A new local initiative is emerging in the Armenian town of Alaverdi, in the Lori region, with the aim of preserving and developing beekeeping as a key element of both the local economy and nature protection. The initiative brings together local beekeepers and civic activists and seeks to ensure that the city allocates specific funds in its 2026 municipal budget for the systematic support of beekeeping.

Bees are not only producers of honey. They are irreplaceable pollinators, without which agriculture, biodiversity, and food security cannot be sustained. In the Lori region, beekeeping also has a long tradition—local honey is valued for its quality and represents an important source of income for many families.

According to local beekeepers, however, bee populations have declined in recent years due to disease, loss of suitable habitats, and the absence of consistent institutional support. Although beekeepers are well aware of these challenges, they lack the resources and political backing needed to address them on a larger scale.

This is why the idea of a civic campaign emerged—aimed at changing local policy approaches and securing long-term, stable support for beekeepers.

The campaign advocates for the city of Alaverdi to officially include beekeeping support in its 2026 budget in the amount of 5 million Armenian drams (approximately CZK 2.8 million). These funds would be used, for example, to organize a honey festival that would promote a culture of honey consumption while opening new opportunities for local beekeepers, to establish protected areas for bees, and to plant nectar-rich vegetation.

However, this is not only about funding, but about a long-term commitment by the city to protect pollinators and support sustainable agriculture.

While some public officials, such as the governor of the Lori region, have already shown active interest in beekeeping, others remain less informed about the issue. One of the campaign’s key tasks is therefore to raise awareness and translate it into concrete political support.

The plan also includes preparing a memorandum of cooperation between the city and the initiative, ensuring that adopted decisions are implemented in practice rather than remaining on paper.

Alaverdi is not the only place where bee populations are declining. This campaign can serve as an inspiration for other municipalities in Armenia, demonstrating how nature protection, local economic development, and active civic engagement can be meaningfully connected.