed jiġu imniġġsa min-Naħal tal-Għasel ta’ razez barranin li qegħdin jiġu impurtati f’pajjiżna. Peress li n-Naħal tal-Għasel jitgħammar fuq barra b’distinzjoni minima bejn sottospeċi differenti, dan qiegħed iwassal sabiex il-ġenetika tan-Naħla Maltija li kienet iżolata għal għexieren ta’ snin titħallat (hybridisation). Konsegwentament, b’mod indirett in-Naħla Maltija qed tinqered għax ftit ftit, qiegħda titlef il-karatteristiċi ‘Maltin’ minħabba dan it-taħlit. Iktar minn hekk, dan iwassal sabiex l-adattament li kellha biex tgħix f’abitat u klima lokali jintilef ukoll. Il-kunċett evoluzzjonarju tas-sopravivenza tal-aktar tajbin (survival of the fittest) qed jiġi imfixkel bil-kbir għad-detriment tas-sottospeċi li tifforma parti mill-patrimonju naturali Malti. Dan il-proċess ta’ taħlit bla dubju tefa’ lil din is-sottospeċi endemika għal pajjiżna f’riskju serju ta’ estinzjoni. Tajjeb li ssir ukoll referenza għas-settur apikulturali lokali, li jiddependi intrinsikament fuq in-Naħla Maltija. Fil-kuntest tat-tibdil fil-klima, il-protezzjoni tas-sottospeċi lokali hi ukoll importanti ferm. Il-potenzjal t’addament għal klima iktar ħarxa fil-futur qarib qiegħda biss fil-konservazzjoni tas-sottospeċi endemika. L-importanza tal-konservazzjoni tan-naħla lokali u t-trobbija tagħha hu vantaġġuż u ta’ importanza. Fiha innifisha s-sottospeċi Maltija għandha valur intrinsiku sforz l-endemiċità tagħha, li tkompli tarrikkixxi il-bijodiversità lokali. Il-konservazzjoni ta’ din is-sottospeċi huwa neċessarju anke f’ambitu t’apikultura sostenibbli fil-ġejjieni.
Il-Fondazzjoni
L-iskop ewlieni tal-fondazzjoni hu biex tfassal u taħdem fuq pjan ta’ azzjoni dwar il-konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija u tieħu ħsieb il-koordinament u l-eżekuzzjoni tiegħu. Din il-fondazzjoni sa tkun qed taħdem biss fuq kwistjonijiet li għandhom x’jaqsmu man-Naħla Maltija. Il-fondazzjoni se tkun qed taħdem fuq dawn l-objettivi li huma bażati fuq l-għan prinċipali;
a) Tgħarraf bl-importanza tan-Naħla Maltija għall-ambjent naturali ta’ pajjiżna (ekoloġija) u għas-settur tal-apikultura u f’iktar sens wiesgħa dak agrikolu.
b) Tgħarraf li n-Naħla Maltija tagħmel parti mill-patrimonju naturali Malti u għalhekk jistħoqqilha li tiġi kkonservata b’mod olistiku.
c) Tinkoraġġixxi l-għarfien, it-trobbija u r-riċerka fuq in-naħla endemika Maltija.
d) Tiġbor taħt umbrella waħda u tikkordina entitajiet varji, individwi u organizzazzjonijiet mhux governattivi li għandhom interess fil-konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija.
e) Tagħmel pressjoni biex jiġi mfassal pjan sabiex in-Naħla Maltija tkun protetta b’mod olistiku.
Fundaturi
Ko-Fundatur – Abner Joe Buttigieg
Ko-Fundatur – Dylan Farrugia
Amministraturi
President – Dylan Farrugia
Segretarju – Abner Joe Buttigieg
Teżorier – Neil Cutajar
Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee 