Plan Bee needs your help

Mrs Elemam said local growers and project officers from other regions of the State had expressed concern over the decreased native stingless bee populations and lower pollination rates.

"We found a lot of people were not aware of native bees, what they looked like or what benefits they offered," she said. "So we started the Operation Plan Bee project which focuses as much on education as well as the practical side, such as putting native bee hives back in to the environment."

"When you ask people about farm inputs, no one ever mentions bees but they are an integral part of any cropping enterprise."

Mrs Elemam started the Operation Plan Bee funding program, asking for individuals and businesses to pledge money toward the $27,500 goal.

The program involves groups from Forbes to Coonamble, which would receive $5000 each to cover the cost of running one community and one school-based workshop, establishing two hives in their districts and splitting tools to allow hives to be divided.

"We would also have native bee identification kits designed and published as well as four school education kits for use during the project and beyond."

While the program had received great coverage, Mrs Elemam said they were still well behind in donations.

"The challenge is getting people to pledge. If someone pledges $1000, we will name a hive after you," she said "It's an all or nothing approach - if we can't make it to the $27,500 we give all the donations back."

"If all the people involved in agriculture in the community pledged just $5 by spending two minutes online to donate, we would reach our goal," she said. "Even those not in agriculture, if you have flowers in your garden you would love to see bloom or vegetables you would love to reap some home-grown food from, pledge to support native bee populations."

Mrs Elemam said it was definitely a worthy cause.

"Bees have no negative impact on the environment, they just go and do their job."

To pledge, visit: www.pozible.com/project/186318.