A large-scale effort aims to repopulate the Iberian peninsula with 47 million individuals of Apis mellifera iberiensis, better known as the Iberian bee. This initiative began in Spain with the goal of reversing the extinction trend of a native pollinator essential to ecosystem health.
The project, Smart Green Bees, was launched by a technology company in collaboration with the Bee’s Corner association, the technical partner of the effort, and artisan beekeepers from regions across Spain, including Malaga, Valencia, and Barcelona.
The Iberian bee is the sole native honeybee on the Peninsula. Yet its population is shrinking due to drought, diseases, and the economic pressures on beekeepers, factors that reduce the profitability of operating traditional hives even though this breed does not yield the highest honey output.
The initiative intends to expand the Iberian bee across Spain by introducing up to 47 million new bees within two years, a ratio of one per resident, as explained to the press by Paola Vecino, president of the El Rincón de la Abeja association.
Leaders emphasize careful placement of new colonies to promote sustainable beekeeping and ecological benefits. A beekeeper from a Málaga–area farm participates in the rollout, highlighting the plan to place the first hives to support demographic growth of the Iberian bee.
Up to 60,000 bees per hive
Artisan beekeeper José Sebastián Sánchez, based in Málaga and founder of the local company Mieles Joseíllo, has long championed sustainable production. He notes that hive numbers align with local flora and flowering capacity in his area.
Just twenty minutes from Málaga city, the surrounding mountainous terrain hosts a rich array of plants such as sage, gorse, rock rose, and cantahueso, providing bees with reliable nectar sources for much of the year.
On this farm, which also runs goats, dogs, and chickens, 14 hives have been established so far, with estimates showing growth to around 45 hives in coming seasons.
In the initial phase, a newly created hive can house between 5,000 and 6,000 bees, with numbers potentially reaching 60,000 after several months. Expansion typically occurs during the spring and summer months.
The project team acknowledges that beekeeping is not an exact science and many variables can affect hive growth. Sickness and other unavoidable losses may reduce honeycomb development, leading the organizers to overestimate the number of swarms needed to reach the target of 47 million bees, ensuring overall project success.
Wild boars and hive protection
In practice, protecting hives from wildlife is a concern, with wild boars known to pose risks to colonies. To mitigate this, the plan favors selecting favorable residential sites and adjusting swarm estimates accordingly to hit the 47 million bee target.
Hives established in Malaga feature biometric tracking systems that monitor development without hindering growth. These devices enable real-time assessments of demographics and hive health, while also providing data on weight, interior humidity, heat, and bee activity.
According to LG, the fifteen hives already in Malaga contain roughly 15,000 bees each, with numbers expected to rise as the environment’s floral resources remain abundant. The region enjoys a favorable climate with abundant sunshine, aiding maintenance and minimizing disruption.
Morphologically, the Iberian bee is distinct from other bees: a darker coloration, shorter yet robust tongues, and relatively subdued banding, accompanied by a temperament that can be more irritable than some European strains.
…….
For residents and officials, the environmental department notes ongoing efforts to support pollinator health and habitat restoration.