Three Decades of SICAMM Conservation Work – Poster

SICAMM Editor
Oct 10
2 min read

Credit: Martin Feurer Mellifera CH, Switzerland

For thirty years, SICAMM (Societas Internationalis pro Conservatione Apis melliferae melliferae) has been at the heart of European efforts to protect the dark European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). Founded in 1995, our international federation brings together beekeepers, scientists, and conservationists to defend a species whose genetic integrity and ecological value are unique to the continent.

Poster Download

A Network Built on Collaboration

Over the past three decades, SICAMM has grown into a vibrant network of national associations, local projects, and individual members from across Europe and beyond. Member organisations from Ireland, Sweden, Finland, France, Switzerland, Germany, the UK and many other regions share a common purpose: to conserve and promote the dark European honey bee in its native range.

The Federation is guided by an elected Main Board and supported by a Science Board, National Delegates, and specialised work teams covering conservation, education, bee health, and communication. Together they create a structure that balances scientific rigour with grass-roots participation.

Milestones and Global Impact

Since its first conference in 1995, SICAMM has hosted biennial international meetings that serve as a hub for knowledge exchange and co-operation. From Scotland to Norway, from Germany to Poland, these events have brought together hundreds of people committed to understanding and protecting our native bee.

The poster presented at Apimondia 2025 in Copenhagen celebrates this journey and the continued expansion of our network. It shows how associations from across Europe are uniting around a shared mission — and how countries as far away as Iceland and Greenland have also embraced dark bee conservation.

Looking Ahead to Ireland 2027

The next SICAMM Conference will take place in Ireland in 2027, hosted by the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS). It will build on the momentum of our recent Stavanger 2025 meeting and highlight new collaborations between scientists, policy makers, and beekeepers.

Our focus remains clear: to ensure that the dark European honey bee — a species that has evolved in Europe for over a million years — continues to thrive in its native landscapes.