Cham starts the promotion of wild bees - also via the Internet

There are more than 600 wild bee species in Switzerland. Which of them live right on our doorstep? And which could be specifically promoted with simple measures? Through its free web application “FuturePlanter”, the municipality of Cham is making its inventory data available, so that everyone can help in the important promotion of wild bees.

The municipality of Cham is committed to preserving biodiversity, according to a press release. Last year, Cham carried out examinations of the fauna in various areas. Manuela Hotz, Environmental Project Manager for the Cham community, reports that "the fauna inventory listed reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies and even wild bees in various areas". A large number of species and many "specialists" were found, particularly among wild bees. "Specialists are wild bees that specialise in just a few or, in extreme cases, only a single plant family," explains the environmental scientist.

In order to promote wild bees, it is therefore crucial to know which wild bees we have in our area. Working together with the head of Horticulture, Markus Schuler, the municipality of Cham has started to create new wild bee sites on communal land. On the Dorfplatz in Cham, for example. Wherever possible, the council wants to encourage wild bees with specific structures such as deadwood and sandy areas, as well as targeted plant selection. Why do they want to do this? – because almost half of all wild bee species are considered threatened in Switzerland. But these are also of paramount importance to our ecosystems. "Wild bees are the most important pollinators of wild and cultivated plants," explains the wildlife ecologist André Rey. And they can be promoted particularly well in residential areas.

The population of Cham can now help in the promotion of wild bees, thanks to the free web application “FuturePlanter”. This forms the bridge between a scientific database - surveys and inventories - and the valuable commitment of private individuals. The faunistic inventory of the municipality of Cham has flowed into "FuturePlanter" and now provides the data. The app shows which rare wild bee species are found nearby and which plants can be used to support them. Incidentally, the recommended native plants also provide a colourful and biodiverse environment.

Markus Schuler, Department Manager for Horticulture of the municipality of Cham, and Manuela Hotz, Project Manager Environment, want to create new locations for wild bees on municipal areas. (Picture: PD)

A fence-vetch sand bee (andrena lathyri), which specialises in pollen from vetch and pea. (Image: André Rey)

The Zug-based Green Advance Foundation, which is still in the process of being established, is facilitating and developing the project specifically for urban areas. In the first phase, "FuturePlanter" will include the cities of Cham, Zug, Schaffhausen and Zurich. Other places are also in preparation. Until databases for these areas are available, residents are provided with recommendations of flowers that will generally boost the wild bee population. "Wild bees can already be specifically promoted in Cham. Cities represent an important habitat for native wild bees. Ten of the 66 wild bee species detected during last year’s inventory were new to the canton of Zug », reports Manuela Hotz. This underlines the role of cities in the context of the promotion of wild bees.

About Green Advance
The FuturePlanter project is being implemented by the non-profit foundation Green Advance. The Foundation builds on the belief that the conservation and promotion of biodiversity is one of the most pressing tasks of our society today, and requires the commitment of us all., The focus of Green Advance's projects is therefore on motivating individuals and institutions to protect and promote the diversity of their natural environment. The purpose of the foundation is to thereby secure or restore the habitats of animals and plants. Green Advance is formally still in the foundation stage, and is based in Zug.

Especially in light of the recently published report of the World Biodiversity Council, there can be no question that, in addition to political and entrepreneurial measures, private involvement in everyday life is crucial. Concrete, targeted and easy-to-implement recommendations for action such as "FuturePlanter" make a valuable contribution here. "Among the wild bees, there are rare species that need targeted support," emphasises Manuela Hotz. Further surveys of the municipality are planned in the current year, with the new data that is collected then being included in "FuturePlanter”.
 

Note: Further information at: www.futureplanter.ch; www.green-advance.org; www.bioterra.ch