Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
APIMONDIA, İstanbul, Türkiye, 24 - 28 Ağustos 2022, ss.37-38
Turkey is on the intersection of three continents and also on the way of two important past path namely Spice and
Silk Road thus played a very important role bridging the Asia, Europe and Africa. In this vast geographical area, different
topographical and climatological features shaped by the evolution make it favorable for the floral and faunal sources. Over
10,000 plant species create huge floral diversity and this is well reflected into great honeybee biodiversity. A total of five
honeybee subspecies and also many ecotypes are found in this geography suitable for modern beekeeping. ANG Foundation
(Ali Nihat Gökyiğit Foundation) carried out long lasting project since late 1990s for the selection, breeding and conservation
of Caucasus honeybees in Macahel. After successive beekeeping training, candidate beekeepers learned beekeeping and queen production in this isolated bioreserve area. This initiative created awareness on beekeeping and promoting
beekeeping in the region. The outstanding results at first increased the household income and also the number of women
and young beekeepers. Secondly, high quality queen production filled the gap needed by the beekeepers all over the country
to increase the colony yield. Thirdly attracted the attention of scientific community to work with indigenous bee namely
Apis mellifera caucasica. This is followed by the registration of the honeybee subspecies by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry. After registration, the area is announced to be the first conservation area in Turkey. The number of conservation
areas is still increasing since then. ANG Foundation still continues to support the local beekeepers and also beekeepers
of the country by providing good quality queens and also bee colonies. ANG foundation extended successful initiative to
another area Posof (Ardahan) for other Caucasus honeybee ecotype and also Central Anatolian honeybee, Apis mellifera
anatoliaca in Kırkırca-Ankara. This continues support is not only promote beekeeping and conserve honeybees in Macahel
bioreserve area but all over Turkey.