The group was launched on Wednesday over a honey breakfast, according to a press releaseExternal link from Apisuisse, the umbrella organisation for beekeepers. Apisuisse hopes the initiative will help promote the cause of these threatened but vital insects.
It said 60 parliamentarians had agreed to join the group, making it one of the biggest in parliament. The parliamentary group is headed by MPs Bernhard Guhl of the centre-right Conservative Democratic Party, who is himself a beekeeper, and Mathias Reynard of the leftwing Social Democratic Party.
Apisuisse hopes beekeepers’ concerns will be better heard in the public space and that there will be more political commitment to protecting bees, be they wild or honey bees. In particular, the organisation is urging a coherent strategy to promote biodiversity and effective measures to cut the use of pesticides.
The risk to pollinators through the use of pesticides must be reduced immediately, it says, while further efforts are also needed to combat bee diseases and pests such as the Varroa mite more effectively.
In a recent study, Swiss researchers pointed to a “combination effect” of two stress factors as a reason for the rapid decline of the honey bee: insecticides and the Varroa mite.
More
More
Mites and insecticides prove killer combo for honey bees
This content was published on
Researchers from the Institute of Bee Health at the University of BernExternal link and the COLOSS honey bee research associationExternal link studied the “combination effect” of two stress factors: insecticides and a type of mite. The researchers treated workers in honey bee colonies with two selected insecticides (neonicotinoids). These had no influence on the weight…
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Swiss committee wants to end government resignations during legislative term
This content was published on
Members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to leave office before the end of their term, according to a House of Representatives committee.
Swiss government seat: Ritter and Pfister nominated to succeed Amherd
This content was published on
Markus Ritter from St Gallen and Martin Pfister from Zug were officially nominated by the Centre Party on Friday to succeed Defence Minister Viola Amherd.
Top Swiss court rejects Russian request for administrative tax assistance
This content was published on
There is currently no reason to transmit banking information to the Russian Federation, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
After strike by radiologists, doctors demonstrate in Bern
This content was published on
Following a strike by radiology technicians in Fribourg, doctors, vets, dentists and chiropractors expressed their frustration on Friday outside parliament in the Swiss capital.
Eurovision and bleak world situation are top themes at Basel carnival
This content was published on
The Eurovision Song Contest and the gloomy global situation are among the main themes of Basel Fasnacht (carnival) this year.
Prices of Swiss investment properties continue to rise despite stagnating rents
This content was published on
Although rents in Switzerland stagnated or fell in the final quarter of last year, prices for investment properties continued to rise. Both apartment buildings and office properties have become more expensive.
Probe into wrong Swiss pension figures clears federal office
This content was published on
Employees of the Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) did not breach their duty of care when calculating pension prospects, an investigation has concluded.
This content was published on
Hotels in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino welcomed significantly more guests last December than in the same month of the previous year.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The endangered insects that we never see
This content was published on
Can the decline of insects in Switzerland be halted? The first national day of the insect is calling on politicians and public to act.
Bee association concerned about increasing imports
This content was published on
As the numbers of imported bee colonies from abroad continue to rise in Switzerland, the head of the national bee association has called for caution.
Swiss bee expert laments exaggerated focus on insecticides
This content was published on
Bees and other pollinators are vital to three-quarters of the world’s food crops but have been in serious decline in recent decades.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.