Our commitment
to responsible urban beekeeping for the health of
all pollinators
At Alvéole, we believe in fostering a deep connection between people and nature. Through the fascinating world of bees and urban beekeeping, we make environmental education accessible and meaningful.
It goes without saying that maintaining healthy urban bee populations is of utmost importance to us. The health of our honey bees, neighboring bee colonies, and the wild bees who share our cities comes first – always.
Responsible beekeeping practices are essential to sustainable ecosystems, and we’re committed to doing our part.
Do urban honey bees impact wild bees?
The popularity of urban beekeeping has grown in recent years, and this has raised concerns about honey bees impacting native wild bees. Is urban beekeeping endangering native bee populations? How do we make sure our beekeeping practices support all pollinators?
Let’s state some facts:
- Honey bees are not an invasive species. In fact, honey bees and wild bees have been sharing space for hundreds of years.
- There is no conclusive evidence that honey bees are negatively impacting wild bees.1 In fact, studies have shown that the species do not inherently pose a risk to one another.
The only consensus is the need to provide a safe habitat for nesting and increase food availability by restoring natural habitats – things we can all play a role in.
Responsible beekeeping practices are essential to sustainable ecosystems, and we’re committed to doing our part.
Responsible practices are key
Our practices emphasize the harmonious integration of honey bees with native bee species. This includes mindful hive management, responsible hive placement, and educational initiatives.
Here’s how we support a balanced relationship between honey bees and wild pollinators at Alvéole:
- We install wild bee habitats at buildings, providing safe nesting space and increasing awareness for these pollinators.
- We limit the number of hives we bring to buildings, while maximizing the number of people who get to interact with each hive.
- We take care to prevent the spread of disease, protecting our bees, neighboring honey bee colonies, and wild bees.
- We educate communities on what bees need to thrive. We work with property teams to implement bee-friendly landscaping practices and recommend the most impactful plants to grow.
- We collect eDNA and other environmental data from our beehives and wild bee habitats. This provides a clear picture of the health of our bee populations, surrounding floral diversity, and what actions can be taken to make the landscape even better for pollinators.
Responsible urban beekeeping for a better future
By championing sustainable urban beekeeping practices, we create educational opportunities that empower people to value and protect all bees. We are allies to honey bees, wild bees, and all pollinators who play an essential role in the ecosystem.
These species depend on our cities for their habitat. And we depend on them.
By staying true to our values, we’re working to leave a positive mark on our environment — now and for generations to come.
Alex Mclean
Co-founder & CEO
1 Resources and scientific studies:
Ecoregional Planting Guides from Pollinator Partnership
Biodiversity protects bee communities from disease, U-M study concludes
The impact of honey bees on Alberta’s prairie pollinators
