These insects are responsible for pollination to crops worth around R1 400-billion to the population of the world in terms of being fed.  If they all disappeared overnight, so would 9, 5-percent of the total value of global agriculture production used for human food. (“Ecological Economics” journal, Dr Josef Settele from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Halle, Germany)

Jason Grove is a man passionate about bees.  He says much has to be done to protect them in the South African environment.  “It is not only the loss of revenue to the country from the fruit farms of the Cape to the widely cultivated areas in Mpumalanga, they can also become a vital element in providing employment and an income for some of our poorest rural groups.  

 

“Beekeeping for Poverty Relief is a ‘green’ initiative that needs all the support it can get with the possibility of deriving both social and economic benefits tied to the critical role that bees play in the pollination of crops and other plants in nature.”

 

Jason is helping set the pace in preserving bee colonies.  He has some 75 hives in Mpumalanga and is growing this bee community with a view to helping others do the same.  “Apart from recognised problems facing bee pollination around the globe, we have additional factors locally.  

 

“Just one for example is the dramatic effect on bee communities with the ongoing elimination of eucalyptus trees as alien plants which account for much of their foraging.  It must be recognised however that we also have a severe water problem and these trees consume huge amounts of moisture...so we are really between the devil and the deep blue sea.

 

“Of course the role of bees in the flora cycle also provides the attractive plants that enhance gardens that we all love so much.

In addition to the campaign to save the bee population in South Africa, Roxsure Insurance Brokers under Jason’s guidance has launched a campaign to plant 20 000 trees over the next 10 years to ensure that all its clients become CO2 negative under this umbrella.  A step in this direction was the donation of 243 trees to the Aspen Nature Estate recently.

 

Jason said that the approach of working with like-minded people had resulted in many customers being with the company since its founding 30 years ago.  “This long-standing relationship has been built on the highest levels of excellence, respect and integrity in all aspects of our business and our purpose is to enrich the lives of the people we touch.  One of the ways we are doing this today is improving the environment we all share and hope to pass on to our children.”

 

More information – www.mi5.co.za