Our beekeeping and nursery training center in Lalibela

The Peter Bachmann Foundation has extensive experience in working with professional beekeepers and unemployed young people in the north and south of Ethiopia. Our efforts focus primarily on training in modern beekeeping methods. These help to mitigate climate change. Our approach encompasses both honey production and environmental protection. As pollinators, bees are known to be very important for the plant world. They rely on the nectar of plant flowers to produce honey. All bees are pollinators, and are therefore essential for crops to thrive, from fruit and vegetables to coffee and tea.

The realization of our project depends on the local conditions. If the biodiversity of the place is better, honey production is also more productive. Our fundamental aim is to raise awareness of the value of beekeeping and, above all, to promote, support and assist the transition to modern production methods. Bee colonies can be easily propagated by hanging an empty hive on a tree and the bees will find their way there on their own. The beekeepers – including prospective ones – meet us at PBF and receive all the information they need to improve their traditional beehives. They buy seedlings for planting plants, shrubs, and trees. Our new information center has only been in existence for six months. Its increasing attention and progress in expansion are very promising.

The project to expand beekeeping was suspended in July 2023 when Thomas Hostettler from Switzerland visited us in Lalibela. We have expanded the “Beekeeping and Tree Nursery” project to another, more spacious site. This was made available to us by the local environmental authority. This will enable us to significantly increase our bee colonies and hives and therefore also our honey production. Thomas Hostettler took part in the cultivation of plants in July. He also visited two other beekeeping projects that were set up this year. He planted many seedlings himself, including Omedla, Delonix regia, pine, Koshimb and others.

Unfortunately, we have had a big problem since July 2023: Lalibela has become a war zone. Insecurity and instability have grown. A man-made problem has emerged. There have been loud shootings here for many weeks.  The bee colonies have been disturbed by the constant noise, which has also affected the honey harvest. Today we are happy and grateful that our bee colonies have survived this difficult time in good condition. We employ four young unemployed people to guard the training center. All of them have completed basic training in beekeeping and tree care.

Abebe Zewdu for PBF Bee+Tree projects