Bringing Bees Back to Life, Together

Magen Dvorim Adom (Red Bee Shield Organization) was established in the midst of the bee colony collapse disorder and the disappearance of individual bees, in order to protect the bees from being sprayed and exterminated. On the one hand swarms of bees disappear and on the other hand people spray and/or abuse and harm them. Bees are the basis for much of the abundance in the world. The richness and diversity of the plant kingdom and as a result of the food chain in nature depend on the activity of bees. Hence, the quality of the air we breathe, the vitality and health of the soil, and the food security of humans and more are all dependent on bees. We have been working for ten years to protect bees and swarms of bees, first and foremost in their natural habitat. Wherever there is a swarm that does not interfere with humans, we try to keep it in its place, in coexistence with humans, and we will make sure to teach, educate and explain why this is the right thing to do and the benefits to humans and the world. If it is not possible to leave the swarm in place, the volunteers will move the swarm to a safe place. What will be done with the money we raise? -continue to save individual and social bees. -move large logs to acclimate bees at the Bee Freedom Farm. -train volunteers to work at height. -build a lending warehouse of equipment for volunteers. -clean, establish and nurture a freedom farm for the swarms of bees. -build "insect hotels" in educational and community centers. -make traditional tools for building traditional hives. -promote, in collaboration with the community, planting for pollinators in general and for bees in particular. Accomplishments in the first 10 years: -We saved over 17,000 swarms which is about 450,000,000 bees, yes, 450 million! -We have created a change in the public consciousness in Israel to prevent spraying and extermination of bees. -We saved hundreds of nests of solitary bees. -We have almost completely stopped the extermination of bees in Israel. -We have taught thousands of insect exterminators and environmentalists in training courses the importance of insects in general and bees in particular. -We were able to keep hundreds of swarms living naturally in their settlement site instead of clearing them. -We have encouraged tens of thousands of people to appreciate and love bees instead of being afraid of them. -We rescued thousands of people in distress for whom bees settled in a place that frightened them. -We added hundreds of people to the circle of volunteers for bees, nature and humans. -We created fruitful collaborations with municipalities and regional authorities, extermination organizations, nature conservationists, animal protection agencies, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, social organizations, schools/universities and other educational institutions and research bodies.