Honey Bee Watch was invited by IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and University of Mons (BE) to reassess the Red List status of wild honey bees in Europe. After two years, our Task Force concluded that Apis mellifera’s previous Data Deficient designation should be updated to Endangered in the European Union. Due to insufficient data for the rest of the continent, though, the species remains Data Deficient in pan-Europe, thus necessitating further research, especially in the Balkans, Baltic region, Scandinavia, and Western Russia. 

Three guests will delve into the ins and outs of the project: Denis Michez begins by introducing the Red List of Threatened Species. Arrigo Moro contextualizes the process, challenges, and reasoning behind our team’s reassessment. Benjamin Rutschmann discusses the research paper he co-authored with Patrick Kohl, which served as the basis for the Endangered classification. A panel discussion on the implications for conservation follows with all the other speakers, then an audience Q&A closes the event.