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Mapping Priority Areas for Apiculture Development with the Use of Geographical Information Systems

Author

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  • Simeon Marnasidis

    (Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou St., 68200 Orestiada, Greece)

  • Apostolos Kantartzis

    (Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou St., 68200 Orestiada, Greece)

  • Chrisovalantis Malesios

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera odos St., 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Fani Hatjina

    (Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science—Hellinikos Georgikos Organismos DIMITRA, 63200 Nea Moudania, Greece)

  • Garyfallos Arabatzis

    (Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou St., 68200 Orestiada, Greece)

  • Efstathia Verikouki

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Vocational School (EPAL) of Edessa, Melinas Merkouri 28, 58200 Edessa, Greece)

Abstract

Supporting local and central authorities in decision-making processes pertaining to environmental planning requires the adoption of scientific methods and the submission of proposals that could be implemented in practice. Taking into consideration the dual role that honeybees play as honey producers and crop pollinators, the aim of the present study is to identify and utilize a number of indicators and subsequently develop priority thematic maps. Previous research has focused on the determination of, and, on certain occasions, on mapping, priority areas for apiculture development, based mainly on the needs of honeybees, without taking into consideration the pollination needs of crops that are cultivated in these areas. In addition, research so far has been carried out in specific spatial entities, in contrast to the current study, in which the areas to be comparatively assessed are pre-chosen based on their geographical boundaries. The information derived from this process is expected to help decision-makers in local and regional authorities to adopt measures for optimal land use and sound pollination practices in order to enhance apiculture development at a local scale. To achieve this target, the study incorporates literature about the attractiveness of crops and plants to pollinating honeybees as well as the pollination services provided by honeybees, in combination with detailed vegetative land cover data. The local communities of each municipality were comparatively evaluated, by introducing three indicators through numerical and spatial data analysis: Relative Attractiveness Index (RAI), Relative Dependence Index (RDI), and Relative Priority Index (RPI). Based on these indicators, attractiveness, dependence, and priority maps were created and explained in detail. We suggest that a number of improvement measures that will boost pollination or honey production or both should be taken by decision-makers, based on the correlations between the aforementioned indicators and the exanimated areas. In addition, dependence maps can constitute a powerful tool for raising awareness among both the public and the farmers about the value of honeybees in pollination, thus reinforcing bee protection efforts undertaken globally. Attractiveness maps that provide a thorough picture of the areas that are sources of pollen and nectar can serve as a general guide for the establishment of hives in areas with high potential for beekeeping.

Suggested Citation

  • Simeon Marnasidis & Apostolos Kantartzis & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Fani Hatjina & Garyfallos Arabatzis & Efstathia Verikouki, 2021. "Mapping Priority Areas for Apiculture Development with the Use of Geographical Information Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:2:p:182-:d:504426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simon G. Potts & Vera Imperatriz-Fonseca & Hien Ngo & Jacobus C. Biesmeijer & Tom Breeze & Lynn Dicks & Luigi Garibaldi & Josef Settele & A.J. Vanbergen & Marcelo A. Aizen & Saul A. Cunningham & Conna, 2016. "Summary for policymakers of the assessment report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on pollinators, pollination and food production," Post-Print hal-01946814, HAL.
    2. Galbraith, Sara M. & Hall, Troy E. & Tavárez, Héctor S. & Kooistra, Chad M. & Ordoñez, Jenny C. & Bosque-Pérez, Nilsa A., 2017. "Local ecological knowledge reveals effects of policy-driven land use and cover change on beekeepers in Costa Rica," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 112-122.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bencheng Liu & Yangang Fang, 2021. "The Nexus between Rural Household Livelihoods and Agricultural Functions: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Io Carydi & Athanasios Koutsianas & Marios Desyllas, 2023. "People, Crops, and Bee Farming: Landscape Models for a Symbiotic Network in Greece," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Zhang, Shemei & Ma, Jiliang & Zhang, Liu & Sun, Zhanli & Zhao, Zhijun & Khan, Nawab, 2022. "Does adoption of honeybee pollination promote the economic value of kiwifruit farmers? Evidence from China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14.
    4. Daniel Signorelli & Luigi Jacopo D’Auria & Antonio Di Stasio & Alfonso Gallo & Augusto Siciliano & Mauro Esposito & Alessandra De Felice & Giuseppe Rofrano, 2023. "Application of a Quality-Specific Environmental Risk Index for the Location of Hives in Areas with Different Pollution Impacts," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, April.

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