Native Irish Honey Bee Society - NIHBS
The Native Irish Honey Bee Society, NIHBS was established in November 2012 by a group of dedicated beekeepers with the objective of protecting and conserving the native Irish honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, Amm, on the island of Ireland.
Our membership spans the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and even beyond Ireland. From a conservation perspective, Ireland benefits from a unique advantage - though divided into two legal jurisdictions, we are one geographic island, so we have a united approach to the protection of Amm.
Ireland is fortunate to still have pure populations of Amm. In much of Northern Europe, its original home, Amm has been severely hybridised, making Ireland’s role in conserving this genetic resource even more vital.
Recent research (October 2024) confirmed that Ireland has a distinct and genetically diverse honey bee ecotype - we must preserve this for future generations.
However, the research also highlights a growing threat: our native honey bee is increasingly at risk from introgressive hybridisation, largely due to the importation of non-native subspecies and hybrids.
Our mission remains steadfast - ensuring the conservation of Apis mellifera mellifera for its future, biodiversity and our environment.
https://nihbs.org/ Contact: nihbs.secretary@gmail.com or nihbs.chairperson@gmail.com